Is ChatGPT Down? Users Report ‘Unusual Activity Detected’ Error Amid Outage
ChatGPT experienced a major outage today, leaving users unable to access its AI services. Here is a detailed update, reasons for the downtime, and what OpenAI has said about the issue.
Table of Contents
What Happened to ChatGPT Today?
On July 16, 2025, thousands of users reported that ChatGPT was down globally. The primary error displayed was “Unusual activity detected”, preventing access to their AI-generated conversations, writing, and code assistance tools.
According to outage tracker Downdetector, reports spiked rapidly from early morning IST, indicating that the problem was widespread rather than isolated to any single region.
Why Did ChatGPT Go Down?
While OpenAI has not released an official technical explanation yet, outages like this typically occur due to:
High server load during peak usage
Scheduled backend updates causing temporary downtime
Security protocols triggered by automated detection systems
API overload affecting integrations with third-party apps
User Reactions and Reported Errors
Users on social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), expressed frustration as the error “Unusual activity detected” appeared repeatedly. Many assumed their accounts were blocked or suspended, but it was a system-wide service outage.
One user posted:
“Is ChatGPT down for everyone? It keeps saying unusual activity detected. I just needed to finish my code snippet.”
Another reported:
“I’ve reset my browser thrice thinking it’s my WiFi. Turns out ChatGPT is down worldwide.”
OpenAI’s Response to the Outage
OpenAI acknowledged the issue on their official status page, stating:
“We are investigating reports of outages and errors. Our engineering teams are working to restore services as soon as possible.”
As of the latest update, partial restoration was underway, with some users regaining access, while others continued facing errors.
Impact of the Outage on Global Users
Developers using ChatGPT for coding assistance faced delays in their workflows
Content creators and journalists relying on AI for drafts and summaries were unable to proceed
Students and researchers experienced interruptions in their learning schedules
This outage highlighted the growing dependence on AI tools for daily productivity across industries.
ChatGPT: How It Usually Works
ChatGPT is powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4.5 architecture, offering:
Conversational AI for writing, learning, and analysis
Multimodal inputs including text and images
Integration with third-party apps for enhanced user productivity
Downtimes, although rare, affect millions of daily users globally.
How to Check ChatGPT Server Status
To verify if ChatGPT is down:
Visit status.openai.com for official updates
Check Downdetector.com for user-reported outages
Follow @OpenAI on X for real-time alerts
Refresh your app or browser session after some time
When Will ChatGPT Be Back Up?
While most outages are resolved within a few hours, OpenAI has not committed to a fixed timeline. Users are advised to monitor the OpenAI Status Page for restoration announcements.
FAQs
1. Why is ChatGPT down today?
Due to technical issues likely related to server load, backend updates, or triggered security protocols.
2. How can I check if ChatGPT is down?
Visit status.openai.com or Downdetector for real-time updates.
3. What does “Unusual activity detected” mean?
It usually indicates that ChatGPT detected potential bot-like traffic or experienced server issues leading to access restrictions.
4. How long will ChatGPT take to come back online?
Most outages are resolved within a few hours, but duration depends on the severity of the issue.
Helpful Resources
Conclusion
Today’s ChatGPT outage created significant disruption for millions relying on AI for work, learning, and content creation. While OpenAI is actively working on restoring the services, such incidents underscore the critical importance of robust infrastructure in the AI era.
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