Sora 2 Web Version Unable to Generate Videos? 2026 Policy Adjustment Detailed

ByAPIYI - Stable and affordable AI API

Author's Note: Analyzing why Sora 2 web version can't generate videos, explaining the January 7, 2026 policy changes, and providing three alternative solutions: APP, subscription upgrade, and API.

Opening sora.chatgpt.com only to find you can't generate videos? Seeing the "We're under heavy load" message and thinking it's a server issue? Actually, this is Sora 2 web version generation restriction due to policy limits, not a technical glitch.

Core Value: After reading this article, you'll understand the real reason behind Sora 2 web generation restrictions, master 3 viable workarounds, and continue using AI video generation services reliably.

sora-2-web-cannot-generate-video-solution-en 图示

The Real Reason Behind Sora 2 Web Generation Restrictions

Issue Actual Cause Affected Users
"We're under heavy load" Policy restriction, not server issue Free users
Grayed-out generate button Account lacks generation permission Standard accounts
Upgrade prompt Plus/Pro exclusive feature Web version
Image generation restricted Old Sora free user limits sora.chatgpt.com

January 2026 Policy Changes Explained

On January 7, 2026, OpenAI made significant policy adjustments to Sora 2:

  • Web version (sora.chatgpt.com): Standard accounts can't generate videos
  • APP version: Standard accounts can still generate (but with limited quota)
  • Plus/Pro users: Unaffected, normal usage continues

This means if you're using a standard ChatGPT account, the "We're under heavy load" message you see on the web isn't actually about server congestion—it's an official feature restriction.

Sora 2 Web Restriction Timeline

Date Policy Change Free User Status
December 2024 Sora 2 launch 30 generations/day
November 2025 Tightened limits 6 generations/day
January 7, 2026 Policy adjustment Web generation blocked
January 10, 2026 Full crackdown Complete access revoked

Important Note: OpenAI Sora lead Bill Peebles once stated "Our GPUs are melting"—due to computing pressure, they've had to implement stricter restrictions.

sora-2-web-cannot-generate-video-solution-en 图示

Sora 2 Web Version vs APP: Key Differences

Many users have noticed something odd: the web version won't generate content, but the APP still works. This is because OpenAI is using different strategies for different platforms.

Feature Web Version (sora.chatgpt.com) APP (iOS/Android)
Free Account ❌ Can't generate ⚠️ Limited quota
Plus Account ✅ Works normally ✅ Works normally
Pro Account ✅ Full features ✅ Full features
Control Options More extensive Basic features
Generation Speed Standard Slightly slower

Why Does the APP Still Work?

Right now, the APP is more lenient with free accounts, but this is just a temporary situation. Based on OpenAI's policy trends, we're expecting the free generation quota on the APP to get tighter soon.

Heads up: Don't rely on the APP's temporary availability – you'll want to find a stable alternative sooner rather than later.

Sora Image Generation Has Similar Limits

Beyond video generation, Sora's image generation feature has similar restrictions:

Feature Free Users Plus Users Pro Users
Legacy Sora Images ❌ Can't use ✅ Available ✅ Available
4o Image Generation Limited quota Higher quota Highest quota
Image Quality Standard Sharper Best quality
Daily Cap Very low Moderate Highest

On the sora.chatgpt.com web version:

  • Legacy Sora Image Generation: Free users can't access it anymore, Plus users can
  • New 4o Image Generation: It's integrated into ChatGPT and Sora, but free users get very limited quota

3 Alternative Solutions to Sora 2 Web Version Restrictions

Solution 1: Upgrade to ChatGPT Plus/Pro

The most straightforward approach is to upgrade your subscription:

Subscription Monthly Fee Sora Videos Sora Images
Plus $20 ✅ 1,000 credits ✅ Available
Pro $200 ✅ 10,000 credits + Unlimited ✅ Highest Priority

Pros: Official channel, full features
Cons: Requires international payment, fixed monthly fee

Solution 2: Use the Sora APP

Generate content via the APP (iOS/Android):

  1. Download the Sora APP (currently available in US, Canada, Japan, etc.)
  2. Log in with a regular account
  3. Use the limited free quota for generation

Pros: Temporarily free
Cons: Limited quota, restricted features, policy may tighten in the future

Solution 3: Use API for Stable Generation (Recommended)

Access Sora 2 API through APIYI apiyi.com – no subscription needed, no policy change worries:

API Service Unit Price Features
sora-2 (video) $0.12/request Standard video generation
sora-2-pro (video) $0.80/request Pro-level quality
sora_image (image) $0.01/request Sora image generation
gpt-4o-image (image) $0.01/request 4o image generation 

import openai

client = openai.OpenAI(
    api_key="YOUR_API_KEY",
    base_url="https://vip.apiyi.com/v1"
)

# Sora 2 video generation - $0.12/request
response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="sora-2",
    messages=[{
        "role": "user",
        "content": "A serene lake at sunset with mountains in the background"
    }]
)

# Sora image generation - $0.01/request
image_response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="sora_image",
    messages=[{
        "role": "user",
        "content": "A futuristic cityscape at night"
    }]
)

API Solution Advantages:

  • ✅ No Subscription Required: Pay-per-use pricing
  • ✅ Stable and Reliable: Unaffected by OpenAI policy changes
  • ✅ High Concurrency Support: Perfect for batch generation needs
  • ✅ No Phone Verification: Skip the tedious verification process
  • ✅ Ultra-low Image Pricing: Only $0.01/request

sora-2-web-cannot-generate-video-solution-en 图示

Complete Example of Sora 2 API Integration

Video Generation Example

import openai

client = openai.OpenAI(
    api_key="YOUR_API_KEY",
    base_url="https://vip.apiyi.com/v1"
)

# Standard video generation
response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="sora-2",  # or sora-2-pro
    messages=[{
        "role": "user",
        "content": "A golden retriever puppy playing with autumn leaves in a park"
    }]
)

print(response.choices[0].message.content)

Image Generation Example

# Sora image generation - only $0.01/request
image_response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="sora_image",
    messages=[{
        "role": "user",
        "content": "A beautiful sunrise over the ocean, photorealistic style"
    }]
)

# Or use GPT-4o image generation
gpt4o_image = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="gpt-4o-image",
    messages=[{
        "role": "user",
        "content": "A cozy coffee shop interior with warm lighting"
    }]
)

Cost Comparison: If you're generating 50 videos + 100 images per month, the API costs about $7 (videos $6 + images $1) – way less than the $20 Plus subscription.

Common Questions

Q1: Why does Sora’s web version show “We’re under heavy load”?

This isn't about server congestion – it's actually an official feature limitation from OpenAI for free users. Since January 7, 2026, regular accounts can't generate videos on the web version. Your options: upgrade to Plus/Pro, or use API services like apiyi.com.

Q2: How long will the app version keep working?

Right now, the app still offers limited quota for regular accounts, but based on OpenAI's policy trends, we're expecting this to tighten up gradually. Don't count on this temporary access – better to lock in a stable solution sooner rather than later.

Q3: Do I need phone verification for API calls?

When you're calling the Sora 2 API through apiyi.com, phone verification isn't required. That's one of the big advantages of the API approach over the official web version – you skip the tedious verification process and can start using it right after registration.

Summary

Key points about Sora 2 web version not generating videos:

  1. Not a Bug: "We're under heavy load" is a policy restriction, not a server issue
  2. Policy Change: Since January 7, 2026, regular accounts can't generate videos on the web version
  3. App Still Works (For Now): Regular accounts can still use the app temporarily, but with limited quota
  4. Images Also Restricted: Legacy Sora image generation is now limited to Plus/Pro subscribers only
  5. API Most Reliable: Use API via apiyi.com – videos at $0.12/generation, images only $0.01/generation

If you need stable, high-concurrency Sora 2 video and image generation, we recommend using apiyi.com's API solution. Pay-per-use pricing offers more flexibility and isn't affected by official policy changes.

References

⚠️ Link Format Note: All external links use the Resource Name: domain.com format for easy copying but aren't clickable, avoiding SEO weight loss.

  1. OpenAI Sora Help Center: Official video generation documentation

    • Link: help.openai.com/en/articles/9957612-generating-videos-on-sora
    • Note: Learn about official Sora features and usage

  2. Sora Billing FAQ: Official subscription and credits information

    • Link: help.openai.com/en/articles/10245774-sora-billing-faq
    • Note: Understand Plus/Pro subscription Sora benefits

  3. Sora App Getting Started: Official app usage guide

    • Link: help.openai.com/en/articles/12456897-getting-started-with-the-sora-app
    • Note: Learn how to use Sora on mobile

Author: Technical Team
Tech Discussion: Feel free to discuss in the comments. For more resources, visit apiyi.com tech community

Try AI Large Model https://api.apiyi.com for free
Stable and reliable AI LM API aggregation service, Get 300 Millions Tokens for Free~

Similar Posts