ChatGPT Error Codes

This guide provides a summary of potential ChatGPT Error Codes that you may encounter with API or in Playground. Every error code listed in this summary is followed by a detailed section providing further insight.

ChatGPT Error Code 401

Invalid Authentication

Cause: Invalid Authentication
Solution: Ensure the correct API key and requesting organization are being used.

ChatGPT Error Code 401

Incorrect API key provided

Cause: The requesting API key is not correct.
Solution: Ensure the API key used is correct, clear your browser cache, or generate a new one.

This error message suggests that the authentication credentials you’re using are not valid. This may be due to a variety of reasons, such as:

Your API key revoked.
The API key you’re using is not the one tied to the requesting organization.
The API key you’re using lacks the necessary permissions for the endpoint you’re trying to access.

To fix this issue, take the following steps:

Verify that the API key and organization ID used in your request header are correct.
If you’re unsure about the validity of your API key, you have the option to generate a new one. Don’t forget to substitute the old API key with the new one in your requests and adhere to the recommended best practices guide.

ChatGPT Error Code 401

You must be a member of an organization to use the API

Cause: Your account is not part of an organization.
Solution: Contact us to get added to a new organization or ask your organization manager to invite you to an organization.

This error message signifies that the API key you’re using in your request is incorrect. This could be due to various reasons, including:

A typographical error or an extra space present in your API key.
Utilizing an API key associated with a different organization.
Use of an API key that has been deleted or deactivated.
Local caching of an old, revoked API key.

To rectify this error, please adhere to the following steps:

Clear your browser’s cache and cookies before trying again.
Verify the accuracy of the API key in your request header.
If you’re uncertain about the correctness of your API key, you can opt to generate a new one. Remember to replace the old API key within your codebase and follow the guide detailing the best practices.

ChatGPT Error Code 429

Rate limit reached for requests

Cause: You are sending requests too quickly.
Solution: Pace your requests. Read the Rate limit guide.

This error message suggests that your account is not affiliated with any organization. This might occur due to various reasons like:

You’ve either left or been removed from your former organization.
Your organization has been deleted.

To remedy this error, please proceed with the following steps:

If you’ve left or have been removed from your previous organization, you have the option to either apply for a new organization or get an invitation to join an existing one.
To apply for a new organization, you can contact us at help.openai.com.
Owners of existing organizations can extend an invitation for you to join their organization through the Members Panel.

ChatGPT Error Code 429

You exceeded your current quota, please check your plan and billing details

Cause: You have hit your maximum monthly spend (hard limit) which you can view in the account billing section.
Solution:Apply for a quota increase.

This error message denotes that you’ve reached your assigned usage limit for the API, indicating that too many tokens or requests have been submitted in a brief span, exceeding the permitted number. This could arise from several situations, such as:

Frequent or concurrent requests made through a loop or a script.
Sharing your API key among different users or applications.
Usage of a free or low-tier plan which has a low rate limit.

To rectify this error, consider the following steps:

Regulate your requests and avoid any unnecessary or redundant calls.
If a loop or a script is in use, ensure you implement a backoff mechanism or retry logic that adheres to the rate limit and response headers.
If your organization is shared with other users, remember that the limits apply per organization, not per user. Thus, it’s worth checking the usage levels of your team members as their activities also contribute to the limit.
If you’re on a free or low-tier plan, you might want to think about upgrading to a pay-as-you-go plan, which provides a higher rate limit. You can review constraints of each plan in rate limit guide.

ChatGPT Error Code 429

The engine is currently overloaded, please try again later

Cause: OpenAI servers are experiencing high traffic.
Solution: Please retry your requests after a brief wait.

This error message signifies that you’ve reached your maximum monthly expenditure for the API. Your maximum monthly limit, referred to as the ‘hard limit’, can be found in your account billing settings. This implies that you’ve exhausted all credits allotted to your plan, reaching the cap of your current billing cycle. This can occur due to several reasons, including:

Utilizing a high-volume or intricate service that consumes a significant amount of credits or tokens.
Setting your limit too low relative to your organization’s usage.

To rectify this error, please adhere to the following steps:

Review your current quota within your account settings. You can see how many tokens your requests have used up in the usage section of your account.
If you’re on a free plan, consider upgrading to a pay-as-you-go plan that provides a higher quota.
If you need a higher quota, you can apply for an increase by providing relevant details on anticipated usage. We’ll review your request and respond within approximately 7-10 business days.

ChatGPT Error Code 500

The server had an error while processing your request

Cause: Issue on OpenAI servers.
Solution: Retry your request after a brief wait and contact us if the issue persists. Check the status page.

This error message signifies that servers are currently overloaded due to high traffic and are unable to process your request at this time. Such a situation can arise due to several factors, including:

A sudden surge or increase in demand for API services.
An unexpected or unavoidable service disruption or incident occurring on servers.

To address this error, please consider the following steps:

Try submitting your request again after waiting for a short while. We advise implementing an exponential backoff strategy or retry logic that respects both the response headers and the rate limit. The rate limit best practices guide provides more information on this.
Keep an eye on ChatGPT status page for any updates or notifications regarding services and servers.
If the error persists after a reasonable time frame, don’t hesitate to reach out Support for further help. OpenAI apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience and understanding.