Skip to main content

Is Claude Down? Service Status Guide

Quick guide to check Claude AI service status and resolve common connectivity issues. Get real-time updates and troubleshooting steps for Claude service problems.

Quick Status Check

Official Status Sources

Primary Status Page:

  • Anthropic Status: status.anthropic.com
  • Real-time updates on service incidents and maintenance
  • Historical data on past outages and resolutions

Community Reports:

  • Reddit: r/ClaudeAI for user reports
  • Real-time discussions during widespread issues
  • Community troubleshooting and workaround sharing

Common Signs Claude is Down

Service Unavailable Errors:

  • 503 Service Unavailable - Most common during outages
  • 502 Bad Gateway - Server connection issues
  • 504 Gateway Timeout - Server response timeouts

Authentication Issues:

  • Login failures - Can't access Claude web interface
  • API authentication errors - Token validation problems
  • Session timeouts - Unexpected disconnections

Performance Problems:

  • Very slow responses - Significantly delayed replies
  • Partial failures - Some features work, others don't
  • Inconsistent availability - Works intermittently

Troubleshooting Steps

First Steps - Check Your Connection

1. Verify Internet Connection:

# Test general connectivity
ping google.com
# Test Claude domain
ping claude.ai

2. Try Different Device/Network:

  • Mobile data vs WiFi
  • Different device (phone, laptop)
  • Incognito/private mode to rule out browser issues

3. Check Other Services:

  • Test other websites to confirm internet works
  • Try Claude web interface if using Claude Code
  • Check related services (OpenAI, ChatGPT) for broader issues

Claude Code Specific Troubleshooting

1. Restart Claude Code:

# Exit current session
exit
# Restart Claude Code
claude

2. Check Configuration:

# Verify configuration
claude config
# Test API connection
claude --version

3. Try Different Model:

# Switch to different model
claude --model claude-3-5-haiku-20241022
# Or try Sonnet if using Opus
claude --model claude-sonnet-4-20250514

When to Wait vs. Troubleshoot

Wait it out (2-5 minutes) if:

  • 503 errors are appearing
  • Multiple users reporting issues on Reddit
  • Status page shows ongoing incident
  • Errors started suddenly during normal operation

Troubleshoot immediately if:

  • Only you're affected (no community reports)
  • Specific to Claude Code (web interface works)
  • Authentication problems persist
  • Been failing for 10+ minutes with no status updates

Common Error Messages

503 Service Unavailable

What it means: Server temporarily overloaded or down Typical duration: 2-5 minutes Action: Wait and retry, don't reinstall Claude Code

Internal Server Error

What it means: Backend processing issue Typical duration: 1-3 minutes
Action: Wait for automatic resolution

Authentication Failed

What it means: Login or API key problem Possible causes:

  • Expired session
  • API key issues
  • Account problems Action: Try logging out/in, check API key, contact support

Rate Limit Exceeded

What it means: Too many requests too quickly Typical duration: Few minutes to hours Action: Wait for limit reset, check usage patterns

Prevention and Monitoring

Stay Informed

Subscribe to Updates:

  • Anthropic status page email notifications
  • Reddit notifications for r/ClaudeAI posts
  • Community Discord servers for real-time updates

Monitor Usage:

  • Track your patterns to identify personal vs service issues
  • Use status tools like CC Usage for insights
  • Plan around known maintenance windows

Best Practices During Outages

Save Your Work:

  • Copy important conversations before they're lost
  • Document solutions you were working on
  • Have backup plans for critical development work

Alternative Workflows:

  • Continue with non-Claude tasks during outages
  • Review and plan next steps for when service returns
  • Local development that doesn't require AI assistance

When to Contact Support

Contact Anthropic Support if:

  • Personal account issues persist after status shows "operational"
  • API key problems that configuration doesn't resolve
  • Billing or subscription problems during outages
  • Service works for others but not your account specifically

Include in Support Requests:

  • Error messages (exact text)
  • Timestamps when issues started
  • Your configuration (without API keys)
  • Steps you've tried to resolve

Most Claude service issues resolve automatically within minutes. Check the official status page first, then try basic troubleshooting steps before assuming the problem is on your end.