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If ChatGPT images are not generating, check OpenAI Status first: “today” can change quickly, and a service incident may be the cause. Do not assume there is a current image-generation outage unless the live status page lists it. OpenAI Status reports availability across users and cautions that an individual’s experience can vary by subscription tier, model, and feature.
First, make sure you are using ChatGPT Images
OpenAI’s current help article says ChatGPT Images is available on all tiers on the web, iOS, and Android. You can describe the image you want in a conversation or choose More and then Images. Depending on the prompt, creation may take a few minutes; you can continue using ChatGPT while it works.
If you are following older instructions for the official DALL·E GPT, switch to ChatGPT Images: OpenAI says that GPT has been retired. See OpenAI’s ChatGPT Images help article for the current feature details.
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Try these seven fixes in order
1. Check whether OpenAI reports an incident
Visit OpenAI Status and look for an issue affecting ChatGPT Image Generation. If one is listed, repeated retries are unlikely to help; wait for the incident to be resolved, then try again. The status page describes aggregate availability, not a guarantee that every account or feature is affected identically.
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Image-generation incidents have happened before: OpenAI Status marked image-generation errors resolved on July 7, 2026, and August 5, 2026. Those past incidents show that a service-side problem is possible, but say nothing about whether one is happening now. Check the live page for current information: OpenAI Status incident history.
2. Open the current Images entry
In ChatGPT, select More > Images, or ask for an image directly in a conversation. If an older guide directs you to the official DALL·E GPT, it is out of date; use the current ChatGPT Images experience instead.
3. Read any account or usage-limit notice
Images is available on all tiers, according to OpenAI, but account settings and usage limits can still affect access. If ChatGPT shows a limit message, follow the notice and check the account you are signed into. The available official guidance does not establish a stable image-generation quota for each plan, so do not assume that upgrading is a universal fix. Consider a plan change only if a specific limit notice makes it relevant.
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For a general “Something went wrong” error, OpenAI recommends refreshing the page or trying a new chat. These are quick, low-cost checks, not guaranteed image-generation fixes. See OpenAI’s general ChatGPT error troubleshooting guide.
5. Test a private window or another browser
Browser extensions—especially privacy, security, script-blocking, or content-blocking tools—can interfere with ChatGPT. Try a private or incognito window, or a different browser. If that resolves the issue, disable extensions one at a time to identify the cause. If it persists, clear the browser cache and cookies, then sign in again.
6. Temporarily test without network filters
VPNs, proxies, secure DNS settings, and network filters can interfere with requests. Temporarily turn them off and try again; if possible, test another network or device. Treat this as a diagnostic test, then restore your usual security settings if they were not responsible. OpenAI includes these checks in its general error guidance.
7. If attaching an image fails, check the file and contact support if needed
If you cannot upload an image into ChatGPT, rather than generate one, check the attachment itself. OpenAI lists PNG, JPEG, and non-animated GIF as supported image-input formats and documents a 20 MB limit per image. That is an upload limit, not a limit on the size of an image ChatGPT generates. If an image input fails, try reducing the file size or attaching fewer images. Details are in OpenAI’s image-input FAQ.
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For an upload-limit error, confirm you are signed into the intended account and check the applicable rate or storage limit. OpenAI also recommends checking service status; see its file uploads FAQ.
If the problem continues after these checks, contact OpenAI Support through the Help Center. Include a screenshot, the time and time zone, the device and platform, browser name and version if applicable, and the request ID if one is shown. These details help distinguish an account, browser, network, or service problem.
Quick Recap
Identify which kind of failure you have
- Possible service incident: OpenAI Status lists image-generation errors. Wait for resolution before spending time on local changes.
- Possible account or limit issue: ChatGPT displays a usage-limit or access notice. Check the signed-in account and the notice rather than making an unnecessary plan change.
- Possible browser or network issue: The problem changes when you use a private window, another browser, another device, or a different network. Narrow it down with the reversible checks above.
- Upload rather than generation failure: The trouble begins when attaching an image. Check the supported formats and per-image file-size limit; these rules concern inputs, not generated output.
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