OpenAI API 503 Service Unavailable
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
503 means the server is temporarily unable to respond: overload, maintenance, or outage.
Common causes
- •Overload from demand
- •Maintenance
- •Partial outage
- •Model capacity pressure
How to fix
- 1.Retry with exponential backoff
- 2.Wait a while
- 3.Try another model/endpoint
- 4.Check this page and official status
When waiting helps (and when it won't)
Usually recovers over time if caused by overload/outage. Space out your retries.
Alternatives when OpenAI API is down
Related errors
FAQ
What is 503 Service Unavailable?
503 means the server is temporarily unable to respond: overload, maintenance, or outage.
How do I fix 503 Service Unavailable?
Retry with exponential backoff / Wait a while / Try another model/endpoint / Check this page and official status