Why ChatGPT Stops Suddenly: Response Limits, Glitches, & Fixes

Does ChatGPT keep stopping in the middle of its responses? Because ChatGPT has a character limit for both input and output, the chatbot often cuts off before providing the full text or code you've asked for. ChatGPT may also stop writing if there's a problem with its server or a network issue. Luckily, you can get ChatGPT to finish its reply using prompts like "keep going" and "continue where you left off." This wikiHow article will explain why ChatGPT stops in the middle of its responses and give you quick tricks to make the bot pick up where it left off.

Why ChatGPT Stops Randomly

Usually, ChatGPT stops mid-reply because the response you requested is too long or because your prompt was too lengthy. Outages or glitches with OpenAI or your network may also cause ChatGPT to cut off an answer. You also might be using an older ChatGPT model that has fewer tokens to write replies.

1

The response is too long.

Download Article

ChatGPT stops typing once its character limit is met. GPT, the language model behind ChatGPT, has a limit on how many "tokens" can be used to write a response. A token is about 4 characters, which is about 75% of a word in English.^{[1]
X
Research source} So, one reason ChatGPT might be stopping is that the reply has reached its token limit. Once the token limit is reached, the bot will stop typing its response, often at an awkward stopping point. You can get ChatGPT to finish its response by typing "keep going," "go on," or "continue where you left off."
- To prevent ChatGPT from cutting off in the middle of a sentence, ask the bot to limit its response length. For example, you can add the sentence "Reply in 750 words or less" to your request. This can be especially helpful when you're using ChatGPT to write an essay.^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
- If ChatGPT cuts off in the middle of providing code, you may need to say something like, "Continue from this line," and then paste in the last full line of the abbreviated code. If that doesn't work, try "Continue in a codebox."
- The token limits vary depending on the model you're using, whether you're using the API version of ChatGPT, and whether you're on a paid or free plan. GPT-5 (the latest ChatGPT model) supports 8,000 tokens for the free model, 32,000 tokens for the Plus model, and 128,000 tokens for the Pro/Enterprise model.^{[3]
  X
  Research source}

2

The prompt is too long.

Download Article

ChatGPT's character limit also factors in your prompt. Both your prompt and the response count toward this ChatGPT's limit.^{[4]
X
Research source} If your prompt is very long, and you've asked for a longer reply, ChatGPT will stop writing as soon as the token limit has been reached.
- To see how many tokens your prompt will use, type or paste your prompt into the Tokenizer at platform.openai.com/tokenizer.
- Also, try narrowing down the focus of your prompt to get clearer replies that don't meander or include too much extra information.

3

There was a brief network or server glitch.

Download Article

A temporary glitch may prevent ChatGPT from finishing its response. If ChatGPT suddenly stops writing a response, a brief issue on the server or in your network connection may have cut off the chatbot. According to technologist Tyrone Showers, clicking the Regenerate response button at the bottom of ChatGPT will make it retype its previous response.^{[5]
X
Expert Source

Tyrone Showers
Technologist

Expert Interview}
- If that doesn't work, try reloading the page and typing your prompt again. You can also try connecting to a different Wi-Fi network, switching to a cellular connection, or clearing your cache and cookies.
EXPERT TIP

Tyrone Showers
Technologist
Tyrone Showers is a Technologist and the Co-owner of Taliferro Group, an IT consulting company based in Seattle, Washington. With over 35 years of professional experience, he specializes in API Design, e-Commerce, Operational Efficiency, and website development. He has a B.S. in Computer Science from DeVry Institute of Technology.

Tyrone Showers
Technologist

Create clear prompts for ChatGPT. ChatGPT might stop mid-sentence due to a temporary server overload from high traffic, or your request may require extra analysis. Try again after a few moments, preferably with a clearer prompt. ChatGPT is constantly learning, and these pauses are becoming less frequent.

4

There's a ChatGPT outage.

Download Article

Check status.openai.com to see if ChatGPT is having problems. If the ChatGPT server is down or overloaded, the chatbot may stop in the middle of a response. If the problem is related to ChatGPT's servers, you'll usually see an error message in the chatbot like "network error," "failed to load," or "something went wrong."
- If the problem is on ChatGPT's end, try asking the question again, but this time, include a sentence that asks ChatGPT to "limit the response to 500 words" (or less). If you're still not getting a full response, you'll need to wait until the problem is resolved by OpenAI.
- You can also check the OpenAI Discord server to see if anyone else is experiencing errors or frequent cutoffs. To join, visit ^{[6]
  X
  Research source}.

5

You're using an old GPT model.

Download Article

Old GPT models have lower token output. GPT-5 is now available to everyone, but older models of GPT (called "legacy models") are still usable. If you haven't switched over, you may not be getting the most out of ChatGPT. And while paid ChatGPT Plus subscribers do have access to many features of GPT-4, many subscribers report that ChatGPT still stops mid-reply short of the max amount of words possible.^{[7]
X
Research source} This could mean that there's an additional limit in the web-based ChatGPT interface for all users.
- As of now, the only way to get around ChatGPT's character limit is to use the newest GPT API. Currently, the latest model is GPT-5.2.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

Mine says "Error in body stream." How do I fix this?

Tyrone Showers
Technologist
Tyrone Showers is a Technologist and the Co-owner of Taliferro Group, an IT consulting company based in Seattle, Washington. With over 35 years of professional experience, he specializes in API Design, e-Commerce, Operational Efficiency, and website development. He has a B.S. in Computer Science from DeVry Institute of Technology.

Tyrone Showers

Technologist

Expert Answer

If you come across the "Error in Body Stream" message, consider resolving the issue by clicking the "Regenerate response" button located above the chat box. This action often rectifies the problem. Additionally, ensure that your internet connection is stable, and review your code implementation for any potential errors in making requests to the ChatGPT API. Checking the service's documentation for insights into common errors and consulting community forums or support channels can also provide valuable assistance in troubleshooting and resolving the "Error in Body Stream" issue.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Can't access ChatGPT? Check out our list of 12 easy fixes.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
An "internal server error" usually indicates a problem with ChatGPT's servers.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0