How to Fix ChatGPT Only One Message At A Time; Please Allow Any Other Responses To Complete Before Sending Another Message
Photo by Sanket Mishra

How to Fix ChatGPT “Only One Message at a Time”?

Are you encountering an “Only one message at a time” error or bug whenever you try querying ChatGPT? Or do you feel ChatGPT isn’t working or returning responses when you try sending multiple messages?

ChatGPT is a revolutionary tool that has taken the tech world by storm. Its uniqueness and appeal stem from its ability to converse in natural language and hold meaningful conversations with humans.

This has led to deploying this AI model into various industries and niches. ChatGPT is trained on various global data from resources. So, it has been successfully employed in roles such as chatbots and virtual assistants.

But the model is still under development and is constantly improving; therefore, it can sometimes lead to errors like “Only one message at a time…”.

ChatGPT or OpenAI “Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete" error or network error

 

This error message is usually prompted to users who attempt to query ChatGPT multiple times in a short period. ChatGPT handles one message or request at a time to prevent cluttering. This also enables it to generate relevant responses.

Therefore, the “Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete before sending another message” error usually occurs when a user attempts to send numerous messages without waiting for the initial response.

If you are encountering this error, don’t worry because, in this guide, we explore 7 solutions to ChatGPT’s “Only one message at a time…” error.

So without further ado, let’s get started!

 

 

7 Fixes for the ChatGPT “Only One Message at a Time” Error

1. Verify Your Internet Connection

The first step to fixing this issue is to verify your internet connection. A stable and reliable internet connection is crucial for accessing ChatGPT. An unstable internet connection can lead to message transmission delays.

Whenever you query ChatGPT, your request needs to be transmitted over the internet to the OpenAI servers. If you have a faulty internet connection, then it can lead to both message transmission and response transmission delays.

This can eventually cause the “Only one message at a time…” error.

To verify the status of your internet connection, you can use commercially available speed checkers like SpeedTest.net or Fast.com. In our tutorial, we will use Fast.com to verify our internet speed. Simply navigate Fast.com and run a speed test to know your connection analytics.

Verify your Internet Connection to fix ChatGPT Only One Message At A Time error

 

If your internet connection and speed are reliable, this error message can be caused by another issue. Therefore, our guide recommends using other solutions to address the problem.

On the other hand, if your Internet is currently experiencing low speeds or high Ping and latency, you can try the below-mentioned tips to improve your internet speed:

  • Turn on and turn off Airplane Mode ✈️
  • Reboot the device 🔁
  • Re-enable the WiFi 📶
  • Restart or power-cycle the WiFi router
  • Stop All Downloads 🚫
  • Contact the ISP Provider ☎️

 

 

2. Clear Browser Cookies and Cache

Your browser cache is a useful tool that helps to reduce the loading time for your frequently visited websites. It stores temporary data like videos, images, and other media, enabling you to load websites faster and providing a smooth surfing experience.

But this cache can become corrupted over time, leading to potential conflicts with your current conversation with ChatGPT.

Additionally, ChatGPT uses JavaScript and CSS files to manage their user interface and communication with users. If these files become obsolete or corrupted, users can be prompted with the “Only one message at a time…” error.

Clearing your browser cache and cookies ensures you start with a clean slate, eliminating potential conflicts. To clear your browser’s cache, simply follow the steps below:

 

For Google Chrome

  1. First, open up your web browser.
  2. Next, look for the three dots menu in the browser’s top right-hand corner and click on it.
In Google Chrome clear your browser’s cached data & history to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. Then, select the “Privacy and Security” section and click “Clear browsing data“.
  2. Afterward, the browser will ask you to select the time range to clear your browsing data. For instance, if you want to clear browsing data for the past hour, select “Last hour“.
  3. Then, Check the boxes next to “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files“.
In Google Chrome clear your browser’s cached data & history to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. Finally, Click on “Clear data“.
In Google Chrome clear your browser’s cached data & history to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

For Safari (macOS)

  1. To do so, click on Safari in the top menu and select the Preferences… option from the dropdown menu.
In Safari clear your browser’s cached data & history to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. Next, click on the Advanced option in the top menu and tick the box next to the Show Develop menu option.
In Safari clear your browser’s cached data & history to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. Then, click on Develop in the menu bar at the top and then choose the Empty Caches (🗑️) option.
In Safari clear your browser’s cached data & history to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. Once done, again select the Safari option from the top menu and click on the Clear History… option.
In Safari clear your browser’s cached data & history to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. At last, choose Clear History from the Clear history section to clear the web browser’s cookies and other temporary data.
In Safari clear your browser’s cached data & history to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

For Microsoft Edge

  1. Begin by clicking on the kebab menu in the window’s top right corner.
  2. Then, in the drop-down menu, select Settings.
Clear web browser cache on Microsoft Edge to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. In the newly opened page, click on Privacy, search, and services in the left sidebar.
  2. Then, under the Clear browsing data section, click on the Choose what to clear button.
Clear web browser cache on Microsoft Edge to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. After that, in the popup window, ensure the Time range is set to All time.
  2. Next is to ensure that only the Cached images and files option is checked.
  3. Click on the Clear now button in the popup window to get rid of the cached data.
Clear web browser cache on Microsoft Edge to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. Finally, restart your browser to ensure all changes take effect.

 

For Mozilla Firefox

  1. Start by clicking on the hamburger icon in the window’s top right corner.
  2. Then, in the drop-down menu, select the Settings option.
Clear web browser cache on Mozilla Firefox to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. Afterwards, select the Privacy & Security tab in the newly opened Settings window.
  2. Under the Cookies and Data section, click on the Clear Data… button.
Clear web browser cache on Mozilla Firefox to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. Then, in the new popup window, ensure only the Cached Web Content option is ticked.
  2. Click on the Clear button to clear the changes.
Clear web browser cache on Mozilla Firefox to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. Finally, restart your browser as detailed in Step 1 to ensure all changes take effect.

 

This step will successfully clear out your cache and cookies. Finally, try accessing ChatGPT again to see if the error persists.

 

 

3. Introduce A Delay in Querying

Whenever you query ChatGPT, it takes a few seconds before generating a response. However, if you don’t wait for it to finish processing your previous request, you may encounter the ChatGPT “Only One Message At A Time; Please Allow Any Other Responses To Complete Before Sending Another” Message. Therefore, whenever you receive the error message, wait for a few minutes before sending in a new request; this enables ChatGPT to fulfill your previous request and free up resources for the next one. In addition, providing an appropriate delay ensures that your conversation proceeds sequentially and smoothly.

 

 

4. Refresh the ChatGPT Web Page

Sometimes errors with ChatGPT can be fixed by refreshing the page. When you refresh the page, ChatGPT resets the client-side state, including any incomplete responses or queries; this helps to clear up conflicts that cause this error.

Additionally, refreshing the page helps to re-establish communication channels between the user and the server. This ensures a fresh new connection, reducing the chances of issues that cause this error.

Besides this, refreshing the page addresses temporary glitches or inconsistencies in the browser environment.

Finally, by refreshing the page, you boot up the chat interface from scratch; this ensures that all the necessary scripts and components are loaded correctly, drastically reducing the chances of misconfigurations.

 

Reload the ChatGPT Web Page

When accessing ChatGPT through your web browser, a quick solution to any issues you may encounter could be as simple as reloading the page. This action prompts the browser to retrieve assets from the existing cache, effectively refreshing the web page. Regardless of whether you’re using Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, the steps to refresh the Instagram page are similar:

  • Click the reload wheel on your browser’s top-left side to refresh your page.

Refresh the Page to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  • Press F5 or the Ctrl key (For Windows) or the Command key (macOS).
reload the ChatGPT webpage to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

Hard Refresh the ChatGPT Web Page

A hard refresh is also a useful method for reloading the ChatGPT webpage. This process clears some minor cache associated with the page, allowing for the most recent version to be loaded. By doing so, the webpage is forced to retrieve assets from OpenAI servers, resulting in an up-to-date version of the page.

 

On Windows: For most web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge), press Ctrl F5 together at the Instagram page to perform a hard refresh.

hard refresh the web page on Windows to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

On macOS: For Safari and other web browsers on macOS, press the Command Option key simultaneously.

hard refresh the web page on macOS to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

 

5. Open ChatGPT on a Single Device or Tab

Using a single device or browser tab to access ChatGPT can help mitigate the “Only one message at a time…” error. Whenever you use multiple devices or tabs to access ChatGPT, there is an increased likelihood of sending multiple simultaneous messages from different sources. This can often lead to confusion and prompt this error. Limiting your interaction or input to a single device reduces the likelihood of multiple messages overlapping.

Close unused ChatGPT browser tabs to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

Additionally, when using a single device to query ChatGPT, keeping track of the messages sent or received becomes easier. This simplifies the process of handling conversation flow and helps to prevent circumstances where multiple responses are generated for a single message.

Furthermore, using multiple tabs or devices simultaneously to query ChatGPT drastically increases network congestion, especially if your internet connection is limited. This network congestion can cause disruptions and inconsistencies in your message transmission and response reception, prompting error messages. By limiting your usage and requests to a single device, you ensure reduced network congestion and enhance the chances of regular communication.

 

 

6. Clear Your DNS Cache

Whenever you access a website or server, your device translates the domain name into an IP address to establish a successful connection. This translation is made possible by Domain Name System (DNS).

An incorrect or incorrect DNS cache entry can cause difficulty establishing a successful connection with the ChatGPT server. This can indirectly lead to ChatGPT prompting errors.

Clearing your DNS cache ensures that the latest DNS records are retrieved, reducing the likelihood of connectivity issues. By clearing your DNS cache, you force your device to discard stale DNS records and perform new DNS lookups.

This ensures that the latest IP address mappings are retrieved and utilized for establishing a connection. Hence, this can potentially resolve the ChatGPT “Only one message at a time…” error which is caused mainly caused due to incorrect DNS resolution.

To clear your DNS cache, simply follow the steps below:

 

For Windows

  1. First, launch the Command Prompt and select “Run as Administrator”.
  2. Next, type the following command in the command prompt window and press Enter:
ipconfig /flushdns

 

  1. Now wait for the confirmation, the command will execute, and you will see a message confirming that DNS Resolver Cache has been flushed successfully.

Clear Your DNS Cache on Windows through command prompt to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. Lastly, try querying ChatGPT again to see if the issue persists.

 

For macOS

To reset an Internet connection on macOS:

  1. Click on the Apple Icon found in the System Tray in the upper-left portion of your desktop, and afterward click on “System Preference”.
Go to System preferences on MacOS to reset your internet connection in your device to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. In your System Preferences, look and click on “Network”.
Go to Network in System preferences on MacOS to reset your internet connection in your device to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. Find the Wi-Fi connection you are currently connected to and click on it.
Go to Network in System preferences on MacOS to reset your internet connection in your device to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. After clicking on the Network connection, click on the minus ➖ symbol to delete it.
Go to Network in System preferences on MacOS to reset your internet connection in your device to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. Once the connection was deleted, click on the plus ➕ symbol to re-add the network connection.
Go to Network in System preferences on MacOS to reset your internet connection in your device to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

To flush the DNS cache on macOS:

  1. First, open the Terminal app on your Mac and execute the mentioned command in it, and hit Enter:
dscacheutil -flushcache

 

  1. Subsequently, enter your system password in Terminal to move ahead and then run the mentioned command:
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

 

  1. Once you’ve executed the above-mentioned command, restart your Mac PC and clear all the DNS data.

 

 

7. Contact OpenAI Support

If the solutions mentioned above do not work, please contact OpenAI support, as the issue may be on their end. Social media, online forums, and websites are a few ways to contact OpenAI.

Contact OpenAI Support to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

You can fill out the contact form with your information and a description of the issue you are facing while trying to access ChatGPT.

  1. Open the OpenAI Help Center in your internet browser.
Contact the OpenAI team to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. Click on the message bubble in the lower right portion of the OpenAI Help Center page.
Contact the OpenAI team to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. In the chat box, click on the “Send us a message” option.
Contact the OpenAI team to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

  1. When asked the question, “What brings you here today?” select the “ChatGPT” option.
Contact the OpenAI team to fix ChatGPT or OpenAI ‘Only one message at a time. Please allow any other responses to complete’ error

 

In addition, different event choices are available to ChatGPT Plus subscribers, including a dedicated phone line and email assistance. This can help OpenAI determine your problem’s root cause and help them understand where you stand in the troubleshooting cascade.

Contacting OpenAI is your best bet if none of the solutions mentioned above work because experts at OpenAI provide customized solutions and can also inform you regarding implementing the most suitable approaches to address the error in your implementation.

Furthermore, OpenAI support can also direct you to relevant documentation and inform you about recent bug fixes, updates, or patches related to errors you are facing. When contacting OpenAI support, we suggest providing as much information as possible to fix your problem quickly.

 

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, encountering messages like “Only one message at a time…” can be quite frustrating for users, but thankfully there are several workarounds for this issue. If you follow the steps and solutions in this guide closely, you will get back to using ChatGPT in no time. We hope our guide helped you fix your problems with using ChatGPT.

Lastly, don’t forget to share this guide with peers encountering issues querying ChatGPT multiple times, like the “Only one message at a time…” error.

Written by Ismail Vohra

Ismail is a graduate of Computer Science from Habib University, with additional academic credentials from Stanford University and the University of Sussex. He works at the intersection of Software Engineering and Product Management for sustainable digital transformation and loves to pen down his ideas, learnings, and experiences to further his ambitions in software and products for social good.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *