- The catch: 'suspicious activity' is usually your VPN
- Every message and its fix
- Something went wrong
- A network error occurred, or a websocket error
- There was a problem preparing your chat
- There was an error generating a response
- Stuck on Thinking, or a spinner that never ends
- When ChatGPT works at home but not at work or school
- A quick order to try things in
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
ChatGPT's 'Something went wrong' is a general error that can be a temporary server problem or something in your own setup. Refresh or start a new chat, check status.openai.com, then try an incognito window with extensions off and your VPN switched off; OpenAI groups the other fixes by the exact message you see, as of October 2026.
ChatGPT errors usually come from one of three places: your network setup, a browser extension or a short-lived server problem. Matching the message to the fix saves you trying everything.
The catch: 'suspicious activity' is usually your VPN
'We detect suspicious activity' or 'Unusual Activity Detected' appears when your traffic looks like automated behaviour. The usual culprit is a VPN or proxy routing you through an IP address that's been flagged. Turn it off, restart your browser or device and try a private window.
It's also a prompt to check nobody else is using your account. Make sure you're not sharing it, change your password and secure your email. Only contact support if you're not using bots or automation. Here's how to change your ChatGPT password if you need it.
Every message and its fix
| Message | What to try first |
|---|---|
| Something went wrong | Refresh, new chat, clear cache, incognito, disable extensions and VPN |
| A network error occurred / websocket error | Disable VPN and proxy, try another browser or network |
| Suspicious activity / Unusual Activity Detected | Disable VPN, private window, secure your account |
| There was a problem preparing your chat | Disable blocking extensions |
| There was an error generating a response | Regenerate, restart, change network |
| Stuck on Thinking, Generating or Working | Wait 30-60 seconds, Stop then Regenerate, new chat, hard refresh |
Something went wrong
Work through these in order: refresh or start a new chat, check status.openai.com, clear your cache and cookies, try incognito, and turn off extensions, especially privacy or security tools. Then switch off VPNs and secure DNS tools such as Web Protect, and try a different network. If the status page shows a problem, it's on OpenAI's side and you'll need to wait. To check that quickly, see how to check if ChatGPT is down.
A network error occurred, or a websocket error
'A network error occurred' and 'An error occurred while connecting to the websocket' both mean your device can't hold a reliable connection to ChatGPT. Disable VPNs or proxies, turn off Web Protect or other security filters, try another browser or incognito, or switch network or device.
There was a problem preparing your chat
This one usually means a browser extension or a URL blocker is getting in the way of the page loading. Turn off script-blocking or page-changing extensions, and anything you don't recognise, or open ChatGPT in incognito or another browser.
There was an error generating a response
This may just be a one-off failure. Click Regenerate first. If it keeps happening, restart your browser or device, disable VPNs, proxies and security filters, and try another browser, network or device.
Stuck on Thinking, or a spinner that never ends
If ChatGPT sits on Thinking, Generating or Working, check the status page and start a new chat if the conversation's very long. If a single response seems to hang, OpenAI suggests this order:
- Wait 30-60 seconds.
- Click Stop generating, then Regenerate.
- Start a new chat and resend your message.
- Do a hard refresh with Cmd or Ctrl + Shift + R, or reload the desktop app.
- Sign out and back in.
- Open an incognito window with extensions disabled.
- Turn off VPNs, proxies and secure DNS.
- Try another browser, network or device, and check status.openai.com.
If ChatGPT isn't broken, just slow, my guide on why ChatGPT is so slow covers that separately. If tools keep freezing or erroring in the Android app, OpenAI points to the reinstall steps in its ChatGPT Android App FAQ.
When ChatGPT works at home but not at work or school
Before you go down the network route, check the status page for known system-wide problems, so you don't chase a fault that isn't yours. If ChatGPT only breaks on your office or school Wi-Fi, the network's probably blocking part of it. OpenAI has a network guide written for IT departments. In plain words, it asks IT to make sure OpenAI's domains, such as chatgpt.com and openai.com plus the sign-in and security-check addresses ChatGPT relies on, aren't blocked, and that web filtering isn't swapping in unexpected content. Ask your IT team to check against that guide rather than trying workarounds yourself.
A quick order to try things in
- Check status.openai.com first.
- Refresh and start a new chat.
- Open an incognito window with extensions disabled.
- Turn off your VPN, proxy and secure DNS, then switch network or device.
- If it only fails on work or school Wi-Fi, ask IT to check OpenAI's network guide.
Curious about the neighbouring question? Try ChatGPT File Upload Limits.
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My verdict
I'd start with the VPN and the extensions, because they turn up in the fix for almost every message above, and turning them off takes seconds. Check the status page before you clear anything, so you don't wipe your cookies for a problem that's on OpenAI's end. And if it's only failing on office Wi-Fi, don't fight it, hand it to IT.
If something here didn't fit your situation, ChatGPT Characteristics and Personalities may.
Related guides live in the ChatGPT Prompts and Limits: 30 Guides to Fun Prompts, Photo Edits and Daily Caps.
Frequently asked questions
Why does ChatGPT say something went wrong?
It's a general error that can be a temporary server issue or a local setup problem such as an extension, a VPN or secure DNS.
What does 'network error occurred' mean?
Your device can't establish a reliable connection. Disable VPNs, proxies and security filters, or switch browser, network or device.
What triggers the suspicious activity message?
Traffic that looks automated, often from a VPN or proxy using a flagged IP. Turn it off, use a private window and secure your account.
Why is ChatGPT stuck on thinking?
It can be a server problem or a long conversation. Wait 30-60 seconds, click Stop generating then Regenerate, or start a new chat.
Why does ChatGPT work at home but not on office Wi-Fi?
The network may be blocking OpenAI domains or filtering web content. Ask IT to check OpenAI's network guide.
What does 'There was a problem preparing your chat' mean?
Usually a browser extension or URL blocker is interfering with the page. Turn off script-blocking or page-changing extensions, or try incognito or another browser.
How do I fix 'There was an error generating a response'?
Click Regenerate first, because it may be a one-off failure. If it keeps happening, restart, turn off VPNs and proxies, and try another network.
