tiny hearth
[Bug Report] ChatGPT Plus — All instructions broken for 2+ months, backend proof obtained
Posting here after OpenAI Support (Case #05833474) was unable to resolve this and the developer forum flagged it as off-topic.
What's happening:
All instruction layers on my Plus account are completely non-functional — Custom GPT Instructions, Project Instructions, and general custom settings. The model responds as if no instructions exist. Pasting the same instructions directly into chat works fine.
The backend evidence:
Using browser DevTools, the Request Payload was captured during a live Custom GPT session. The field responsible for passing instructions to the model:
system_hints: []
Empty array. Instructions are never transmitted to the backend. This is not a prompt issue — it's a server-side account-level bug.
Controlled test:
- Plus account (paid): system_hints: [] ❌
- Free account, same iPhone, same IP, same time: works correctly ✅
Already ruled out:
- Browser cache — reproduced on multiple browsers and computers
- Windows/Electron — reproduced on iPhone iOS app
- VPN — not in use during any test
Has anyone else seen system_hints: [] in their payload? Is this a known issue affecting certain Plus accounts?
verbal narwhal