ChatGPT "Checking your browser / Sorry, you have been blocked / Access denied" (Cloudflare): causes and fixes
Is there an outage right now?
ChatGPT official status is operational. If this error persists, it is likely an implementation or environment issue on your side.
Updated: Jun 6, 2026, 5:29 AM UTC
View ChatGPT status →What this error means
Cloudflare's bot protection in front of ChatGPT has blocked your access. You may see a "Checking your browser before accessing…" loop, "Sorry, you have been blocked," or "Access denied (Error 1020)." It is triggered by VPN/proxy, browser extensions, cookies/cache, or IP reputation.
Common causes
- •Your VPN/proxy IP was flagged as a bot or suspicious
- •A browser extension (ad blocker, etc.) or userscript interferes
- •Old or corrupted cookies / cache
- •Region or IP reputation, or a shared-IP issue
- •Treated as automated or high-volume traffic
How to fix
- 1.Turn off your VPN/proxy (the most common cause)
- 2.Clear cookies and cache for chatgpt.com / openai.com
- 3.Disable extensions, or open an incognito/private window
- 4.Try a different browser or network (e.g. mobile data)
- 5.Update your browser and check that your device clock is correct
- 6.Check the top of this page or OpenAI status for an outage
When waiting helps (and when it won't)
Cloudflare blocks are usually caused by VPN/extensions/cookies; removing them fixes it quickly. A temporary IP-reputation issue may clear with time. Unless it is a wide outage, try turning off VPN and clearing cookies first.
Alternatives when ChatGPT is down
Related errors
FAQ
What is Cloudflare: access denied / blocked?
Cloudflare's bot protection in front of ChatGPT has blocked your access. You may see a "Checking your browser before accessing…" loop, "Sorry, you have been blocked," or "Access denied (Error 1020)." It is triggered by VPN/proxy, browser extensions, cookies/cache, or IP reputation.
How do I fix Cloudflare: access denied / blocked?
Turn off your VPN/proxy (the most common cause) / Clear cookies and cache for chatgpt.com / openai.com / Disable extensions, or open an incognito/private window / Try a different browser or network (e.g. mobile data) / Update your browser and check that your device clock is correct / Check the top of this page or OpenAI status for an outage