ChatGPT Agent Not Working? Here's How to Fix Common Issues

ChatGPT Agents offer powerful browser-based automation — but they don’t always work as expected. From frozen agents to browser errors and incomplete tasks, there are several frustrating issues users encounter.

This no-fluff guide walks you through the most common problems and how to fix them — fast.

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🔄 1. Agent Not Responding at All

If your agent seems to “freeze” after launching:

• Check your input format: The agent might expect a URL, file, or prompt structure.

• Restart the agent: Use the stop icon and re-launch. This solves most temporary glitches.

• Clear browser sessions: Old sessions may conflict with new ones.

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🔐 2. Session or Login Errors

Agents that interact with authenticated services (like Gmail, Notion, or internal dashboards) might fail due to:

• Expired sessions

• Logged-out tabs

• Incorrect browser state

Fix:

• Head to Settings → Custom Browsing in ChatGPT

• Re-authenticate and save the session

• Try again with a fresh start

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🛑 3. Agent Gets Stuck or Times Out

Some agents appear to hang mid-task or show no progress.

Quick fixes:

• Reduce task complexity (don’t ask for 10 steps at once)

• Split large prompts into smaller ones

• Avoid unsupported browser actions (like drag & drop)

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⚠️ 4. ChatGPT Agent Can’t Click or Navigate

Agents often rely on semantic understanding of a web page. If the UI changes or is too dynamic, clicks may fail.

Tips:

• Use precise language like: “Click the blue button labeled ‘Download’”

• Include full URLs instead of partial references

• Avoid iframes or complex shadow DOM components

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🔄 5. Agent Repeats Itself or Loops

If your agent keeps repeating or gets stuck in a loop:

• Check the prompt history for confusing logic

• Rewrite instructions using numbered steps

• Avoid vague phrases like “go to the next one”

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👷‍♂️ Bonus: Build Your Own Reliable Agent

Sometimes, building a custom agent through the OpenAI platform or using Make.com can offer more stability and flexibility.

Want to explore this?

→ See how we build ChatGPT Agents that don’t break

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Final Thoughts

OpenAI's ChatGPT Agents are still in early development. Expect bugs — and prepare workarounds. But when they work, they can truly transform how you automate tasks.

Having trouble with deeper agent tasks?
→ Run our AI Scan and get practical advice on how to integrate agents into your workflows.