OpenAI API 401 Unauthorized (authentication error)
Is there an outage right now?
OpenAI API is currently reporting issues. This error may be caused by a wider outage.
Updated: Jul 21, 2026, 8:02 PM UTC
View OpenAI API status →What this error means
401 means authentication failed: invalid/expired/missing API key, or wrong org/project.
Common causes
- •Wrong, expired, or deleted API key
- •Malformed Authorization header (missing Bearer)
- •Env var not loaded (unset / typo)
- •Wrong Organization / Project
- •Insufficient key permissions
How to fix
- 1.Reissue the API key and set it correctly via env
- 2.Use `Authorization: Bearer <KEY>` format
- 3.Read the key from env, not hardcoded
- 4.Pass the correct Organization/Project
- 5.Check the key scopes/permissions
When waiting helps (and when it won't)
401 is a config issue—waiting will not fix it. Re-check key, header and env vars.
Alternatives when OpenAI API is down
Related errors
FAQ
What is 401 Unauthorized?
401 means authentication failed: invalid/expired/missing API key, or wrong org/project.
How do I fix 401 Unauthorized?
Reissue the API key and set it correctly via env / Use `Authorization: Bearer <KEY>` format / Read the key from env, not hardcoded / Pass the correct Organization/Project / Check the key scopes/permissions