ChatGPT Dots error messages: what each one means
Type any part of a Dots message, from Your dot is on a break to Paused as a precaution, and see what it looks like, what it means and what to do next.
Last verified
On this page
Got a message from Dots on your screen? Look it up below. You'll see the message as it looks on screen, what it means, and what to do next.
#Find your message
Start with the words on your screen.
What does your message say?
Type or paste any part of it. A few words are enough.
37 messages, grouped by where they show up. Type to narrow them down.
You can't get a dot
Dots aren’t available in your region yet
# What it meansYou're on Pro in a place where Pro doesn't include a dot yet: the European Economic Area, Switzerland or the UK. Nothing is wrong with your account.
Your Pro plan doesn't have access to dots yet. We’ll let you know when they become available.
Button: Got it
Where you see it: A dialog, when you click Your dot
- Click Got it. Your plan and your chats are untouched.
- To get a dot from one of those places, use a Business workspace with a Premium seat. Dots in Europe and the UK has the route and what it costs.
- Somewhere else? The rollout hasn't reached your account. Look again tomorrow, then work through Dots not showing up.
Dots aren't available on your plan yet
# What it meansYour plan includes a dot, and the rollout hasn't reached your account yet. That can take several days.
We are rolling out dots gradually. We’ll let you know when you have access.
Button: Got it
Where you see it: A dialog, when you click Your dot
There's nothing to change. Look for Your dot under New chat again tomorrow. If a week passes, go through Dots not showing up.
Dots require a Pro plan
# What it meansFree, Go and Plus don't include a dot. Every Pro tier does: Pro 100, Pro 200 and Pro 500.
You’re on a Plus plan. Upgrade to Pro 200 to access dots.
Button: Upgrade to Pro
Where you see it: A dialog, when you click Your dot
- Before you pay, check that Pro includes a dot where you live: who can get a dot.
- Compare the tiers on what Dots costs. Pro 100 is the cheapest plan with a dot.
- Click Upgrade to Pro, or close the dialog to stay on your plan.
Please create a dot on your computer
# What it meansA dot can't be created on a phone. Once it exists, you can message and call it from your phone.
Dots work best on your desktop computer. Please get set up there instead.
Button: Back to ChatGPT
Where you see it: A full screen in the phone app
- Open chatgpt.com on a computer, or the ChatGPT desktop app.
- Click Your dot under New chat and follow the setup steps.
- Back on your phone, open the app's menu. Your dot is the first entry.
Dots are not available for this workspace
# What it meansDots are switched off for your whole workspace. One admin switch controls that: Allow members to use dots. The picture shows it switched off.
Where you see it: In a Business or Enterprise workspace
- Not an admin? Ask yours to turn on Allow members to use dots.
- Admins: open the workspace settings, go to Permissions & roles, and turn the switch on under dots.
- If the switch is grey or won't stay on, sign out, open ChatGPT in a different browser, sign in and try it again.
- Still stuck? Contact OpenAI Support from the admin account. Dots for admins lists the other settings.
You hit a limit
Your dot is on a break
# What it meansYour dot has done enough work in a short time to trip OpenAI's limit on heavy use. It stops working and answers everything with this message until the limit lifts. OpenAI doesn't publish the size of the limit or when it resets, and the message appears in your account's language.
Your dot is on a break. Congrats you are in the very top users and have hit our abuse prevention limit. Check back in a bit!
Where you see it: A reply from your dot, to every message you send
- Stop sending messages. Each one gets the same reply.
- Come back later and send one message.
- When your dot answers normally, ask it what was left unfinished and tell it to carry on.
Dots usage limits explains what counts.
Your Dot is resting
# What it meansThe same limit as "Your dot is on a break", in different words.
Your Dot is resting. Congratulations on being one of the most active users! You have reached our usage limit to prevent abuse. Come back in a while!
Where you see it: A reply from your dot
Follow the steps for Your dot is on a break.
You’ve hit the preview limit
# What it meansYour dot reached a cap on how much it can do for now, and stopped in the middle of its work. The time is when it can start again. It has no time zone, and it's sometimes a full date.
You’ve hit the preview limit. Try again at 9:35 PM.
Where you see it: In a task's record, or quoted by your dot. In chat you often see nothing: your messages show Read and no reply comes
- Wait until the time in the message.
- Then message your dot and tell it to continue. It doesn't pick the job back up by itself.
- Ask what it finished before it stopped, and check that yourself.
Dots usage limits explains what counts.
You've hit your usage limit
# What it meansTasks your dot starts in Work or Codex use up those products' allowance, the same as tasks you start yourself. That allowance ran out, so the task stopped. Talking to your dot doesn't use it.
You've hit your usage limit. Add credits to continue, or try again later.
Where you see it: The last line of a task your dot started in Work or Codex
- Open ChatGPT's settings and look at your usage to see what's left and when it resets.
- Wait for the reset, or add credits.
- Tell your dot to start the task again.
Dots usage limits shows which work is counted where.
Selected model is at capacity
# What it meansThe model chosen for that task was too busy to run it. Your schedule is intact. That one run didn't happen.
Selected model is at capacity. Please try a different model.
Where you see it: Where a scheduled task's result should be
- Open Scheduled, click ... on the task and choose Run now.
- If it keeps happening, choose Edit in the same menu and pick another model in the Model row.
Give your dot a job covers schedules.
Your dot was paused for safety
Paused as a precaution
# What it meansA safety check saw your dot doing something that didn't clearly match what you asked for, and paused it. Nothing has been deleted. Your dot is waiting for you.
We couldn’t confirm your dot was interpreting your instructions correctly. To continue, review what was flagged here. Learn more here.
Buttons: I have reviewed findings · Delete dot
If your dot has a name, the name replaces “your dot” and “dot”.
Where you see it: A sheet in the phone app
- Tap the first here to open Safety findings, and read what was flagged.
- Tap I have reviewed findings.
- On the next sheet, tap Continue. Your dot wakes up.
- Leave the red Delete dot button alone. Deleting removes your dot's conversations, memories and scheduled tasks.
Your dot was paused out of precaution
# What it meansAuto-review is the automatic check on things your dot does without asking you first. It turned some of them down, so your dot stopped. In the picture, Resume your dot has already been pressed once and failed: that's the second line.
Auto-review did not approve some recent actions, so your dot was paused. The auto-review policy determines which actions are allowed and can be adjusted. Learn more
Buttons: Resume your dot · Delete your dot
Where you see it: A notice in your dot's conversation, on a computer
- Click Resume your dot.
- Don't click Delete your dot unless you want to start again from nothing.
These findings aren’t available
# What it meansThe findings page opened somewhere that isn't signed in as you. On a phone the link opens a small browser inside the app, and that browser may not be signed in at all.
Safety findings
These findings aren’t available. Make sure you’re signed in to the account and workspace you use with your dot.
Where you see it: The page behind the first "here" link on a pause notice
- Open chatgpt.com in your normal browser and sign in with the account your dot belongs to.
- If you have more than one workspace, switch to the one where your dot lives.
- Open your dot there and follow the pause notice from that screen.
Something went wrong
# What it meansChatGPT couldn't wake your dot. Your dot is still paused, and nothing has been lost.
It appears after you tap Continue on the sheet that reads: By continuing, you confirm that you’ve reviewed the findings here and believe it’s safe for your dot to resume. Learn more here.
Where you see it: A small notice, right after you press Continue or Resume your dot
- Wait a minute, then press the button again.
- Try from your other device: a computer if you were on your phone, your phone if you were on a computer.
- Quit ChatGPT, open it again and try once more.
- Still paused? On a computer, type
/in the message box, choose Feedback, and say that resume fails. - Keep Delete for last. A new dot starts with no conversations, memories or scheduled tasks.
Your dot's safety failure has changed
# What it meansThese are the technical reasons behind "Something went wrong" when a resume fails. The pause changed state between the notice loading and your click.
{"detail":"Your dot's safety failure has changed"}
Your dot's runtime is not idle
Orbit safety state changed
Where you see it: In the desktop app's logs or your browser's developer tools, with the code HTTP 409
Follow the steps for Something went wrong, and paste this line into your feedback.
Calls
Call failed
# What it meansThe call never reached your dot. It's a connection problem, and your dot is fine.
Couldn't connect the call. Check your connection and microphone access, then try again.
Button: Try again
Where you see it: The call screen on a phone
- Tap Try again.
- In your phone's settings, check that ChatGPT is allowed to use the microphone.
- Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, then call again.
- Message your dot in the meantime. Text gets through when calls don't.
Call your dot has the whole call screen.
Couldn’t connect the call. Please try again
# What it meansThe call didn't connect, or it dropped partway through.
Where you see it: A red banner at the top of your dot's conversation, on a computer
- Close the banner and click the phone button again.
- If your browser asks to use the microphone, allow it.
- Still failing? Type your request instead.
Calling...
# What it meansYour dot usually picks up in four to eight seconds. If the card still says Calling... after ten, this call isn't going to connect.
Where you see it: The call card, for longer than about ten seconds
- Press the red hang-up button.
- Call again.
- If it rings out a second time, type your request instead.
Your dot's computer
Computer unavailable
# What it meansYour dot's cloud computer didn't start. Your dot can still talk to you. It can't browse or work on files there until the computer is back.
In your dot's profile, the same problem shows as Status unavailable under the computer's name.
Where you see it: The tab that shows your dot's computer
- Close the computer's tab, wait a minute, and open it again from your dot's profile.
- If your own computer is connected, ask your dot to do the job there for now. Let your dot use your computer shows how to connect it.
- Still down later? On a computer, type
/in the message box and choose Feedback.
This page has been blocked by Chromium
# What it meansThe browser on your dot's computer refuses to open some sites. It's the same whether your dot is driving or you've taken over, and Reload doesn't change it.
www.amazon.com is blocked
ERR_BLOCKED_BY_CLIENT
Button: Reload
Where you see it: In the browser on your dot's computer. The first line names the site
- Skip Reload and Take over. The block applies to you too.
- Ask your dot to do that step on your own computer, where your browser opens the site. Let your dot use your computer shows how.
- Or do that one step yourself and tell your dot what you found.
Your dot's cloud computer explains what its browser can and can't do.
Forbidden. Calls to this URL are not allowed.
# What it meansThe same block as "This page has been blocked by Chromium", told to you by your dot instead of shown on the page.
Where you see it: Quoted by your dot when a site fails to open
Follow the steps for This page has been blocked by Chromium.
Aw, Snap!
# What it meansA tab in your dot's browser crashed.
Something went wrong while displaying this webpage.
Error code: 9
Link: Learn more · Button: Reload
Where you see it: In the browser on your dot's computer
- Open your dot's computer and click Take over.
- Click Reload on the crashed tab.
- Click Return control and tell your dot to carry on.
Couldn't load this Cloud file
# What it meansChatGPT couldn't fetch a file from your dot's computer. Either the computer wasn't reachable at that moment, or the file is no longer where it was.
Couldn't load this Cloud file. Check that the environment is online and the file exists, then retry
Button: Retry
Where you see it: An orange banner over a file preview
- Click Retry.
- Ask your dot to send the file again as an attachment in the chat.
- For anything you need to keep, ask your dot to save a copy to Google Drive as well.
timed out awaiting tools/call after 300s
# What it meansYour dot asked you to sign in to something and waited five minutes. No answer came in time, so the request expired.
Where you see it: Quoted by your dot, or in a task log, after a sign-in request
- Tell your dot to ask again.
- Answer the sign-in request within five minutes.
Your dot's cloud computer shows what a sign-in request looks like.
Your own computer
Offline
# What it meansYour dot can't reach your computer. It's asleep, switched off, or the ChatGPT desktop app isn't running on it.
A row that reads Connection status unavailable means the same thing.
Where you see it: Under your computer's name, in the Computers list of your dot's profile
- Wake the computer and open the ChatGPT desktop app.
- Check the app is signed in to the same account as your dot.
- Open your dot's profile again. The row now shows a status other than Offline, and the Allow button works.
- Keep the computer awake for as long as your dot is working on it.
Let your dot use your computer has the full setup.
Failed to resume chat
# What it meansThe part of the desktop app that runs tasks on your computer isn't running, so a chat that works there can't reopen.
Codex app-server is not available
Where you see it: A red notice in the desktop app on Windows
Give your dot the job on its own cloud computer, which doesn't depend on the app.
Error submitting message
# What it meansYour dot started that task, and the app can't accept a message typed into it by you.
invalid turn/start params: AbsolutePathBuf deserialized without a base path
Where you see it: A red notice, when you type into a task your dot started
Say it to your dot in its own conversation, or start a new task yourself.
No node_repl, cua_repl, browser-control, or desktop-control tools exposed
# What it meansThe task can read files and run commands on your PC. It wasn't given the tools that click around in your browser and on your desktop.
No node_repl, cua_repl, browser-control, or desktop-control tools exposed
the runtime is installed; its tools are unavailable to this delegated task
Where you see it: In a task your dot started on a Windows computer
- Install the Chrome and Edge computer use apps.
- Restart the ChatGPT app.
- Ask your dot to start the task again.
skill environment is not available for this callback
# What it meansThe same gap as the entry above: the task asked for the computer use skill's files and didn't get them.
Where you see it: In a task your dot started on a Windows computer
Follow the steps for No node_repl, cua_repl, browser-control, or desktop-control tools exposed.
unsupported placement format version 1
# What it meansYour dot can't take over a Codex thread that was created from the phone.
Where you see it: Quoted by your dot when you point it at a Codex thread you started on your iPhone
Ask your dot to start its own task for the job. It runs on your Mac, and it won't show up on the phone.
agent thread limit reached
# What it meansYour dot has as many background helpers as it's allowed, and finished ones still count. It can't clear them out itself.
Where you see it: Quoted by your dot when it tries to split a job into parallel helpers
Ask your dot to do the work itself, in one task, instead of splitting it up.
Loading, apps and approvals
Couldn’t open this conversation
# What it meansThe app lost its place. Your dot and its conversation are still there.
This conversation is no longer available
Button: Try again
Where you see it: Where your dot's conversation should be, after you switch away from the desktop app and back
- Click Try again.
- Click any other chat, then click your dot again.
- Quit the app and reopen it.
Couldn’t open this chat. Try again.
# What it meansThe Scheduled page couldn't load the chat behind that task. The task itself keeps its schedule.
Link: Try again
Where you see it: On the Scheduled page, when you select one of your dot's tasks
- Click Try again.
- Or ask your dot for the latest result in its own conversation.
- Or open your dot's profile and find the task under Recent activity.
Reconnect Linear
# What it meansYour sign-in to that app has expired. Your dot can't use the app until you sign in again.
The chip names your app. Linear is the one in the picture.
Where you see it: A chip in your dot's conversation
- Click the chip and sign in to the app.
- Tick every permission the app asks for.
- If the chip returns after the next run, disconnect the app under Plugins and connect it from scratch.
Connect your apps walks through connecting one.
Bad Request.
# What it meansGoogle doesn't let an app edit calendar events that Gmail created by itself, such as flights and bookings. Events you or your dot made can be created, renamed, moved and deleted as normal.
Where you see it: Quoted by your dot when it tries to change a Google Calendar event
- Change that event yourself in Google Calendar.
- Or ask your dot to add a new event with the right details.
Gmail and Google Calendar has more on what your dot can do there.
The approval check didn’t accept “uh huh” as explicit permission, so nothing was sent.
# What it meansBefore something leaves your account, your yes has to be unmistakable. A casual reply or a thumbs-up doesn't count, so nothing was sent.
Where you see it: A reply from your dot, after you answered an approval request
- Reply with the sentence your dot gives you, or your own plain version: "Yes, send it to Sam."
- To be asked less often for this kind of action, change the rule for it. Custom rules shows how.
Your message isn't here
- Search for the single most unusual word in the message, such as a code or a name.
- Quit ChatGPT, open it again and repeat what you were doing. A message that doesn't come back was a passing fault.
- If it comes back, report it. On a computer, type
/in the message box, choose Feedback, and paste the exact words.
#Before you delete your dot
Several of these messages come with a red Delete button, and it's tempting when nothing else works. Deleting gives you a brand new dot. It doesn't fix a limit, a blocked website or a failed call, because none of those belong to your dot.
Your dot is paused, and Continue fails with "Something went wrong". You delete your dot and create a new one. What does the new dot remember?
- Everything, because it's tied to your account
- Your scheduled tasks, but not your conversations
- Nothing
Show the answer
Nothing
A new dot starts empty: no conversations, no memories, no scheduled tasks. Try the steps under Something went wrong first.
A new dot starts empty: no conversations, no memories, no scheduled tasks. Try the steps under Something went wrong first.
#No message at all?
A dot that's missing, with nothing on screen to look up, has its own page.
- Rebuilt as a decoder with a real picture of each message.
- First published.
Get the Dots cheat sheet
One page with the essentials, plus new guides as they are published. Free.
You're in. Your cheat sheet is ready. Download the PDF
Sources
49
- OpenAI: How we build safety, security, and privacy into dots (safety monitoring can pause a dot) openai.com
- OpenAI Help Center: Getting started with your dot (rollout, reset) help.openai.com
- OpenAI docs: Tasks and memory (a completed run is not proof of a result) learn.chatgpt.com
- OpenAI docs: Get started with your dot (link to access and preview limits) learn.chatgpt.com
- OpenAI docs: Troubleshooting (feedback and the Codex issue tracker) learn.chatgpt.com
- OpenAI Help Center: ChatGPT release notes, 29 September 2026 (first-month usage terms) help.openai.com
- OpenAI staff on X: rollout order, 30 September 2026 x.com
- OpenAI staff on X: usage on the primary dot is "virtually unlimited at the moment" x.com
- Reddit r/singularity: "Dots aren't available on your plan yet" reddit.com
- Reddit r/OpenAI: "Dots are not available for this workspace" reddit.com
- Reddit r/codex: "Your Dot is resting" and the preview limit reddit.com
- Reddit r/OpenAI: usage stop after a mailbox clean-up reddit.com
- Reddit r/OpenAI: dot stopped replying, later explained by a usage limit reddit.com
- OpenAI community forum: preview limit found in task records community.openai.com
- OpenAI community forum: HTTP 409 when resuming after a safety pause community.openai.com
- Reddit r/ChatGPTPro: Your dot paused out of precaution reddit.com
- OpenAI community forum: cloud browser blocked after manual sign-in community.openai.com
- Reddit r/ChatGPTPro: cloud browser blocked on every site reddit.com
- Reddit r/ChatGPTPro: dot cannot use the connected computer's browser reddit.com
- Reddit r/codex: Windows tasks started by a dot lose computer use reddit.com
- OpenAI community forum: computer use in local Windows tasks community.openai.com
- Reddit r/ChatGPTPro: PC connection issue, with one reported fix reddit.com
- Reddit r/codex: unsupported placement format version 1 reddit.com
- OpenAI community forum: agent thread limit reached community.openai.com
- OpenAI community forum: Google Calendar "Bad Request." community.openai.com
- X: picture of "Dots aren’t available in your region yet" x.com
- X: picture of "Dots aren't available on your plan yet" x.com
- X: picture of "Dots require a Pro plan" x.com
- Simon Willison's Weblog: picture of "Please create a dot on your computer" simonwillison.net
- Reddit r/codex: picture of the "Allow members to use dots" switch reddit.com
- X: picture of "Your dot is on a break" x.com
- X: picture of the preview limit message x.com
- X: picture of "You've hit your usage limit" x.com
- X: picture of "Selected model is at capacity" x.com
- X: pictures of "Paused as a precaution" and "Something went wrong" x.com
- X: picture of "Your dot was paused out of precaution" x.com
- X: picture of "These findings aren’t available" x.com
- X: picture of "Call failed" x.com
- X: picture of a call stuck on "Calling..." x.com
- X: pictures of "Computer unavailable" and "Aw, Snap!" x.com
- X: picture of "Couldn't load this Cloud file" x.com
- X: picture of "Failed to resume chat" x.com
- X: picture of "Error submitting message" x.com
- X: picture of "Couldn’t open this conversation" x.com
- X: picture of the "Reconnect Linear" chips x.com
- The AI Advantage on YouTube: screenshots of the call banner and the Scheduled page youtube.com
- Pat Simmons on YouTube: screenshot of the blocked page in the cloud browser youtube.com
- Zinho Automates on YouTube: screenshot of a computer shown as Offline youtube.com
- Peter Yang on YouTube: screenshot of an approval that was not accepted youtube.com