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ChatGPT Image Generation Not Working

Workaround available Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android Updated October 21, 2026

Quick answer

When ChatGPT won't create images, check the status page first: image generation had several 2026 outages (July and September). Otherwise you may have hit the separate image limit, or the prompt or reference image is causing failures.

Most likely fix: Check OpenAI's status page first.

Symptoms

Image requests spin forever, fail with a generic error, return text instead of an image, or say you've reached your image limit while text chat still works.

Why it happens

  • Image generation incident (e.g. July 7, July 21/27 and Sept 8, 2026)
  • Separate image allowance used up (limits differ from chat limits)
  • Long conversations that stall image tools
  • Overloaded prompts or poor reference images
  • Browser cache issues

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

  1. 1. Check OpenAI's status page first

    1. Open status.openai.com
    2. Look for an active incident on ChatGPT, Voice or Image Generation
    3. If there is one, wait for it to be marked resolved - nothing on your side will fix it

  2. 2. Check your image allowance

    1. Image limits are separate from chat limits - Free and Go have low daily caps
    2. Wait for the limit to reset or upgrade if you hit it often

  3. 3. Stop, regenerate or start a new chat

    1. Click Stop, then Regenerate
    2. If it still fails, start a new chat and resend the image request

  4. 4. Simplify the prompt

    1. Ask for one style at a time
    2. Keep requested text in the image short
    3. Use a clear, uncropped reference image

  5. 5. Clear cache and cookies or use a private window

    1. Open a private/incognito window and sign in to chatgpt.com
    2. If that works, clear cookies and site data for chatgpt.com and openai.com in your normal browser
    3. Sign in again

This guide also covers

  • chatgpt image generation not working
  • chatgpt not generating images
  • chatgpt image generation failed
  • chatgpt image limit

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