1. Use Your Phone as Virtual Remote

The Google Home app has a built-in virtual Chromecast remote control. Use the Google Home app to navigate your Chromecast if the physical remote isn’t working.

Connect your smartphone to the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast and follow the steps below.

1. Install Google Home on your Android or iOS smartphone and sign into the Google account linked to your Chromecast.
2. The app should automatically detect your Chromecast if it’s on the same Wi-Fi network as your phone. Head to the Devices tab and select your Chromecast.

Tap the Add button to manually link your Chromecast if the Google Home app doesn’t detect it automatically.

3. Tap Remote (iOS) or Open remote (Android) to launch the Chromecast virtual remote.

The Google Home app will display the virtual remote control on your phone screen.

You can customize the virtual remote to use Swipe or D-pad navigation control. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner and select Swipe control or D-pad control.

2. Check Battery Status or Replace Batteries

Your Chromecast remote won’t work if its batteries are dead or inserted incorrectly. Check the battery level of your Voice Remote in the settings menu.

Open the virtual Chromecast remote in the Google Home app and follow the steps below.

1. Select your profile picture/icon in the top-right corner and select Settings.

2. Choose Remotes & Accessories.

3. Check the Battery level of your Chromecast Remote in the “Chromecast Voice Remote” section. Reinsert or change your Chromecast Remote batteries if the battery level/status isn’t “Good.”

Open your Voice Remote’s back cover and check that the batteries are secure and fitted correctly. Align the battery polarities—positive(+) and negative(-) sides—in line with the inscription in the battery compartment. The LED light on the Chromecast Voice Remote should pulse twice when you reinsert the batteries.

Insert two new 1.5 Volts AAA alkaline batteries in your Voice Remote if the LED light doesn’t flash. Ensure you replace both batteries, not one—the issue might persist if you mix old and new batteries.

3. Update Your Chromecast Remote

The Chromecast Voice Remote might malfunction if its firmware needs to be updated. Use the Google Home app virtual remote to check if there’s an update available for your remote.

1. Select your profile icon in the top-right corner and select Settings.

2. Choose Remotes & Accessories.

3. If there’s an “Update available” message below your Chromecast Remote, select the remote to install the update.

4. Select Remote update to proceed.

5. Select Continue to start the remote software update.

6. Updating the remote unpairs it from your Chromecast. Select Connect after the update to re-pair the remote.

7. Select Yes to continue.

4. Reset or Re-Pair Your Chromecast Remote

Resetting your Chromecast’s remote can get it working correctly again. Follow the steps below to reset a Chromecast Voice Remote to factory default.

1. Open the remote’s back cover, remove both batteries, and wait five minutes.
2. Press and hold the Home button on the remote.

3. Reinsert both batteries in the remote while holding the Home button. The remote’s LED light will come on and stay solid.
4. Release the Home button when the LED light starts flashing/pulsing.

The remorse should automatically pair with your Chromecast after the reset. If it doesn’t, or the LED light keeps flashing, pair the remote manually using the virtual remote in the Google Home app.

5. Go to Settings > Remotes & Accessories > Pair remote or accessory.

6. Press and hold the Home and Back buttons on your Chromecast Voice Remote. That’ll put the remote in pairing mode and make it discoverable.

7. Select the remote when it appears on your TV screen.

5. Reboot Your Chromecast

Performing a system reboot can fix glitches with your Chromecast and Chromecast Voice Remote. You can reboot your Chromecast from the Google TV settings or by reconnecting the streaming device to its power source.

Reboot Chromecast from the Settings Menu

1. Select your profile picture/icon in the top-right corner of your screen and select Settings.

2. Choose System on the sidebar and select Restart.

3. Select Restart again on the confirmation pop-up to reboot your Chromecast device.

Perform a Hard Reboot

Unplug your Chromecast from its power source, wait 1-2 minutes, and reconnect the power cable.

Update your Chromecast’s software if the remote still malfunctions after the reboot.

6. Update Your Chromecast

Google recommends installing updates to your Chromecast to enjoy the latest features and troubleshoot system glitches.

Use the virtual remote in the Google Home app to update your Chromecast software to the latest version.

1. Select your profile icon on your Chromecast Home Screen and select Settings.
2. Select System on the sidebar.
3. Next, select About.
4. Select System update and wait while your Chromecast scans for available updates.

5. You’ll see a “System update ready” message if there’s an update for your device. Select Install to start the software update process.

6. Select Restart now to install the update.

Perform a factory reset if the remote still doesn’t work after updating your Chromecast’s software.

7. Reset Your Chromecast

Factory resetting your Chromecast deletes downloaded apps, files, settings, and accounts. We recommend resetting your Chromecast only when the troubleshooting fixes above fail to fix the remote malfunction.

You can reset your Chromecast from the Google Home app or with the physical button on the streaming device.

Factory Reset Chromecast Using Virtual Remote

Open the virtual Chromecast remote in the Google Home app and follow the step below.

1. Select your profile picture in the top corner and select Settings.
2. Go to System > About and select Factory reset.

3. Select Factory reset on the confirmation page to proceed.

Factory Reset Chromecast Using Physical Button

Keep your Chromecast plugged into its power source and turned on. Hold down the physical button at the back of the streaming device.

Release the button when the LED blinks yellow and then turns solid white. Your Chromecast should restart and automatically pair with the remote after the factory reset.

Fix Google Chromecast Remote

Contact Google Support if your Chromecast Voice Remote doesn’t work after trying all the recommendations above. You’ll get a replacement Voice Remote if the one you have has a factory defect. You can also purchase a replacement remote from Google Store or Amazon for $19.99.

However, if you need help with the signup process, don’t worry! In this article, we’ll explore some common problems users face and provide several fixes to get you up and running quickly when you see “signup is currently unavailable” or another problem that prevents you from using or reaching the ChatGPT login page.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

Before troubleshooting any technical issues, ensuring your internet connection is stable is critical. A weak or intermittent connection can lead to errors during the signup process.

Start by examining your physical setup. Ensure that all cables connecting your modem and router are securely plugged in. A loose or faulty connection can cause intermittent dropouts or weak signals, messing with your ability to access the internet reliably. Also, take a moment to ensure that the Wi-Fi router is adequately powered on and functioning. Refer to its manual to know what the indicator lights should look like when everything is normal.

If you’re connected to the internet via Wi-Fi, evaluate the signal strength and proximity to the router. The farther away you are from the router, the weaker the signal may become, potentially leading to connectivity issues. Likewise, some objects or metal pipes in the walls of older buildings can blog radio signals. Try moving closer to the router, or consider using a Wi-Fi network extender to strengthen the signal throughout your home or workspace.

Next, perform a quick reboot of your modem and router. Power them off, wait for a few seconds, and then power them back on. Restarting your networking equipment can resolve temporary glitches and refresh the connection between your device and the internet service provider.

If you still suspect that your overall connection might be the problem, check out our guide on troubleshooting internet connectivity issues.

2. Clear Your Browser Cache To Fix ChatGPT Sign-Up

Clearing your browser cache is a quick and easy way to resolve many web-based problems. Although we’ll focus on Google Chrome, the general concept applies to most browsers.

1. Open Google Chrome. In the top-right corner of the window, you’ll spot three dots. Select them, and a menu will appear.
2. Select Settings. Once you’ve done that, a fresh tab will appear, revealing the Chrome Settings page. This is the main control panel for your browsing experience.

3. Choose Privacy and Security in the left-hand sidebar. Select it to reveal a whole list of privacy and security options.

4. Select Clear browsing data and a new tab will appear, offering various data-clearing options.

5. Make sure you have the Cached images and files option selected. If you’re a little more ambitious, you can clear other browsing data like cookies or browsing history. It’s up to you how thorough you want to be, but clearing your cookies will mean logging out of every website; in this case, you’ll have to log in again manually with your login credentials.

6. Once you’ve selected it, click the Clear data button and watch as the digital cobwebs are swept away, leaving you with a fresh and tidy browser cache.

Remember, these steps may differ slightly depending on your browser, but the general concept remains the same.

3. Try a Different Browser

If clearing your browser cache doesn’t work, it’s worth trying a different browser altogether. Browsers can have unique quirks that may interfere with the signup process. Popular alternatives like Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge are excellent options to consider.

4. Use Incognito Mode

When troubleshooting login issues, using incognito mode can help identify if the problem lies with your browser’s extensions or settings. Here’s how to open an incognito window in different browsers:

1. Google Chrome: Press Ctrl+Shift+N
2. Mozilla Firefox: Press Ctrl+Shift+P
3. Microsoft Edge: Press Ctrl+Shift+N
4. Apple Safari: Command + Shift + N

Once in incognito mode, attempt to sign up for ChatGPT again. If it works in incognito mode, disabling browser extensions or adjusting your regular browsing mode settings may solve the problem.

Just remember that incognito mode won’t hide your location, so you can’t use it to bypass any geographical restrictions preventing your signup.

5. Consider Peak Times

At peak times, the ChatGPT servers may experience high traffic, leading to server errors and temporary unavailability of the signup process. If you encounter such errors, please try again later when the server load is likely lower.

Peak times typically correspond to periods when many users actively engage with ChatGPT. These peaks can occur during specific hours, days of the week, or even in response to events or announcements that spark heightened interest in the service. During these spikes in usage, the servers may become strained, causing delays, timeouts, or server errors when attempting to sign up for ChatGPT.

If you can’t sign up and keep getting kicked out of an unresponsive page or even an error message, too many people are trying to get on ChatGPT simultaneously. You can always head over to their official OpenAI status page, where it will show you if the ChatGPT service is having outages or not.

Remember time zones, too; the servers you’re trying to access may be in a different time zone, shifting the peak times for you to hours that might seem unusual.

6. Contact Support

If you’ve exhausted the previous options and cannot sign up, it’s time to contact OpenAI’s support team. They have a dedicated support system to assist users facing technical issues. Visit the OpenAI website or contact their support team directly for further guidance.

Remember to document any error messages or issues you encounter along the way. Taking a screenshot can be particularly helpful when contacting support or seeking assistance online. By providing specific details, you enable others to assist you more effectively.

7. Try From a Different Device

If you’re attempting to sign up for ChatGPT using a specific device, such as a Windows PC or an iPhone, try switching to a different device. Sometimes, compatibility issues can arise due to device-specific configurations. Signing up from another device or operating system might bypass these obstacles.

At the time of writing, there’s an official ChatGPT iPhone app (with Android still coming), which you can also use to sign up. Just choose the “Sign up with email” option to create an OpenAI account. This could be a workaround if the website itself has an issue unrelated to any back-end signup processes.

8. Consider a VPN

Regional restrictions or network configurations may sometimes interfere with the signup process. A virtual private network (VPN) can help bypass these restrictions by routing your internet traffic through a different location. Select a reliable VPN service, connect to a different server location, and then attempt to sign up for ChatGPT.

Just remember you still need a valid phone number used for authentication to sign up, and if you want ChatGPT Plus, you’ll also need a valid payment method. If either of these is from a different region than you’ve set your VPN to, it may not work.

As of this writing, ChatGPT is banned in these countries: Afghanistan, Belarus, Burundi, Central African Republic, China, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Libya, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.

More countries may follow suit, or some currently banning the AI tool may change their laws or policy decisions to unban it. Be warned that if you gain access to ChatGPT in a country where it’s legally banned, you could get into some serious trouble.

9. Explore ChatGPT Alternatives

If all else fails and you can still access ChatGPT, consider exploring alternative AI chatbot platforms. While ChatGPT is an impressive language model, other options are available, such as BARD, GPT-4, Bing AI, or AI-powered tools provided by companies like Amazon or Apple. These alternatives may offer similar functionalities and help you achieve your goals.

How to Check PS5 DualSense Controller Battery Life

It’s easy to check your controller’s battery life while it’s charging. Just press the PS button on the controller. While it’s charging, you’ll see an animated battery icon. Once the controller’s battery is fully charged, the battery icon will be static and display three bars.

How to Make Your PS5 DualSense Controller Battery Last Longer

You might be doing certain things that cause your controller battery to drain faster than normal — and you’re not alone. Luckily, there are steps you can take to make your PS5 controller battery last longer, and we’ll show you some tips and tricks below.

Set Your Controller to Turn Off Automatically

It makes sense that leaving your controller on for hours when you’re not using it quickly drains battery life. The best way to combat this is to set your controller to turn off automatically when you’re not using it. Here’s how to do that:

1. From the PS5 main menu, select Settings.
2. Select System > Power Saving.
3. Under Set Time Until Controllers Turn Off, you can choose After 10 Minutes, 30 Minutes, 60 Minutes, or Don’t Turn Off.
4. For maximum battery saving, select 10 Minutes.

Your PS5 DualSense controller will now turn off automatically after ten minutes of inactivity.

Turn Off Your Controller Manually

While you could set your controller to turn off automatically, you might prefer to do this manually, for example, if you know you’re going off to do something else and don’t want to wait the set time for it to turn off. Here’s how to turn off your controller manually:

1. Press the PS button.
2. Scroll to the right of the Quick Menu and select Accessories.
3. In the controller pop-up, select DualSense Wireless Controller.
4. Choose Turn Off.

5. When you’re ready to use your controller again, just press the PS button.

Automatically Mute Your Mic

If you’re playing solo and you’re not using a headset, the controller will use a lot more battery life constantly listening for voice commands. While you can press the mic button on the controller to mute it, you might forget to do that every time you’re gaming. You can set your mic to automatically mute, and here’s how:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select Sound > Microphone.
3. Set Microphone Status When Logged In to Mute.

4. You can always quickly turn your mic on and off again using the button on the DualSense controller, if needed.

Change Haptic Feedback and Trigger Effect Intensity

Realistic rumble is all well and good, but the PS5 DualSense controller’s vibration and trigger effect intensity could be impacting battery life. Both of these are set to Strong by default. Here’s how to change them to eke more juice out of your controller’s battery:

1. Go to Settings > Accessories.
2. Select Controller (General).

3. Under Vibration Intensity, select from Strong, Medium, Weak, or Off.
4. Under Trigger Effect Intensity, select from Strong, Medium, Weak, or Off.

5. Though you’ll see maximum battery saving from Weak or Off, we’d recommend Medium for most players, as this gives a good mix of performance and battery saving.

Charge Your Controllers In Rest Mode

Ensuring your controllers are charging whenever your console is in rest mode is a good habit to get into. When you see the orange light on your PS5, it’s in rest mode. Here’s how to set your controllers to charge in rest mode.

1. Go to Settings > System.
2. Select Power Saving.

3. Choose Features Available in Rest Mode.
4. Under Supply Power to USB Ports, select Always, 3 Hours, or Off.

5. The controller should generally reach full charge within three hours, so it’s up to you whether to select Always or 3 Hours.
6. You’ll know whether your controller is charging in rest mode as its LEDs will pulse orange.

Reduce the DualSense Controller Speaker Volume

The controller’s built-in speaker can drain battery life so you can reduce this to save battery, or wear headphones so it isn’t used. Here’s how to reduce the DualSense controller speaker volume:

1. Go to Settings > Accessories.
2. Select Controller (General).
3. Scroll down to Controller Speaker.
4. Use the slider to reduce the volume.

5. You can also access this setting by going to Settings > Sound > Volume > Controller. Speaker.

Adjust Brightness of Controller Indicators

While this won’t make a huge difference to your PS5 controller battery life, every little bit helps. Turning down the brightness of your controller indicators could eke out a little extra battery life to see you through intense gaming sessions without the need to recharge. Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to Settings > Accessories.
2. Select Controller (General).
3. Under Brightness of Controller Indicators, choose from Bright (Standard), Medium, or Dim.
4. Medium is a good setting for most games.

Buy an Extra-Long Charging Cable

If you still can’t seem to get as much battery life as you’d like out of your PS DualSense controller, why not grab an extra-long charging cable? The one shipped with the PS5 is rather short, and buying an extra-long one (around nine feet) means you can carry on gaming while your controller is charging. If your PS5 controller isn’t charging, we’ve got some fixes you can try.

Whether you give a few of these tips and tricks a go or implement them all, you’re sure to notice an improvement in your PS controller battery life, so you won’t need to be constantly plugging your controller in to charge.

Reset HBO Max Password Using the Browser

If you’re using a computer to reset your HBO Max password, you’ll have to do it through the web browser. But the steps are pretty simple:

1. Go to the HBO Max website and select Sign In in the upper right corner of the screen.

2. On the Sign-in page, where the website asks you for your account credentials, select Forgot Password?

3. A pop-up window will ask you to enter your account email address. You’ll have to use the email that you used to create the HBO Max account in the first place. When done, select Submit.

4. Go to your email and check your inbox. Find an email titled “Reset Your HBO Max Password”. You might need to wait several minutes for the password reset email to arrive. If it doesn’t arrive, you may have entered the wrong email address.
5. Once you open the “Reset Your HBO Max Password”, select Reset Password.

6. You’ll be redirected to a Create a New Password page in your browser. Here you’ll have to type in the new password of your choosing and click the Save Password button.

And That’s it. You reset your HBO Max password without having to log in. Now use your HBO Max email and the new password to log in and continue watching your favorite shows.

If you don’t remember the email you used when creating the HBO Max account, you can try going through all your email inboxes and searching for promotional emails from HBO. You don’t have to scroll manually to find it, use the search bar and type in HBO or HBO Max. Search all inbox folders, including Spam and Trash. When you find such an email, try using that email address to access your HBO Max account or to change your password.

Reset HBO Max Password on Mobile Phone

If you prefer to change your HBO Max password using a mobile phone or a tablet, follow these steps:

1. Open the HBO Max app and tap the profile icon in the lower-right corner of the screen.

2. Tap Sign in to your account and select Forgot password.

3. Enter your email and tap Submit. Just as described above, you’ll need to use your original HBO Max account email.

4. Go to your Mail app and find the “Reset Your HBO Max Password” email in the inbox.
5. From the email, select Reset Password.
6. Enter the new password when prompted and tap Save Password.

Note: It doesn’t matter if you use an Android or iOS device. These steps are the same.

Reset HBO Max Password While Logged In

If you need to reset your password but you remain logged in to your HBO Max account, you can do it easily. You can do it even if you didn’t forget your password but need to change it for security reasons.

To do it from a desktop computer:

1. Go to HBO’s homepage.
2. Click the profile icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
3. Select Account from the drop-down menu.

4. Find the Account Details section, and select the Edit icon that’s right next to your password.

5. A one-time code will be sent to your email. Use it to verify your email address when prompted. Enter the code and select Continue.

6. On the new page, you’ll be able to enter the new password of your choosing. To make a strong password that’ll protect your account make sure to use a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. When done, select Save.

To do it from the mobile phone app:

1. Open the HBO Max app on your Android or iOS device and log into your account.
2. Tap the profile icon.
3. Select the Settings button in the upper-left corner.

4. Select Account from the menu.

5. Tap the Edit icon next to your password in the Account Details section.

6. Enter the one-time code that was sent to your email, and tap Continue.

7. Enter a new password when prompted, and tap Save when finished.

In both cases, whether you do it through a web browser or mobile app, you should receive an email that confirms your password was changed.

After all this, you should have ready access to your HBO Max account. While it may feel like a hassle, the truth is that having secure passwords makes for a safer and more reliable online experience. What’s more, having an HBO Max subscription means you get access to an incredible selection of award-winning shows and movies right at your fingertips. So don’t let a forgotten password stand in the way.

In this article, we’ll explain what causes the Roku error code 014.30 and what steps you can take to fix it.

What Causes Roku Error Code 014.30?

Most of the time, the 014.30 error code is caused by a poor or non-existent internet connection. However, there are several possible reasons that you’re experiencing this error code, including:

1. Connectivity issues. If your Roku device gets access to the internet via your Wi-Fi, you may have a poor wireless signal that’s preventing effective streaming.
2. TV configuration. You may have updated your TV or changed a setting that prevents your Roku device from working correctly when connected.
3. Invalid Wi-Fi password or SSID. If you set up your Roku device and used the wrong password or SSID for your wireless network, your device will not be able to gain access to the internet.

How to Fix Roku Error Code 014.30

Here are 5 steps to fix this frustrating error code.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

The first thing to do is make sure that your internet isn’t down. Here are a few things to try:

1. Check other devices. Try loading a webpage on another device like your Android phone or PC — if it loads quickly, your internet itself likely isn’t at fault. If it doesn’t load, your internet may be down. Contact your internet service provider (ISP) to find out what’s going on.
2. Reboot your modem. Resetting your wireless router can resolve many problems with your Wi-Fi connection and can be a good thing to do periodically.
3. Rule out your network. Try disconnecting and reconnecting your Roku device from the Wi-Fi network. Likewise, try connecting it to a different network to see if it’s the network itself causing the problem.
4. Improve signal strength. If you think the error is being caused by a poor internet signal, you should try moving your router and Roku device closer together. You could also invest in a Wi-Fi extender to get additional reach out of your wireless network.

If these steps don’t work, check out our complete guide on how to troubleshoot a poor internet connection.

You can also check that you’re getting full download speeds by running an internet speed test. If everything is working correctly, it’s time to move to the next step.

2. Restart Your Roku Device

A simple restart can fix many issues. Using the Roku Remote, navigate to your device settings by pressing the Home button and selecting Settings > System. Here, select System Restart, then Restart to confirm your choice. Once your device resets, check to see whether it’s working correctly.

3. Check Your Roku Device’s Network Connection

Next, it’s time to make sure that your Roku device is configured correctly. To do so:

1. Open Settings using the Roku Remote.
2. Select Network.
3. Select Setup Connection, then choose Wireless.

4. Choose your network and enter your password. Take your time and remember that SSIDs are case-sensitive, so be careful of pressing caps lock.
5. Finally, select Connect.

4. Update Your Roku Device

If it still isn’t working, you can try updating your Roku Device to the latest version. To do so, you’ll need to connect it to a different Wi-Fi network (like your mobile hotspot), or via an Ethernet cable to your router.

Once connected, navigate to Settings and select System Update (or Update Software depending on your version). When it finishes, reboot your device and connect to the original Wi-Fi network.

5. Factory Reset Your Roku Device

If nothing else has worked, your final resort is to factory reset your Roku device and hope that it clears the error. To do so:

1. Press the Home button on the Roku remote to open the Home screen.
2. Select Settings > System > Advanced system settings.

3. Select Factory reset then Factory reset everything.

4. Once completed, set your Roku device up and add your Wi-Fi network.

Streaming Has Never Been Easier

Roku devices make watching streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime much easier — if they work correctly. Hopefully, this troubleshooting guide has helped you get your Roku up and running again. If not, try contacting Roku’s customer support at their official website.

In this article, we’ll explain what causes the ChatGPT access denied error code 1020 and how to fix it.

What Causes the ChatGPT Error Code 1020?

When trying to access the ChatGPT website, you might be hit with the following error message: “Access denied error code 1020. You do not have access to chat.openai.com. The site owner may have set restrictions that prevent you from accessing the site.”

Mostly, this error is caused when the site owner has blocked your IP address due to suspicion that you’re abusing ChatGPT or using malicious software. Often, this occurs automatically via a security solution like Cloudflare and may be a false positive that you just got caught up in.

However, this error has a few potential causes, including:

• IP address blocking. The website, service, or app that you’re trying to access may have a firewall that blocked your IP address. The most likely reason for this is that it detected suspicious or malicious activity (for example, if you try to access the website too frequently).
• Proxy server or VPN problems. ChatGPT may have blocked your proxy server or virtual private network (VPN) IP, especially if it’s associated with suspicious activity.
• Faulty web browser or extensions. Occasionally, this error can be caused by a misconfiguration of your web browser or a browser extension that appears suspicious.
• Internal ChatGPT issues. Interestingly, if you ask ChatGPT what causes this error, it states that it’s due to an “internal error with the ChatGPT chatbot”, such as when there are too many concurrent requests and the server gets overloaded. This also includes misconfigurations in the ChatGPT service when using it with third-party applications.

How to Fix ChatGPT Error Code 1020

Here are five ways you can ‌fix ChatGPT access denied error:

1. Disable VPN and Proxy Server

One of the most common reasons for the 1020 error code is that your IP address has had its access permissions blocked. By changing your IP address, you may be able to bypass the error and access ChatGPT as normal.

If you already use a VPN service, try disabling it or configuring it to another location. This will alter your IP address and may let you regain access to ChatGPT.

The same goes for your proxy server. Disable it and check if you can access ChatGPT. If you can, you’ll need to change to a different proxy server in the future.

If nothing else works, try accessing ChatGPT from a different internet connection such as from your Apple iPhone or Android mobile Wi-Fi hotspot.

2. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

As mentioned above, common browser issues like a corrupted cache can cause the ChatGPT 1020 error. To troubleshoot this, try clearing your browser’s cache, stored site data, and cookies (especially ChatGPT’s cookies).

Check out how to clear the history and cache of any web browser.

3. Disable Extensions

Your web browser extensions and add-ons can interfere with ChatGPTs functions or make your activity appear suspicious, resulting in the 1020 error code.

The easiest way to check whether your extensions are causing the error is to load ChatGPT in incognito or private mode. In Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari, incognito browsing functions without your extensions.

If ChatGPT works in incognito mode, temporarily disable all of your extensions and re-enable them one by one until you discover which one is causing the glitch.

If disabling your extensions doesn’t help, try using a different web browser with no extensions enabled.

4. Wait…

Since this error code can arise from internal server errors, it’s sometimes worth waiting it out. You can also check social media and websites like DownDetector to see if anyone else is reporting problems with ChatGPT.

5. Contact the Site Owner (and ChatGPT’s Support Team)

If you still haven’t regained access, it’s time to reach out for help. If you’re trying to access a third-party site or application that uses ChatGPT, reach out to the owner or support team to see if they can help you regain access.

If you can’t access ChatGPT itself, contact ChatGPT’s support team to troubleshoot the issue. You can do this by going to the help.openai.com website and selecting the chat bubble.

Back to Work

AI tools like ChatGPT are becoming more and more popular as they help people complete their work with less effort. Hopefully, this article helped you clear ChatGPT’s error code 1020 access denied so that you can get back to work.

Instead of hassling with add-ons or third-party apps, you can improve your workflow when creating various types of documents with the Variable Smart Chip functionality.

Note: As of this writing, the Variable Smart Chip is available to Google Workspace Business Standard and Plus, Enterprise Standard and Plus, Education Plus, and Nonprofit customers. Hopefully, Google will bring the feature to personal Google accounts at some point.

About Variable Smart Chips

As mentioned, the Variable Smart Chip is a text placeholder that you can insert in your document. This is ideal for text you want someone else to add like first or last name, address, or phone number. You can also use Variables for things you need to add but are waiting for like a product title, date, or website address.

Whether you use Variables for yourself or another you’re sharing with, they allow you to create your document and add those items later.

Once you add a Variable, you can assign its value, the text, at any time. Then, every spot you use the Variable in the document updates with that value.

Let’s look at how to insert and use Variables in Google Docs with a couple of examples.

How to Insert a Variable Smart Chip

To add a Variable Smart Chip to your document, follow these simple steps.

1. Place your cursor where you want it and then do one of the following:
2. Select Insert > Smart chips and choose Variables in the pop-out menu.
3. Type the @ (At) symbol and choose Variable from the drop-down menu.

4. In the small window that appears, select Insert new variable.

5. Give your Variable a name in the subsequent pop-up window. You can also use the default naming convention, Variable 1, Variable 2, and so on. Select Create.

6. You’ll then see the Variable with its name in your document and in the Variables sidebar that opens on the right.

You can add more Variables for other items to your document the same way. Just keep in mind that the additional Variables should be used for different items. For example, you can create one Variable for name and a second Variable for address.

Reuse a Variable Smart Chip

The purpose of the Variable is to place it in your document where you need it and then update it with its value when you’re ready.

To insert the same Variable in another location, do one of the following:

• Select Insert > Smart chips, choose Variables, and pick the Variable name from the pop-up list.
• Type the @ (At) symbol, choose Variable, and pick the Variable name from the pop-up list.
• Open the Variables sidebar, hover over the Variable you want to use, and select Insert.

Assign a Value to a Variable

Once you add a Variable to your document, you can assign its value at any time. The value is the text you want to use. You can do this in the Variable itself or in the sidebar.

Add Text Using the Variable

To assign a value to the Variable in-place, select the Variable and enter the text you want to use. This automatically saves the value to that Variable.

Add Text Using the Sidebar

To assign a value in the Variables sidebar, either select the Variable and use the Open in sidebar icon in the toolbar that appears or go to Tools > Variables in the menu.

Select No value below the Variable name. You’ll see the Variable in your document empty and ready for you to enter the text. Once you do, use Enter or Return to save it.

After you assign a value to your Variable, you’ll see this update in every location you place the Variable in your document, which is the intent of the Smart Chip.

Rename a Variable

Because the default names for Variables are not obvious, you may want to give them more meaningful names. This is especially helpful if you create several Variables for your document.

Open the Variables sidebar, hover your cursor over the Variable you want to rename, and select the Edit name icon (pencil).

When the rename pop-up appears, give it a new name and select Save.

You’ll then see the updated name in the sidebar, list of variables to insert, and inside the Variable itself until you assign its value.

Remove a Variable

If you decide you no longer want to use a Variable, you can delete it. Keep in mind that this will remove the Variable, and its value if assigned, from every location in your document.

Open the Variables sidebar, hover your cursor over the Variable you want to remove, and select the Delete variable definition icon (trash can).

In the confirmation pop-up, select Delete to remove the Variable.

Example Uses for Variables in Google Docs

If you’re wondering how to use Variables for your own purposes, we have a couple of examples.

Marketing Copy

Here, we’re creating a document for our client’s new product. We don’t have the product name or the website address yet, so we insert Variables for those two items instead. With the Variables sidebar open, you can see them with blue borders throughout the text.

Once our client provides us these details, we simply assign the values to the Variables and our document automatically updates. Those variables then display the text and gray borders.

When you close the Variables sidebar, you’ll notice those Variables look just like the rest of the text without any borders.

Shared Documents

In this next example, we have a document we want someone else to complete with their details. We set up Variables for first name, last name, address, phone number, and date.

When we share the document, the recipient simply selects each Variable and enters their information. The Variables that are used more than once update automatically.

We then have our completed document where the Variables appear like any other text.

Note: If you share a document using Variables with more than one person, the assigned values will update with each change. To avoid this, you may ask each of your recipients to make a copy for their changes.

Save Time, Minimize Errors, and Organize

Google has introduced several new Smart Chips in the last year since the introduction of the Smart Canvas feature. You can add a calendar event using a Date chip, link to a file name with the File chip, and include contact details with the People chip.

Now, you can save time from typing the same text over and over as well as reduce the risk of typos and organize your document using the Variable Smart Chip in Google Docs. Keep this handy feature in mind for your next document.

For more ways to save time in Google apps, look at how to use a drop-down list in Google Sheets.

Here, we’ll walk through several cool Google Sheets features that might just become your fast favorites. Head to Google Sheets, sign in with your Google account, and try out some of these hidden gems.

1. Extract Data From a Smart Chip

If you’ve taken advantage of the Smart Chips in Google’s apps, then you’ll be happy to know you can do even more with them. After you insert a Smart Chip, you can extract data from it and place it in your sheet, making chips even more useful.

You can currently extract data from People, File, and Calendar Event Smart Chips. This includes name and email, owner and filename, and summary and location.

1. After you insert a Smart Chip, hover your cursor over it, select it, or right-click. Then, choose Data extractions.

2. When the sidebar opens, use the Extract tab to mark the checkboxes for those items you want to extract.

3. Use the Extract to field to enter or select the sheet location where you want the data.

4. Pick Extract and you’ll see your data display in your selected location.

If you need to refresh the extracted data, you can use the Refresh & manage tab in the sidebar.

2. Create a QR Code

QR codes are popular ways to share information, direct people to your website, and even provide discounts. By creating your own QR code in Google Sheets without add-ons or third-party tools, you or your collaborators can quickly take action.

To make the QR code, you’ll use the Google Sheets IMAGE function and a link to Google’s root URL: https://chart.googleapis.com/chart?.

Here, we’ll link to the website in cell A1 using the formula below. Place the formula in the cell where you want the QR code.

=IMAGE(“https://chart.googleapis.com/chart?chs=500×500&cht=qr&chl=”&ENCODEURL(A1))

Use the following arguments to build your formula:

• CHS argument: Define the dimensions of the QR code in pixels (chs=500×500).
• CHT argument: Specify a QR code (cht=qr).
• CHL argument: Choose the URL data (chl=”&ENCODEURL(A1)).

Then, use the ampersand operator (&) to connect the arguments.

Once you see the code, you may need to resize the row and/or column to view its full size. Then, scan the QR code to make sure it works as you expect.

You can also use optional arguments for encoding the data in a particular way or assigning a correction level. For more on these arguments, check out the Google Charts Infographics reference page for QR codes.

3. Insert a Drop-Down List

Drop-down lists are terrific tools for data entry. By selecting an item from a list, you can make sure you’re entering the data you want and can reduce errors at the same time.

Since the introduction of drop-down lists in Sheets, the feature has been enhanced to give you a simpler way to create and manage these helpful lists.

1. Insert a drop-down list by doing one of the following:
2. Select Insert > Dropdown from the menu.
3. Right-click and choose Dropdown.
4. Type the @ (At) symbol and choose Dropdowns in the Components section.

5. You’ll then see the Data Validation Rules sidebar open. Enter the location for the list in the Apply to range box and confirm that Dropdown is selected in the Criteria drop-down menu.

6. Then, add your list items in the Option boxes and optionally select colors for them to the left.

7. To display help text, pick the action for invalid data, or choose the display style, expand the Advanced Options section.

8. When you finish, select Done. Then, use your new drop-down list to enter data in your sheet.

4. Validate an Email Address

When you have a spreadsheet that contains email addresses, whether Gmail, Outlook, or something else, you may want to make sure they’re valid. While Sheets doesn’t show you if an address is legitimate, it does show you if it’s formatted correctly with the @ (At) symbol and a domain.

1. Select the cell(s) you want to check and go to Data > Data validation in the menu.

2. When the Data Validation Rules sidebar opens, select Add rule, confirm or adjust the cells in the Apply to range field, and choose Text is valid email in the Criteria drop-down box.

3. Optionally select the Advanced Options such as showing help text, displaying a warning, or rejecting the input. Pick Done to save and apply the validation rule.

You can then test the validation and options by entering an invalid email address.

5. Make a Custom Function

Are you a fan of using functions and formulas in Google Sheets? If so, why not create your own? Using the Custom Function feature, you can set up your own function and reuse it whenever you like.

1. Select Data > Named functions from the menu.

2. In the Named Functions sidebar that opens, use Add new function at the bottom to create your custom function. You can also look at an example, watch the demonstration, or find out more about the feature.

3. Enter the function name, description, and optionally argument placeholders. Enter the formula you want to use to define the function and select Next.

4. Check out the Function preview and either select Back to make changes or Create to save the new function. Notice you can also add optional arguments if necessary.

5. You’ll then see the function in the sidebar list. Enter it into a cell in your sheet to test it out.

If you need to make edits, reopen the Named Functions sidebar, select the three dots to the right of the function, and pick Edit.

6. Use a Slicer to Filter a Chart

Charts give you handy and effective ways to display your data. Using a slicer, you can filter the data that displays in the chart. This is convenient for reviewing specific portions of the chart data when needed.

Insert a Slicer

After you insert your chart, select it and go to Data > Add a slicer in the menu.

When the sidebar opens, open the Data tab, confirm the Data Range at the top, and then pick the Column to use for the filter.

You’ll see the slicer appear as a black rounded rectangle which you can move or resize as you please.

Use a Slicer

Once you have your slicer, select the Filter button on the left or drop-down arrow on the right. Then, select the data you want to see in the chart which places checkmarks next to those items.

Select OK and you’ll see your chart update immediately.

To return your chart to the original view showing all data, open the filter and pick Select all > OK.

7. Quickly Calculate Data

Sometimes you want to see a quick calculation without adding a formula to your sheet. In Google Sheets, you can simply select the values and then choose a calculation to view without any extra work.

1. Select the data you want to calculate and then look on the bottom right of the tab row. You’ll see the calculation menu in green which contains the Sum of your data.

2. Open that menu and choose the calculation you want to perform. You’ll see the new result in that menu.

3. You can also simply open the menu to see all available calculations in real-time.

If you decide to include the calculation in your sheet, keep the cell selected and choose Explore to the right of the sheet tabs.

When the sidebar opens, drag the calculation you want to use to a cell in your sheet.

8. Explore Ways to Present Your Data

Maybe you have data in your spreadsheet but aren’t sure of the best way to display or analyze it. With the Explore feature, you can see various quick ways to present your data, review details about it, and ask questions.

Select your data and pick Explore on the bottom right.

When the Explore sidebar opens, you’ll see options for your data. Type a question in the Answers section, apply color using the Formatting section, or insert a chart from the Analysis section.

After you finish, simply use the X on the top right of the sidebar to close it.

9. Request Sheet Approvals

If you use a Google Workspace account for business or education, check out the Approvals feature. With it, you can request approvals from others and keep track of what’s approved and what isn’t.

Go to File and select Approvals.

When the Approvals sidebar opens, choose Make a request.

In the pop-up window, add those you want to approve your request and optionally a message. You can also include a due date, allow the approvers to edit the sheet, or lock the file before sending your request for approval. Choose Send request when you finish.

If you haven’t shared the document with the approvers already, you’ll be asked to do so and assign the permissions.

You can then view the status by returning to the Approvals sidebar.

10. Set Up a Custom Date and Time Format

While Google Sheets provides many different ways to format your dates and times, maybe you want something in particular. You can create your own date and time format with the structure, colors, and style you want.

1. Select the cell(s) containing the date or time and go to Format > Number > Custom date and time. Alternatively, you can select the More Formats option in the toolbar and pick Custom date and time.

2. When the window opens, you’ll see the current format for your date and/or time. Select an existing element at the top to change the format or delete it.

3. To add a different element, select the arrow on the right side and choose one from the list. You can then format that element using its arrow.

4. When you finish, select Apply to use the custom date and time format and you should see your sheet update.

With these Google Sheets features, you can do even more with your data. Be sure to try one or more and see which come in handy for you.

For related tutorials, look at how to find duplicates in Google Sheets using the conditional formatting options.

Discord is an online platform that allows its users to easily join in voice or text chat servers populated by tens of thousands of friendly and engaging individuals from around the globe. In this blog post, we’ll share nine of our favorite Discord servers for making friends.

Although some servers are private, and you can join them only if you are invited by a host or other members, there are public Discord servers that you can use to make online friends. Some of them are relatively old and well-known, but some are new servers ready to take on new members. So start making friends in one of the most popular communities, and see where that takes you.

1. ChillZone

Tags: Social, Egirls, Gaming, Fun, Nitro, Anime, Emotes & Emojis.

Number of Members: 445,009

The sheer volume of this server guarantees you’ll find a friend or two here. There are over 445,000 people continuously chatting in this Discord Server and the topics vary from games to crafts, and even astronomy. Join this server and simply jump into the active chat. Since this server is imagined as a virtual chill zone, there’s no need for formal introductions.

There’s no age limit to join this server. People here range from very young to some old-timers. This is the best place where you can find entertainment if you’re bored, but also a place where you can learn something new. Just imagine the experiences all these people have. There are over 40,000 active users at any time.

2. Anime Soul Discord

Tags: Anime

Number of Members: 676,898

Anime Soul Discord is created for sharing all things Anime. If you’re into Anime, this is the place where you’ll meet people with the same interests and tastes as you. Join over half a million people who are discussing daily their favorite animated worlds and characters.

With so many active members you can’t fail to find several friends in Anime Soul Discord. This server took the shape of a social group where you can share anime-related pictures, videos, recipes, and more. If you’re also passionate about manga, don’t worry, there’s a channel dedicated to this form of art too.

3. The Choco Bar Server

Tags: None

Number of Members: 8,533

Choco bar is perhaps not as large as other Discord servers, but it is a perfect choice if you’re looking for a more intimate and tight-knit community. This chill server has no tags because it doesn’t have a main theme. Its goal is to gather different profiles of people and enable them to chat about just about anything.

Nevertheless, there are some topics that are extremely popular. Among them are art, science, fashion, literature, and politics. But the best part is that you don’t really have to be interested in any specific niche in order to make a lot of friends here. Join this server and chat about your daily troubles or the newest accessory you bought.

4. The Weeb Empire

Tags: Anime, Stickers, Memes, Emojis

Number of Members: 182,569

Another popular anime-tagged server is the Weeb Empire. It gathers gamers and anime lovers from all over the world, and all of them are your potential new friends. What’s so special about this server? Well, it’s one of the most active Discord communities out there. It has around 30,000 members online at any given moment, and they are all chatting and socializing.

This is the place where you’ll surely make some new friends. Just join an already flowing chat, or start your own topic and wait for the people to jump into the conversation. It doesn’t matter if it’s day or night, this Discord server always has someone online to talk to.

5. Daddy

Tags: Social, Egirls, Chill, Anime, Emotes, Emojis, Gaming, Nitro, Fun.

Number of Members: 517,527

If you’re looking to increase your social circle, or you’re looking for a new virtual space to hang out in, don’t skip joining the Daddy server. There are over half a million people here and more are joining every day. At any given time, you can find over 40,000 members online ready to make friends.

Although there are specific tags, this friendly server works as a social network and you can chat about anything that comes to your mind. The focus here is on many voice channels where you can join and live talk to a plethora of interesting people. These voice chats can host 60 people at a time. There are some Nitro perks as well for even more enjoyment.

6. Lofi Girl

Tags: None

Number of Members: 845,435

Lofi Girl is probably the perfect place where you can find some new Discord friends. It’s a massive community server that counts over 845,000 members. All these people chat about video games, science, mental health, travel, tech, pets, music, and so many more topics, on a daily basis. You can also find a great and detailed list of interesting YouTubers, Podcasts, and Twitch Streamers here.

There are approximately 100,000 members online at any given time. All gathered around the central figure of the famous Lofi Girl, which, by now, is certainly a pop-culture icon. If you need new friends to study with or simply to chill with, consider joining this extremely popular Discord server.

7. Roblox

Tags: None

Number of Members: 873,779

If you’re a fan of Roblox games, consider joining the Roblox Discord server. Here you can find people interested not only in playing video games but also in making them. Chat about the most recent developments and releases, or simply find fellow gamers to play with.

The Roblox server is a huge community and no doubt you’ll find some new friends here. There are over 120,000 members active at any moment, playing together, or discussing various gaming-related topics. Don’t be shy, simply join the conversation and see where it takes you.

8. Friendscord

Tags: Social, Chill, Adults, Anime, Gaming, Fun, Art.

Number of Members: 95,723

Friendscord is a Discord server truly dedicated to making friends. It may not be as big and popular as some servers on the list, but this is the place where you’ll meet some of the most fun and passionate people from all over the world. Join the chat and discuss anything that comes to your mind. But be polite and don’t interrupt other people’s conversations.

The chats and voice channels of Friendscord are active 24/7 and you can join them whenever you want. Here you’ll meet people who’ll game with you, organize movie nights, or simply listen to you venting. This server uses Discord bots to enhance the interaction between its members and the staff is online and available 24/7 if you need help with something.

9. Royal Weebs

Tags: Anime, Emojis, Kpop, Roblox, Genshin, LGBTQ, Egirls, Manhwa, Valorant.

Number of Members: 96,053

Royal Weebs is a very welcoming community, a safe space that’s also SFW. However, it does cater mostly to Anime fans, although you can find various topics to chat about such as art, media, memes, and games. In fact, you can find gaming partners here as many Royal Weeb members play Minecraft and Fortnite daily.

This Discord server has plenty of fun and colorful emojis and monthly Nitro giveaways. The moderators are always available, fun, and ready to help. The chat is active, and you can always opt to join a voice chat or a video call if you want. But be warned, most members of Royal Weebs are teenagers and young adults, although there is technically no age limit. This server won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.

All in all, joining a Discord server is great for meeting new people and expanding your social circle. Discord offers an array of different servers you can join to find others who share your interests in gaming, coding, art, or just general chatting. No matter what you’re looking for in your social life online, there’s sure to be a Discord server that fits the bill. So why wait? Find a group of like-minded folks today and make some good friends!

Luckily, Google Play makes it easy to pause or cancel subscriptions, and this tutorial will walk you through the process. You’ll also learn how to request refunds for subscriptions on Google Play.

How to Cancel Google Play Subscriptions

If you’ve decided to discontinue a Google Play subscription permanently, just deleting the relevant app from your Android phone won’t suffice. Instead, you must visit Google Play’s Subscriptions management console and cancel the subscription.

Note: Despite canceling a subscription, you’ll have access to paid content until the end of the current billing period. For example, if you cancel halfway through a yearly subscription, you still have six months of access.

To cancel a subscription to Google Play:

1. Open the Google Play Store and tap your profile picture on the top right of the screen.
2. Select Payments & subscriptions. If you have multiple Google Accounts on your Android, tap the email address at the top and pick the correct account.
3. Tap Subscriptions.

4. Tap the subscription you want to cancel under the Active section.
5. Tap Cancel subscription.

6. Provide a reason and tap Continue.
7. Tap Cancel subscription again as confirmation.

If you change your mind and want to re-subscribe before or after the subscription expires:

1. Re-visit the Subscriptions management console and tap the subscription you want to re-subscribe.
2. Tap Resubscribe.
3. Review the subscription information and tap Resubscribe again to confirm.

How to Pause Subscriptions on Google Play

At times, you may want to temporarily halt a Google Play subscription without canceling it entirely. Pausing a subscription allows you to suspend payments for a specified period.

To pause a subscription on Google Play:

1. Open the Google Play Store and tap your profile picture on the top right of the screen.
2. Select Payments & subscriptions.
3. Tap Subscriptions.

4. Tap the subscription you want to pause under the Active section.
5. Set the pause length.
6. Tap Confirm.

To restart the subscription before it automatically resumes:

1. Re-visit the Subscriptions management console and tap the subscription you want to resume.
2. Tap Resume.
3. Review the payment information and Resume again as confirmation.

How to Receive Refunds for Google Play Subscriptions

There are circumstances where you want a refund for a Google Play subscription. For example, it could be an accidental purchase, issues with the app or service, false advertising, etc.

Requesting a refund for a Google Play subscription depends on whether it’s been less or more than 48 hours since purchase.

• You can request a refund from Google if it’s been less than 48 hours since you subscribed to the app or service.
• You must contact the app developer for a refund if it’s been more than 48 hours since you subscribed to the app or service.

Before 48 Hours—Contact Google

To request a refund from Google:

1. Open Google Chrome on your Android phone and visit the Request your Google Play refund page.
2. Select Yes to confirm you’re signed in with the Google Account used to make the purchase, and tap Continue. If not, select No and log in with the correct account.

3. Select the subscription you want to receive a refund for and tap Continue.
4. Pick a reason for the refund and tap Continue. It’s best to be accurate with your selection—e.g., choosing I purchased this by accident may not work in your favor if you used the app several times before initiating your refund request.
5. Tap Continue.
6. Review your details and tap Request refund.

Refund requests take up to four days to process. You’ll receive an email if Google decides to approve or decline the refund. Visit the Check your Google Play refund status page to check the request’s status. If you receive a refund, the amount will be credited to the payment method you used to make the subscription—Google Play balance, credit card, etc.

After 48 Hours—Contact the Developer

To contact the developer for a refund, you must:

1. Open the Google Play Store and visit the app’s store page.
2. Scroll down and expand the Developer contact section.
3. Reach out to the developer with the contact information.

How to Pause, Cancel, and Refund Subscriptions on Non-Android Devices

If you do not have access to your Android phone, don’t worry. You can pause, cancel, or refund subscriptions on any non-Android device via the web version of the Google Play Store. Here’s how:

1. Visit the Google Play website and sign in with your Google Account credentials.
2. Select your profile picture on the top-right corner and choose Payments & subscriptions.

3. Switch to the Subscriptions tab.
4. Tap Manage next to the subscription you want to pause or cancel.

5. Select Cancel subscription or Pause payments.

If you want to initiate a refund for a subscription:

• Visit the Request your Google Play refund page if it’s been less than 48 hours since making your payment.
• Contact the developer—you can find the contact information on the app’s store page—to request a refund after 48 hours.

Take Control of Your Google Play Subscriptions

Knowing how to manage your Google Play subscriptions is essential to tailoring the digital experience on your Android device. Whether you want to pause a subscription, cancel it permanently, restart a paused or canceled subscription, or seek a refund when necessary, you have the power to take control.

When ChatGPT keeps timing out, the user experience is significantly affected, making it harder to leverage this hot new AI tool. You’ve come to the right place if you’re facing this issue! This article will explain the common causes of these timeouts and suggest seven detailed fixes you can try.

Understanding the ChatGPT “Request Timed Out Error”

A ChatGPT network error, especially the dreaded “request timed out” error, usually indicates a disruption between the user and the ChatGPT server. These interruptions can occur for various reasons, including an unstable internet connection, a glitch in the ChatGPT plus service, an internal server error on OpenAI’s end, or even your device settings.

For instance, network congestion, a malfunctioning modem or router, or a VPN interfering with your connection might be the culprit. It could also be due to the AI’s server status: it may be down or undergoing maintenance. Alternatively, it could be a software issue – an error code generated due to lengthy responses, browser cache buildup, or browser extensions interfering with the service. The impact of these issues varies, but they can all affect your ability to access ChatGPT efficiently.

Now that you know what might be behind the problem, let’s look at how to fix ChatGPT network errors such as a timeout.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

When ChatGPT hits you with a timeout or network error, it’s easy to point the finger at the chatbot. However, the issue might be closer to home than you think. A shaky internet connection could be the culprit behind these errors. Even the most advanced AI chatbot is only as reliable as your connection. If you don’t have a stable internet connection, then ChatGPT can’t, well, chat with you.

First, ensure your device is actually connected to the internet. The fastest way is to try accessing any other website besides one from Open AI. If other sites also don’t load, there’s a good chance your connection has general issues.

If you’re using a Wi-Fi connection, ensure your router is turned on, and all the necessary lights are flashing or steady, indicating it’s working correctly. If not, try restarting the router. Unplug it from the power source, wait for about a minute, and then plug it back in.

If using a wired connection, ensure the Ethernet cable is securely connected to your device and the modem. If you can still connect, try restarting your modem using the same steps as above.

It’s also worth checking whether other devices in your household can connect to the internet. If not, it’s probably some sort of issue with your internet service provider (ISP). Get in touch with them for further guidance since it’s out of your hands at this point.

2. Check if ChatGPT Is Down

Sometimes, no troubleshooting on your end will resolve a ChatGPT timeout error simply because the problem isn’t with your setup.

Instead, the ChatGPT server might be down or undergoing maintenance, resulting in the frustrating “request timed out” error or another network error on your end. In such cases, attempting to use the ChatGPT Plus service or any other feature could result in a similar error, indicating that the issue is with the ChatGPT system itself rather than your access.

So, how do you confirm if the server is down?

Start by visiting the official OpenAI status page; here you’ll see a nice time-sliced set of graphs detailing the uptime of their various services, including ChatGPT.

You should also check OpenAI’s official social media accounts and support pages, as they often provide updates when there are significant service issues.

If you don’t see any issue on the official page, several online services monitor the server status of popular platforms, such as DownDetector. By visiting these sites and searching for “ChatGPT” or “OpenAI,” you can see if there have been many reported issues recently. These services generally provide a live outage map showing where people have reported problems.

If you find out that the server is down, unfortunately, you cannot do much. You’ll have to wait for the OpenAI team to resolve the issue. While you wait, don’t fiddle with your setup since the problem isn’t on your end. Attempting to “fix” your connection could inadvertently cause other problems.

3. Turn Off Your VPN

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network can provide a more secure connection, protect your privacy, and even bypass geographic restrictions. However, a VPN can sometimes interfere with how you access online services like ChatGPT, causing unexpected timeout errors.

When your VPN is activated, internet traffic is routed through a secure server in a different region or country. This process can slow down your internet connection or introduce instability. More importantly, it changes your IP address, which can cause issues when trying to connect to specific servers.

Some online platforms might view VPN traffic as suspicious and block it as a safety measure. If ChatGPT cannot verify your connection because a VPN masks it, it might refuse the connection, resulting in an error.

Alternatively, the VPN server may introduce a delay, leading to a timeout error or another general network error. Either way, a quick test with your VPN disabled will clear up who’s at fault.

4. Let ChatGPT Give You Shorter Responses

When using ChatGPT, how you interact with the AI chatbot can significantly impact your user experience. In particular, asking for long, detailed responses may cause the system to time out, resulting in a network error. Here’s why this happens:

Every response generated by the AI passes through an API (Application Programming Interface). The API acts as a messenger that carries the request from the user to the ChatGPT server and brings the response back. However, the API has a limit on the size of the response it can handle. If the generated response is too long, it may exceed the API’s limit, causing it to fail and leading to a timeout error.

If your interactions with ChatGPT often result in timeouts, it might be worth altering your approach. Try to ask more concise questions or ones that require shorter responses. For example, instead of asking ChatGPT to explain a complex topic in-depth, break it down into smaller questions.

This strategy reduces the chance of encountering a timeout error and improves the responses’ quality. ChatGPT can provide more precise and insightful answers with smaller, focused queries. More importantly, this allows for a more natural and interactive conversation, enhancing the overall chat experience.

5. Log Out and Back Into Your ChatGPT Account

Sometimes, a simple log-out and log back in can fix the issue. Click on your profile, log out, then sign back in. This action refreshes your session and can sometimes clear up internal server errors.

6. Use Another Web Browser

Your web browser can impact your interaction with ChatGPT. For instance, browser cache buildup, faulty browser extensions, or an unsupported browser can cause network errors. Try switching to another browser like Google Chrome or clearing browsing data in your current one.

7. Use ChatGPT Later

During peak times, server load on ChatGPT can cause it to time out. If none of the above steps work, consider using the service when server load is likely lower.

If you consistently experience network errors during specific times of the day, it might be a sign of high server load. One potential solution is to use the service at off-peak hours. Just as a restaurant kitchen can handle orders more efficiently when it’s less busy, ChatGPT servers can process requests more effectively when there’s less demand.

Of course, figuring out when these off-peak times may take some experimentation. Consider adjusting your schedule slightly if you’re using the service for work or study. You might avoid network errors and get faster, more efficient responses from ChatGPT.

There’s no denying the frustration of timeouts when interacting with ChatGPT. But armed with this comprehensive guide, you should be able to tackle most network errors head-on. Remember, if all else fails, contact OpenAI support. Keep chatting, keep exploring, and don’t let a timeout error hold you back from mastering one of the most important technologies in history.

Once you turn off the battery-saver mode, your device’s system functions, and installed apps can run at full capacity. This is because the power-saving mode restricts your apps’ functionalities to conserve battery, and disabling the feature lifts those restrictions.

Disable Battery Saver Mode on Windows 11

Turning off Windows 11’s battery-saver mode is as easy as selecting an option in Quick Settings or turning off a toggle in the Settings app. Both methods achieve the same result, so you can choose your preferred method.

Using Quick Settings

1. Open Quick Settings by pressing Windows + A on your keyboard.
2. Select the Battery saver tile in the menu.

3. The option will say Off, indicating the feature is disabled.

Using Settings

1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
2. Select System in the left sidebar and Power & battery on the right pane.
3. Choose Battery saver and select Turn off now to disable the mode.

Turn Off Battery Saver Mode on Windows 10

Like Windows 11, you can disable Windows 10’s battery-saver mode by choosing an option in Quick Settings or turning off a toggle in the Settings app. Both turn off the same feature, so use your preferred method.

Using Quick Settings

1. Press Windows + A to open Quick Settings.
2. Choose Battery saver to turn off the mode.

Using Settings

1. Launch Settings by pressing Windows + I.
2. Select System in Settings.
3. Choose Battery in the left sidebar.
4. Disable the toggle in the Battery saver section on the right.

Deactivate Low Power Mode on macOS Ventura 13 or Later

Apple’s battery-saver mode is called Low Power Mode, and the feature, like on any other device, allows you to conserve your Mac’s battery to use your machine for longer. If you don’t need the feature anymore, toggle it off as follows.

1. Select the Apple logo in your Mac’s top-left corner and choose System Settings.
2. Select Battery in the left sidebar. You may have to scroll down the sidebar to see the option.
3. Choose Never from the Low Power Mode drop-down menu on the right. This ensures your Mac never triggers this mode.

Turn Off Low Power Mode on macOS Monterey 12 or Earlier

The steps to disable Low Power Mode on macOS Monterey 12 or earlier are slightly different. You’ll still use your Mac’s settings menu to turn off the feature.

1. Select the Apple logo in your Mac’s top-left corner and choose System Preferences.
2. Select Battery on the following page.
3. Choose Battery in the left sidebar.
4. Turn off the Low power mode option on the right.
5. Select Power Adapter in the left sidebar.
6. Disable the Low power mode option on the right.

Disable Power Saving Mode on OnePlus Android Phones

Like many other Android devices, OnePlus’ Android phones offer a power-saving mode, allowing you to save battery juice on your phone. You can turn this feature off if you don’t use it, and there are two ways to do that.

Using Quick Settings

1. Pull down twice from the top of your phone’s screen.
2. Tap Power saving mode in the menu to disable the mode.

Using Settings

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Select Battery > Power saving mode in Settings.
3. Turn off the Power saving mode option.

4. Disable the Turn on at specified battery level option as well. This ensures your phone doesn’t automatically enable the mode.

Deactivate Battery Saver Mode on Samsung Android Phones

Like other Android phone makers, Samsung offers multiple ways to turn on and off the power-saving mode on your Samsung Galaxy phones.

Using Quick Settings

1. Pull down twice from the top of your device’s screen.
2. Tap Power saving in the menu to disable the feature.

Using Settings

1. Launch the Settings app on your phone.
2. Select Battery and device care in Settings.
3. Choose Battery on the following page.
4. Turn off the Power saving toggle to deactivate the feature.

Turn Off Battery Saving Mode on Google Pixel Android Phones

Google’s Pixel phones are equipped with the Battery Saver mode, letting you extend your phone’s battery time. If you’ve enabled the feature on your phone and are now looking to turn off the feature, here’s how to do that.

Using Quick Settings

1. Pull down twice from the top of your phone’s screen.
2. Select Battery Saver to turn off the mode. Swipe left in case you don’t see the option.

Using Settings

1. Open Settings on your phone.
2. Select Battery.
3. Choose Battery Saver on the following page.
4. Turn off the Use Battery Saver toggle.

Turn Off Low Power Mode on iPhone

iPhone’s Low Power Mode affects many phone features to conserve battery. If you’d like to re-enable 5G, get a higher screen refresh rate, make your apps automatically fetch emails, or let your apps refresh their data in the background, turn off your phone’s power-saving mode as follows.

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Select Battery in Settings.
3. Turn off the Low Power Mode toggle.

Disable Low Power Mode on iPad

Apple’s iPad also comes with a Low Power Mode to help you save your device’s battery. You can turn off the mode to allow your device’s system features and apps to run with maximum resources.

1. Launch Settings on your iPad.
2. Choose Battery in Settings.
3. Turn off Low Power Mode to disable the mode.

Bringing Your Devices Out of Power-Saving Mode

Power-saving mode is a great way to extend your device’s battery life, but the feature comes at the cost of compromising several device features. If you have enough charge left on your device or access to a charging station, consider turning off your desktop or mobile device’s battery-saver mode to enjoy your device.

How to Cancel Nintendo Subscription on Your Switch

Your Nintendo Switch Online subscription is set to automatically renew at the end of each billing period. Luckily, it’s easy to turn off auto renewal if you want to cancel Nintendo subscription. The easiest way to cancel your subscription to Nintendo Switch Online is to do it from the Nintendo Switch eShop on your Switch – great if you’re already in the middle of a solo gaming session or your console is switched on. Here’s how to do it.

Note: Make sure you turn off automatic renewal at least 48 hours before the billing period ends or you risk being charged for another month’s subscription fees.

1. From the HOME Menu, select Nintendo eShop.
2. Select your account.
3. In the upper right corner, you’ll see your user icon. Tap it to access Account Information (this is also where you can change card details for your subscription).

4. From the menu on the left side of your screen, select Nintendo Switch Online.
5. If you have an active subscription, you’ll see Terminate Automatic Renewal next to the appropriate membership (if you don’t, you’ll see Membership Options).
6. Select it to cancel Nintendo subscription.

7. Provided it’s more than 48 hours until your next billing date, you won’t be charged and your membership will be automatically canceled from the next billing date.

How to Cancel Your Nintendo Switch Online Subscription From Your Browser

If your Switch is turned off, or if you’re away from home and don’t have your console with you, you can easily cancel your Nintendo Switch Online subscription through any internet browser in just a few clicks. Keep reading, and we’ll show you how.

1. In your browser on your smartphone or computer, navigate to http://accounts.nintendo.com and sign in to your Nintendo account.
2. Select Shop Menu.
3. Scroll down to select Nintendo Switch Online, then select Terminate Automatic Renewal next to the Nintendo Switch Online subscription you wish to cancel.

It takes just a few minutes of your time to cancel Nintendo subscription, and canceling doesn’t have to mean forever. You might just want to cancel to save money for a month or two, and it’s easy to resubscribe should you change your mind and decide you want to game online or play the best Nintendo Switch retro games.

One thing to bear in mind is that when you cancel your subscription, your Save Data Cloud backup is no longer available, and Nintendo can’t guarantee that it will keep your data for an extended period of time, should you resubscribe in future.

But as circumstances or preferences change, it may be necessary to cancel that subscription. So here are the steps needed to follow to cancel your Norton subscription on any of your devices.

About Norton AntiVirus Subscriptions

When it comes to cybersecurity, Norton is a well-known company that offers protection against malware. Their antivirus is built as a combination of almost all internet security features known to us today. Because of that, it’s capable of protecting your device no matter which operating system you use. It works equally well on Windows and macOS as well as Android.

But different people have different needs, and Norton decided to offer multiple options and rates to accommodate most users. There are different Norton AntiVirus subscription tiers, and each brings more or less to the game. Let’s name a few:

1. Norton AntiVirus Plus comes with protection features for your devices, but it lacks some extra security add-ons.
2. Norton 360 Standard or Deluxe version comes with all the protection you might need plus a password manager and a VPN.
3. Norton 360 with LifeLock is for everyone who is looking to get advanced cybersecurity protection with special identity protection features.

As you can see, Norton’s subscription models are not very flexible. Some tiers lack certain features you might want while others offer bells and whistles that you’ll never use. So if you don’t get the most from your subscription you might want to search for alternatives and end your Norton membership.

How to Cancel My Norton Subscription from Windows or Mac

1. Go to my.norton.com and sign in with your login credentials.

2. Place your cursor over your profile image on the dashboard, and select Manage My Subscriptions from the menu.

3. Under the My Subscriptions tab, find the subscription plan you want to cancel and click the Cancel Subscription Renewal link displayed on the right.
4. After clicking the link, Norton will try to persuade you to stay subscribed with an attractive offer. If you’re determined to unsubscribe, select the Cancel Renewal button on the lower right corner of the screen.

5. There will be several pages where you’ll have to confirm your subscription cancellation. Next, Norton will ask you for your opinion. Select the reason for unsubscribing from the drop-down menu, and click the Cancel Renewal button again.

6. Next, Norton will warn you about the benefits you are losing when you unsubscribe from their service. Select the Cancel Renewal button yet again.

7. Finally, you’ll receive a message saying you successfully canceled your Norton subscription.

And that’s it! You stopped the auto-renewal of your Norton subscription. You’ll no longer be charged for their membership.

How to Cancel My Norton Subscription on iPhone or iPad

You can always use your favorite web browser such as Safari or Firefox to cancel your Norton subscription from your iPhone or iPad. But if you purchased this antivirus from the Apple App Store, you’ll have to do it from your phone’s Settings App. Here’s how:

1. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your Apple ID and a new menu will appear.

3. Select Subscriptions to open the list of active subscriptions.

4. Tap Norton and select Cancel Subscription or Cancel Free Trial.

5. When prompted, confirm the cancellation.

And that’s it. But if you want to claim a refund, you’ll have to do it from a browser. Just follow the steps described in the How to Request a Refund section.

How to Cancel My Norton Subscription on an Android Device

If you purchased Norton by using the Google Play Store, you’ll have to cancel your subscription through the store itself. No matter if you’re using an Android smartphone or a tablet, these steps are the same:

1. Go to Google Play Store and tap your profile icon at the top right corner of the screen.
2. Select Payments & Subscriptions.

3. Go to Subscriptions.

4. Find Norton, tap it, and select Cancel Subscription.

5. Select a reason why you want to cancel your subscription, and tap Continue.

6. Finally, confirm that you want to cancel the subscription.

And that’s it!

Norton Free Trial Cancelation

If you want to try out Norton AntiVirus without the obligation that comes with a subscription, you’ll be happy to hear that the website offers a free 14-day trial. The trial period may be different, depending on Norton’s offer, or the region where you are signing up from.

But if you sign up for a free trial, Norton will demand your payment information. You’ll have to use your credit card details and expect you’ll be charged after the free trial period expires. That is unless you cancel the subscription in time.

Even if you started a free trial, the steps to cancel your trial subscription are the same. If you used their official website to start the 14-day free trial, use the steps described in the How to Cancel My Norton Subscription from Windows or Mac section. If you used Apple App Store or Google Play Store, follow the steps described in the respective sections. Just make sure you do it at least 24 hours before the trial expires, and you won’t get charged for the next subscription cycle.

Norton Refund Policy

If you’re not satisfied with Norton, or your security and protection needs change, you should know you might be eligible for a refund. Norton has a well-defined refund policy. Note that you can get a refund for both the Norton annual subscription and Norton monthly subscription.

The refund policy may be different for you if you bought a Norton product through a third party (retailer, app store, or service provider). In that case, check with the specific third party on their refund policies.

The Annual Subscription Refund Policy

If you choose an annual subscription, you are eligible for a full refund if you request it within 60 days of purchase. This is what Norton calls a 60-day money-back guarantee program. You can also get your money back if you request a refund 60 days from the start of your next billing cycle.

Monthly Subscription Refund policy

You’ll get a full refund for your monthly subscription if you request it within 14 days from the date of purchase. However, subsequent monthly renewals are not eligible for a refund.

Trial Subscription Refund policy

If you started the trial period and forgot to cancel it before it expired, you’ll be charged for the annual subscription. However, you can get a refund if you request it within 60 days from the date when you were billed, not the date when your trial started.

How you’ll request a refund depends on the region where you are from. You can do it by contacting Norton through the official Norton Support page, or through live chat on their official website. If you are from the UK, you can dial the Norton Refund Helpline phone number (+44 0800-368-8383) and get a professional to resolve your issue. Processing the refund request may take several days, so be patient.

Canceling your Norton AntiVirus subscription might seem like a hassle, depending on the device you’re using, because Norton tries so many times to keep you as a customer. A few minutes of effort now will save you plenty of money down the line. Whether you no longer need the protection or you’re looking for a different antivirus service, making sure you’re not charged anymore is key to saving money and managing your online security effectively.

If you don’t have much programming experience, these beginner programs can help you understand what it takes to create a full-fledged game. Depending on what kind of game you want to make, different types of programs are available to help you. Below we have listed the best of these programs so you can get started on your very own video game.

1. GameMaker Studio

GameMaker Studio is terrific for creating 2D games, even if you have little game development knowledge. This program allows you to easily edit every aspect of your game, making it exactly as you envision. No coding knowledge is necessary. Don’t be fooled by the program’s simplicity, though– indie studios have used it to create games of great acclaim, such as Undertale, Hotline Miami, Forager, and more.

You can start using this program for free, with all features included. However, if you want to export your game to different platforms such as desktop, mobile, or even console, you’ll need to upgrade to a subscription, which runs anywhere from $4.99 to $79.99 monthly.

2. RPG Maker

RPG Maker has everything you need to create a 2D pixel RPG, even if you have zero programming or game development experience. Through this program, you’re provided with plenty of assets to create settings, characters, combat mechanics, and more. Plus, tons of DLC (Downloadable content) are available to further add to your creations. And, if you do have some programming knowledge, you can customize the code to alter RPG Maker’s functions as you wish. Games made through RPG Maker can even be distributed commercially, with no licenses needed.

The RPG Maker brand also has a product called Visual Novel Maker, which you can use to create Visual Novels if that’s more your speed. Either way, RPG Maker provides powerful resources to help make your games, regardless of skill level.

3. Construct 3

Construct 3 is a great program utilized by companies like Sega, Zynga, EA, and more. It’s mainly useful for creating mobile games for Android or iOS but can also be used to develop desktop apps. It can be used to create 2D games with absolutely no programming knowledge required. However, you can tinker around with JavaScript programming if you want to.

You can try Construct 3 for free. However, to use the whole program, you’ll need to buy it. You can pay $19.99 a month or $119.99 a year for a personal license.

4. Core

Core is one of the best programs for amateur game developers looking to make 3D games. It uses Unreal Engine to help beginners create beautiful graphics for their projects, providing many pre-rendered models, game frameworks, and more. You can publish your created games to the Core website, and even monetize it through in-game purchases.

The best part is that Core is free for anyone to use and provides plenty of instructional content to help you start making your game.

5. Stencyl

Stencyl is for amateur game developers to create their games for iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and HTML5. The game logic is developed through a drag-and-drop system of command blocks. However, you can also write code for your games too. Stencyl also provides a great graphics editor to get your game scenes just right.

Stencyl is free to use and publish games to the web; however, if you want to publish on other platforms, you’ll need to upgrade. The Indie tier is $99 a year and will allow you to publish to desktop, and the Studio tier is $199 a year and will grant you publishing to mobile app stores.

6. GDevelop

This program is unique as you can create games on your Android or iOS devices. You could potentially work on developing a game wherever you go. However, there’s also a desktop version if you prefer. GDevelop requires no coding knowledge and provides tons of 2D and 3D models for games. And when you’re done with your game, you can export it to many popular platforms, including Steam, Microsoft Store, Facebook Gaming, and more.

This open-source program is free to use, and you retain rights over any games you create. However, you can pay to access certain features of the program. $5.47 a month will get you the Silver tier, while $10.95 a month will get you the Gold tier. Both upgrade cloud space, provide more player experience features, access to the unlimited mobile app, and more.

Make a Game of Your Own With These Programs

Making a basic game doesn’t need to be hard, even if you have never tried any sort of game development before. These programs can become the stepping stones to jumpstart your knowledge and understanding what programming a game entails.

Are there any other programs you’ve used to make your games? Let us know about it in the comments.