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

OpenAI's ChatGPT Agents mark a turning point in AI productivity—but they’re not without flaws. Since the public launch, users have reported issues ranging from broken tasks to failed browser sessions. If you’ve been stuck waiting, debugging, or wondering if it’s your setup or OpenAI's backend, this is the guide for you.

Why Do ChatGPT Agents Break?

ChatGPT Agents are still in early stages of rollout. While marketed as AI that can “act” rather than “just chat”, the infrastructure behind agents relies heavily on:

• Browser-based automation (via Watch mode)
• Session stability
• Accurate task interpretation
• External site interactions

Even a small variable—like a popup modal or rate-limiting on a target site—can cause an agent to silently fail.

Top 7 Common Problems (and How to Solve Them)

1. Agent Freezes or Never Completes the Task

Symptoms: You click "run", the task starts, but the agent seems to hang forever.

Why it happens: Agents can run for up to 30 minutes, especially for complex workflows. If the agent hits an unexpected element (e.g. cookie banners, two-factor prompts), it often doesn’t report failure.

Fix:

• Use simpler, well-scoped instructions
• Avoid websites with high-security login barriers
• Expect long run-times and refresh only after 30+ minutes

2. The Agent Won’t Stay Logged In (Session Lost)

Symptoms: The agent opens a website but seems “not logged in,” even though you are.

Why it happens: The agent runs in a virtual Chrome session, and your session doesn’t persist unless Watch Mode is configured correctly.

Fix:

• Enable Watch Mode and stay on the same page
• Avoid logging out or switching tabs during the task
• Clear cookies before re-running if the agent fails

3. Agent Doesn’t Understand the Prompt or Makes Mistakes

Symptoms: It does the wrong thing, repeats actions, or executes incomplete tasks.

Why it happens: Current agents rely on natural language parsing, and ambiguous prompts often lead to misfires.

Fix:

• Write step-by-step, numbered prompts
  Example:
  1. Open Gmail 2. Search for “invoice” 3. Summarize results in bullets
• Always test with low-risk actions first (e.g., read-only tasks)

4. The Agent Can’t Access Sites Like LinkedIn, Gmail, or Stripe

Symptoms: Task fails without visible error when targeting high-security platforms.

Why it happens: Many platforms block headless browsers or require 2FA, which agents cannot bypass.

Fix:

• Use agents for data collection or simulations, not real account actions
• Consider manual handoff steps for gated platforms

5. No Error Message, Just “Task Failed”

Symptoms: It fails silently with no explanation.

Why it happens: Agents do not yet report full telemetry or logs. Even DOM mismatches or permission errors may result in blank outputs.

Fix:

• Reword the prompt with more context
• Break up the task into micro-actions
• Use OpenAI’s feedback tool to report repeatable failures

6. ChatGPT Interface Crashes or Freezes

Symptoms: White screen, frozen chat, or "Something went wrong" messages.

Why it happens: WebSocket failures, backend overloads, or browser conflicts are common under load.

Fix:

• Open status.openai.com to check outages
• Try incognito mode or a different browser
• Disable extensions like ad blockers

7. Browser Actions Are Too Slow or Repetitive

Symptoms: The agent clicks multiple times, scrolls excessively, or navigates in odd ways.

Why it happens: The agent doesn’t always recognize successful element interaction and may retry unnecessarily.

Fix:

• Don’t rely on visual outcomes—ask for output confirmation
  e.g., "After completing step 3, type 'Done'"
• Refine the task to fewer steps and cleaner interfaces

Advanced Tips for Devs & Power Users

If you’re integrating agents into more advanced workflows:

• Avoid chaining multi-platform actions in one run
• Use short, scoped prompts for precision
• When testing, record the browser activity to understand what went wrong
• Ask the agent to explain its plan before running the task

But What About Security?

A major concern on platforms like Reddit and Dev.to is whether ChatGPT Agents have secure access to browser sessions.

The short answer: partially secure, but not production-grade.

Agents can access your Chrome session in real-time when “Watch Me” is enabled. However, if you stay logged into sensitive services like banking or email, the agent could theoretically perform actions without full visibility into its decision chain.

For now, do not allow agents access to:

• Payment platforms (Stripe, PayPal)
• Internal dashboards without access control
• Company admin tools or HR systems

Until OpenAI adds granular permissioning or audit trails, treat every agent like a junior intern with admin access: watch carefully and limit what they see.

Final Thoughts

ChatGPT Agents are powerful—but fallible. If they’re not working for you, you're not alone. Think of this as an early beta, with massive potential but real limitations.

The fix isn’t always technical—it’s strategic:

• Simplify prompts
• Avoid security-restricted tasks
• Stay patient during complex flows

If you want to build your own AI agents with more control, flexibility, and reliability—especially for internal business processes Scalevise helps you deploy robust AI automations and agent architectures with production-ready infrastructure.