NewsBite analysis · AI, Cloud, Security · Downtime, Outages
9to5mac
PSA: ChatGPT outage is blocking users from logging in or creating new accounts
OpenAI has acknowledged a significant outage impacting ChatGPT's ability to log in users and create new accounts. The issue was confirmed at 8:03 p.m. ET, with multiple reports indicating service disruptions. Downdetector has shown a spike in outage reports, and even logged-in users face challenges accessing the chatbot. Currently, the Mac app remains functional, but the web version may struggle with loading history and generating responses. OpenAI is actively addressing the situation and will provide updates as they become available.
MonitorConfidence: HighImmediate horizon
Published 20 Aug 2026, 00:30 UTC1 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- OpenAI confirms ChatGPT login/signup outage.
- Users report issues across various platforms.
- Outage first noted at 8:03 p.m. ET.
- Downdetector shows increased outage reports.
- Mac app functionality is inconsistently affected.
Coverage gaps
- Unclear timeline for resolution of the outage
- Lack of detailed impact assessment for affected users
What changed
ChatGPT users can no longer log in or create new accounts due to an outage confirmed by OpenAI.
Unchanged: The Mac application still functions to some extent, though with intermittent issues.