ChatGPT or Gemini not working? Here are ways to bring them back to life

What to do if Gemini doesn't work

Check if Gemini is unavailable for you or for everyone

Google uses a huge number of data centers to keep Gemini running for millions of users. Although the company's infrastructure is stable in most cases, sometimes it may not be able to cope with a high load or be exposed to external factors.

In such situations, one or more Google services may temporarily stop working. So if you suddenly can't communicate with Gemini, it's possible that others are experiencing the same problem.

Unfortunately, Google does not provide an official status page where you can check Gemini's performance. However, you can use third-party trackers such as Down Detector, where users usually report failures. Alternatively, you can check Google's official social media accounts (e.g., the company's Twitter/X profile).

If others are also reporting problems accessing Gemini, you can rest assured that the cause is not on your side. Just wait an hour or two and the service will most likely be back up and running.

Check your internet connection

Although it is unlikely, it is possible that your internet connection is preventing you from accessing Gemini. This is true even if you are able to visit other sites, as your ISP's network may have difficulty connecting to Google's servers.

Diagnosing this problem can be tricky, but start by rebooting your router. If that doesn't work, try switching to a different internet connection. For example, you can switch from Wi-Fi to mobile internet on your smartphone or vice versa.

Use the Google Gemini mobile or web app

Google has adapted Gemini for different screen sizes. You might remember that the chatbot used to be available only through a web browser until the company introduced an Android app that replaces Google Assistant.

If you are still using a browser to communicate with Gemini, it might be a good time to try the smartphone app. On Android, you can download the official Gemini app from the Play Store. On iPhone, you can download it from the App Store.

If the Gemini app for your smartphone doesn't open or load, open a web browser and visit gemini.google.com. You can use most of the features through this version of the chatbot, except for some obvious ones, such as setting an alarm on your phone.

What to do if ChatGPT does not work

Check if ChatGPT is working

The first thing you should do is to check if ChatGPT itself is disabled or if it is experiencing server difficulties. Such failures were common in the early days of the service when the company was trying to cope with the ever-growing user demand.

The easiest way to check the status of ChatGPT is to visit the OpenAI status page. "Increased error rates on all models" indicates a current problem on the service side. In other words, ChatGPT is not working for everyone, not just you. If you are also unable to load this page, please check a third-party service such as Down Detector.

Give ChatGPT time to recover

If you have no problems loading the main ChatGPT page, but the chatbot does not respond to your requests, the service may be temporarily unavailable. Usually, in such cases, ChatGPT displays an internal server error message, but this may not work during periods of high demand.

The best option is to wait a few hours until ChatGPT becomes functional again. Waiting will also help if your account has reached the request limit, which can happen if you have sent too many requests in a short time.

If you want to avoid waiting, ChatGPT Plus provides priority access to the chatbot, but only you can decide if it is worth it.

Try incognito mode or another browser

If ChatGPT doesn't work at all, using incognito mode may help to identify a problem with your browser settings. Similarly, using a different web browser can bypass malicious extensions or blocking scripts that may have infected your main browser.

To open a window in incognito mode in Chrome, click on the three dots icon and select "New incognito tab". If you're using an iPhone, first click on the tabs icon and then switch to Private mode.

Use the ChatGPT app for your smartphone

Previously, the only way to use the world's most popular chatbot was through a web browser. However, over the past few months, OpenAI has released the official ChatGPT app for the Android and iOS app stores.

This gives you another way to access the chatbot and possibly fix any issues you encounter when using the web version.

Clear your browser settings and cache

Although it is unlikely, it is possible that a corrupted browser cache is preventing ChatGPT from loading in your web browser. Of course, you can always use a different browser to work with ChatGPT, but it only takes a minute or two to reset your cache and other settings.

Please note that this step will delete your browser data and current account logins. In other words, you will have to log in to your accounts again. However, you can skip resetting your browsing history and saved passwords.

How to clear browser settings and cache

Open your main web browser. Find the menu icon and go to Settings. In Chrome and Edge, you'll need to click the three-dot icon first. If you're using a computer, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Delete and skip the next step.

In the Chrome settings menu on your smartphone, go to the "Privacy & Security" section and "Clear browsing data".

Select cache, cookies, and browsing data, then click Clear data.

Try an alternative to ChatGPT

If ChatGPT is still unavailable, don't despair - you can use another AI chatbot to accomplish your task. The most popular ones include Microsoft Copilot and ChatSonic. These services also have a number of advantages over ChatGPT, including the ability to search for relevant information on the Internet.