OpenAI has finally launched its AI video generation tool for ChatGPT Plus and Pro users. Sora receives text prompts from the users and creates an extremely realistic video based on it.
After its public release, the platform saw a mad rush of users trying to sign up for the platform. That resulted in the OpenAI servers getting incapacitated at serving the request of so many users.
During the signup/login process, users started getting various error messages.
One such error was the unexpected token error. The complete error message would look like this “Oops, an error occurred! Unexpected token ‘<’ “<!DOCTYPE” …is not valid JSON.
Interestingly, the ChatGPT Plus/Pro users, with eligibility to use Sora also faced the issue of logging into Sora. They, too, faced the “unexpected token” error.
This error caused frustration among all the users who were eager to try out Sora. In this guide, we have discussed the possible reasons for the error and provided you with the necessary troubleshooting tips to fix it.
Reasons for the “Unexpected Token Error…DOCTYPE is not Valid” in Sora
Normally, users intending to utilize Sora start by inputting their login credentials to access the platform.
When they submit their credentials, they face a login denial with “Unexpected token ‘<’ error” which signifies some problem at the developer’s end.
The error indicates that the JavaScript code received some non-JSON data that cannot be processed.
If the server is going through maintenance, you may experience problems during the login process.
During login, due to several technical issues at your end, you may come across the Unexpected token ‘<‘ error.
It could be the buggy OpenAI app if you access Sora from your phone.
Problematic browser extensions or corrupted browser cache may also cause issues in loading a webpage resulting in several errors during the login process.
Troubleshooting Tips to Fix the “Unexpected Token Error” in Sora
As mentioned in the previous section, an issue originating due to a problem at the server’s end can only be fixed by the product’s developer team.
Users most likely have no role to play except waiting until the issue is resolved by OpenAI.
Still, you may follow some of these tips to do your part in trying to check if it resolves the login issue on Sora.
Check if Sora’s Server is Down
Your first move should be checking if OpenAI servers are down. Head to the official OpenAI status page and check if Sora is down at the moment.
When the problem is at the server’s end, all you have to do is wait until the issue is fixed.
Maybe try logging in to Sora after a couple of hours.
When the server maintenance is finished or the rush to use the platform is low, you should be able to log in without any problem.
Clear the Browser Cache
When junk data remains in the cache and even though webpage bugs and technical issues have been fixed, you continue to encounter errors while landing on the page or performing actions such as signup or login.
So, it is suggested to clear the corrupt data from the browser cache.
To refresh the browser cache, follow these steps.
- Press Ctrl +Shift +Delete hotkeys while the browser is active.
- Select the Time Range to All Time on the Clear Browser Data panel.
- Choose cached images and files, thumbnails, and cookies.
- Press Delete Data and relaunch the browser.
These steps apply to all the primary web browsers used around the world.
Turn Off Problematic Browser Extensions
Browser extensions like ad-blocker, VPN, or other plugins that have not been updated may cause the problem during browsing.
Disable the browser plugins temporarily and check if you can seamlessly log into Sora without getting any “unexpected error”.
- Launch your browser.
- In the address bar, type chrome://extensions.
- Press the toggle next to the extension you want to turn off.
I’m using Chrome browser. You can use this same command on other browsers browser_name://extensions.
On Mozilla Firefox, type about:addons to view the installed extensions.
Also, avoid using a VPN to access Sora, if you are from a region where the AI video generator has not been released officially.
Trying to log in to Sora from an unsupported region through a VPN may cause you to face login errors.
OpenAI has declared a warning regarding using unauthorized means to access Sora, which would lead to account removal.
Update the Browser App on Your Phone
Are you getting the “Oops, an error occurred! Unexpected token ‘<’ when logging into Sora from the browser app on your mobile?
Check for available app updates for your browser app on the Play Store or App Store.
- Go to Play Store and tap the connected Gmail account avatar at the top.
- Go to Manage Apps and Device > Updates Available.
- If your preferred browser has a new build available, tap on the Update button.
Similarly,
- iOS users can launch the App Store.
- Go to the active Apple ID and search for new app updates for your primary browser.
- Press the Update button to install it.
After updating to the latest version, launch the browser, and use the correct email ID to log in to Sora.
If the error was due to a bug on the browser, check if the new app build fixed the problem.
Refresh the Page and Retry Login
You may try this simple troubleshooting method that requires you to simply refresh the webpage.
Often due to bad network connectivity, all the elements on a webpage may not load.
Due to that, you may encounter errors when trying to sign up or log in to the site.
Press the refresh button on the login page of Sora and let the page load completely.
Now, proceed to log into Sora by entering your credentials through Google/Microsoft/Apple account.
Contact OpenAI Support
Even after applying various fixes if you keep encountering the “Oops, an error occurred! Unexpected token ‘<’ “<!DOCTYPE” …is not a valid JSON error, connect to the OpenAI support.
Alternatively, you can post about your issue on the official OpenAI community.
Here users from around the world who use the OpenAI products, share their experiences with OpenAI tools, discuss technical issues, and are helped by fellow users and developers.
Bottom Line
OpenAI managed the errors at their end to handle a large number of user requests that wanted to use Sora.
This fixed the “unexpected token error” for most users trying to log into Sora to generate AI videos.
Currently, if you happen to come across the same error notification while logging into Sora, implement the troubleshooting tips offered in this guide.
If these tips don’t solve the issue, visit the OpenAI support or official forum to share your queries. Maybe someone from the community will offer a way to fix it.
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