Based on the error message “Gateway Time-Out” (Error 504), the issue is on OpenAI’s end, not yours. The service is likely experiencing a “micro-outage” or high traffic spike in your specific server region.
This specific error means the “Gateway” (usually Cloudflare) successfully took your request but OpenAI’s internal servers failed to respond in time.
Current Status (January 8, 2026)
Official Status: Operational, but there are reports of “Elevated Error Rates” over the last 48 hours (specifically affecting workspace loading and API responses).
The Reality: The service is likely experiencing a “micro-outage” or high traffic spike in your specific server region.
Also Read : Chick-fil-A Error 422 | Unprocessable Entity Fix
How to Fix “Gateway Time-Out”
Since the server is overwhelmed, mashing the “Regenerate” button often makes it worse. Try these steps in order:
The “Hard” Refresh:
Press
Ctrl + F5(Windows) orCmd + Shift + R(Mac).Why: This clears the local cache for the page and forces a fresh request to the server, sometimes bypassing the “stuck” connection.
Check Your Sidebar:
If your Chat History is missing or spinning, the database that stores your chats is down. You likely cannot start a new chat until it loads.
Workaround: Try clicking a previous chat from yesterday if you can see it; sometimes old threads are hosted on a different database shard that is still working.
Toggle Your VPN:
If you are using a VPN, turn it OFF.
If you are not using one, turn one ON.
Why: This error is often regional. If the “US East” node is timing out, switching your VPN to “UK” or “Japan” might route you to a server that isn’t overloaded.
Log Out and Clear Cookies:
If you are stuck in a loop, go to
chatgpt.com/auth/logout.Clear your browser cookies for
openai.combefore logging back in.
Summary:
This is a server congestion issue. If the “Hard Refresh” doesn’t work, you usually have to wait 15–20 minutes for the traffic spike to clear.
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