FIX ChatGPT: Please try again later. If you are using a VPN, try turning it off.

ChatGPT has had connectivity issues ever since its launch. A VPN can be helpful, but what to do when your VPN isn't working with ChatGPT? Find out!

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ChatGPT not working with VPN? Keep reading to figure out how to fix it.

Since its launch in November 2022, OpenAI’s ChatGPT has been met with nothing but acclaim. Everybody wants to give the chatbot a try! Sadly, there are still countries where it’s unavailable.

To bypass this, many users resort to VPNs and proxy services. But lately, they’ve reported error screens while logging in, especially since I have been stumbling across many forum threads on the error message “Please try again later. If you are using a VPN, try turning it off. Check the status page for information on outages.”.

I did not take it seriously until I tried to see if it was really a problem and used several VPNs, free and paid. After multiple attempts, I encountered this error too.

No reason to worry, though: “please try again later. if you are using a vpn, try turning it off” is a problem that can be solved using several methods I researched and tested before compiling them below.

This guide will help you regain access to ChatGPT, wherever you are. So, let’s get a move on!

Why is ChatGPT not working with your VPN?

ChatGPT isn’t working with your VPN because of one or several of the following reasons:

  • Common VPN IP addresses blocked
  • Connecting to a server in a country where ChatGPT doesn’t work
  • Browser cookies revealing your real location
  • DNS leak
  • Not disabling IPv6
  • WebRTC leak
  • VPN restrictions interfering with the communication protocols ChatGPT uses
  • Poor VPN performance
  • Complications due to specific platforms or services ChatGPT is integrated with requiring user authentication or authorization

Your actual IP address leaking will cause the chatbot not to work if the service isn’t available in your country.

Currently, ChatGPT is available in 161 countries. That excludes Russia, Ukraine, China, Egypt, Iran, Yemen, Uzbekistan, and a few other places.

If you’re a user from an unsupported region, you might’ve encountered this error screen while trying to log in with an active VPN:

ChatGPT not working with vpn error screen

This happens because your VPN is accidentally giving away your real IP address or you’re sharing a VPN IP address with too many people.

DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks and vulnerabilities can completely defeat the purpose of a VPN.

ChatGPT will then know that you’re from an unsupported region and will stop working.

Alternatively, your phone number can tip ChatGPT off to the fact that you’re not from the country you’re pretending to be.

Virtual and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) numbers won’t work. If your phone number is in order, you can be sure that your VPN is at fault.

How to fix ChatGPT not working with VPN

If ChatGPT stubbornly refuses to work while your VPN is enabled, try these solutions:

1. Use another server

Before you do anything else, try switching to a different VPN server. In my experience, overcrowded servers are usually to blame, and sometimes, changing to other countries got it done..

ChatGPT has probably detected too many users sharing the same IP address.

Also, ensure you’re not accidentally connected to a server in a location where ChatGPT isn’t available.

So, open your VPN app, connect to another server in a country where ChatGPT is supported, and reload the page.

2. Change your VPN provider

If ChatGPT is still not working with your VPN, the problem might lie in your choice of VPN service. Maybe you’re using a lower-tier or free provider that’s just not robust enough.

There are several excellent VPNs for ChatGPT, but I recommend Nord VPN for this situation.

It has excellent server coverage and features that will let you bypass geo-blocks and censorship even in the most restrictive environments.

Here’s how to use it with ChatGPT:

1. Subscribe to NordVPN and download the software.

NordVPN download page

2. Follow the instructions to install the app.

3. Open it and scroll down the list to find a suitable server.

NordVPN server list

4. Click on the flag icon to connect. If you press the three dots next to it, you can look at all the available cities in this county or auto-connect.

NordVPN connected server

5. Now you can log into OpenAI and chat away!

chatgpt unblocked with nord vpn
NordVPN

NordVPN

Unblock ChatGPT from anywhere and enjoy a secure and reliable connection with NordVPN.

3. Clear browser cookies

Did you know that your browser’s cookies will store your location data?

They will also remember your page preferences, login credentials, shopping carts, and more.

That way, websites you visit often don’t have to load everything from scratch every time.

However, by remembering your actual location, this feature will also sabotage your VPN. 

So, your cookies could reveal that you’re from an unsupported ChatGPT region, and the chatbot won’t load.

Luckily, it’s pretty easy to clear your cookies and cache. The process will slightly differ depending on your browser.

Here’s how to do it on Google Chrome:

1. Open the browser, click on the three-dot menu in the upper right corner, and hover over More tools.

2. Select Clear browsing data.

Google Chrome Clear browsing data

3. Go to the Basic tab.

4. Check the checkboxes for Cached images and files and Cookies and other site data.

Google Chrome clear browsing data menu

5. Choose All time for the time range.

Google Chrome date range for clearing browsing data

6. Finally, click Clear data.

Alternatively, let me demonstrate you how to delete cookies on Firefox. Simply follow these instructions:

1. Open the browser, click the three bars in the upper right corner, and then Settings.

Mozilla Firefox Settings

2. On the side menu, select Privacy & Security.

Firefox Privacy & Security settings

3. Scroll down to Cookies and Site Data and click Clear Data.

Firefox Cookies and Site Data

4. Confirm your decision and press Clear.

Firefox Clear Data confirmation

4. Fix a DNS leak

As you know, your VPN should envelop your entire traffic in an encrypted tunnel. But sometimes, your DNS queries can slip through and expose your real location.

That’s why you should periodically check for DNS leaks.

It’s a pretty simple operation:

1. Turn off your VPN and go to ipleak.net, dnsleaktest.com, or dnsleak.com.

2. Load the page and click to start the test. It’ll display your IP, Hostname, ISP, and country.

DNS leak test results without a VPN

3. Now turn on your VPN, pick any location, and revisit the page. It should show you a different IP address, ISP, and location. That means you’re leak-free!

DNS leak test results with a VPN

4. If it, again, shows your actual information, it indicates that you’re experiencing a DNS leak.

In that case, follow these steps to fix it:

1. Type Control Panel in the Windows search bar and click on it.

2. Find Network and Sharing Center.

3. Select Change adapter settings from the left side of the screen.

Change adapter settings
Windows Network and Sharing Center

4. Right-click the connection you want to alter and choose Properties.

WiFi network properties

5. Click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCIP/IPv4), then Properties.

IPv4 properties

6. In the new pop-up, select Use the following DNS server addresses. Type in the new addresses and click OK. 

Use the following DNS server addresses

7. Repeat the process for Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCIP/IPv6).

You’re most likely using your ISP’s DNS servers by default. Instead, you should switch to public free addresses such as: 

  • Google — 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
  • Cloudflare — 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
  • OpenDNS — 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220
  • Quad9 — 9.9.9.9 and 149.112.112.112.

They won’t record your IP address, which is definitely a plus for your privacy!

5. Prevent IPv6 leaks 

IPv4 is still the most widely used Internet Protocol, but many ISPs offer IPv6 as well.

As someone who reviews VPNs for a living, I can tell you most VPNs are only compatible with IPv4. They can’t properly reroute and encrypt IPv6 traffic, and will accidentally leak your real IP address. Which, in turn, will prevent ChatGPT from working with your VPN.

That’s why many providers let you disable IPv6 in their settings.

Alternatively, you can disable IPv6 on a system level:

  1. Type Control Panel in the Windows search bar and click on it.

  2. Find Network and Sharing Center.

  3. Click on Change adapter settings in the upper left corner.

  4. Right-click on your network adapter and choose Properties.

  5. Uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) on the list.

  6. After that, click OK and Close.

6. Stop WebRTC leaks

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is a type of communication technology supported by Google Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.

Unfortunately, it has a tendency to show your actual IP address, rendering your VPN useless.

To combat this, many VPN services I’ve tested have features or add-ons that can prevent WebRTC leaks.

Otherwise, you can always disable WebRTC in Firefox:

1. Open the browser, type about:config in the URL bar, and press Enter.

about:config in Firefox search bar

2. Agree that you want to continue.

Firefox warning

3. Type in media.peerconnection.enabled. Double-click it to change its value to false.

Firefox media.peerconnection enabled changed to false

If you’re a Google Chrome user, you won’t be able to do this.

Instead, you’ll have to rely on specialized extensions like WebRTC leak prevent and uBlock Origin.

Does ChatGPT block VPN services?

ChatGPT doesn’t outright prohibit VPN usage, but if someone abuses the platform using a common VPN IP, it may block that address. If you’re unable to access the chatbot when your VPN is on, it may be because OpenAI has already blocked the IP you were assigned.

If that’s the case, some of the solutions I offered above should help you get around the problem. Depending on which VPN service you’re using, connecting to another server may resolve the issue. 

Chances are ChatGPT has already blocked all or the majority of IP addresses belonging to less reputable VPNs. If this is what’s causing the problem, changing your provider may be necessary.

Wrap up

Now you know how to fix ChatGPT when it’s not working with your VPN!

It all comes down to identifying the root of the problem. Maybe you’re connected to an overloaded VPN server, or maybe your real IP address is visible.

Even your browser cookies could give away your IP.

Fortunately, all of these fixes only require a few minutes of your time. You’ll be back to talking to the chatbot in no time!