ChatGPT "Too Many Requests": What It Means and Fixes

ChatGPT shows "too many requests" when you send messages faster than your plan allows, or when the service is busy. Waiting usually clears it.

Main causes

• You hit your plan's usage limit for a model in a time window.
• Many messages were sent in a short time.
• OpenAI's service was under heavy load.
• A VPN or shared network sent many requests from the same address.

What to do

1. Wait a few minutes, then send one message.
2. Check whether ChatGPT shows when your limit resets.
3. Switch to another model if your plan allows it.
4. Turn off a VPN, or try another network.
5. Sign out and back in, or try the app instead of the browser.

Limits by plan

Free and paid plans have different message limits for different models, and OpenAI changes them from time to time. The app usually tells you when you have reached a limit and when you can continue.

For developers using the API

API errors with status 429 mean rate or quota limits. Check your usage limits in your API account, slow down requests, and retry with increasing waits instead of immediately.

Sign-up and phone verification

OpenAI accounts may ask for a phone number for verification. If codes do not arrive, wait between requests, as repeated attempts can also trigger limits. Use a number you will keep, since it may be needed again.

Status page

If the error affects everyone, OpenAI's status page shows outages. In that case, waiting is the only fix.

Long chats

Very long conversations and large file uploads use more of your allowance. Starting a new chat for a new topic keeps things faster, and summarising a long thread before continuing can help you stay within limits.

Error during sign-up

If the message appears while creating an account, it may be about verification attempts rather than chat limits. Wait an hour before trying again, and use the same device and network.

FAQ

Why does ChatGPT say too many requests?

You hit a usage limit, sent messages too fast, or the service is busy.

How long do I have to wait?

Often a few minutes; usage limits reset after a set time.

Does a VPN cause ChatGPT errors?

It can, if many people share the same address.

Related: Reddit too many requests · Instagram limits · Telegram limits.