ChatGPT 5.1 has officially launched, instantly becoming the focus of the global AI circle. It’s faster, more powerful, and more natural in conversations. It even adds different conversational “personalities,” freeing the model from the “one-size-fits-all GPT tone.”
But domestic users soon encountered a practical problem: the update is out, but they can’t use it/can’t open it/it keeps loading?
Indeed, due to regional restrictions, network routes, payment methods and other reasons, it’s not easy for some users to use GPT-5.1 stably. So this article focuses on the core question: how can users smoothly, stably and efficiently use ChatGPT 5.1?
I. Key Highlights of GPT-5.1
1、Comprehensive Performance Upgrade
- Response speed is 2–3 times faster, with almost instant replies for daily chats.
- Enhanced reasoning capabilities: more reliable performance in multi-step logic, complex planning and code debugging.
- New no-reasoning mode: automatically reduces computations for simple tasks to save tokens and speed up responses.
2、Merged Dual Versions
- GPT-5.1 Instant: Fastest speed, suitable for chatting, writing and short content creation.
- GPT-5.1 Thinking: Designed for in-depth logical analysis, long tasks and complex reasoning.
- The system intelligently selects Instant/Thinking based on tasks, no manual switching required.
3、Enhanced Personalized Conversations
- Offers multiple tones including professional, friendly, playful, sarcastic, geeky, concise and Nerdy styles.
- Real-time switching via settings or prompts, with more distinct and natural style changes. Output is more “human-like,” avoiding the formulaic and rigid feel of GPT-5.
4、Improved Multimodal Capabilities
- Stronger image understanding (OCR, charts, screenshot analysis).
- More accurate parsing of code/tables/structured data.
- API supports richer multimodal tasks, suitable for developers and enterprises.
5、Upgraded Developer Tools
- More stable structured output and more accurate function calls.
- New apply_patch and shell task modules, making productivity closer to an “executable AI tool.”
- Improved token efficiency, reducing usage costs for many tasks.
II. How Users in China Can Use ChatGPT 5.1 Stably
1、Build a Stable Overseas Access Environment
The biggest pain point for domestic users is: accessible but unstable; usable but frequently disconnected; loadable but prone to errors. There are three reasons:
- OpenAI identifies and restricts access from certain regions.
- Unstable domestic outbound access.
- Frequent IP changes easily trigger risk control.
Therefore, the most important thing is to use high-quality, stable overseas IP to truly use GPT-5.1 stably.
Why Need “Proxy IP”?
Shared nodes mean multiple people use the same outbound IP. Such IPs are easily marked, restricted by risk control, downgraded, with high latency and large fluctuations—unsuitable for accessing complex services. Professional proxy IPs are different: you can choose dedicated IP/residential IP, which are cleaner, less likely to be blacklisted, and offer better access stability.
- Clean nodes with extremely low risk control rate: no shared or abused IPs, purer and more stable, less likely to be deemed high-risk by OpenAI.
- Covers over 200 regions worldwide: select regions as needed for easy switching.
- Low latency and stable connection: no sudden disconnections during report writing, coding or long tasks.
If you want a stable network environment for ChatGPT 5.1, this is currently the most cost-effective solution for domestic developers, researchers and users pursuing a native experience.
2、Account Preparation
Register with an overseas email (Gmail, Outlook) for better stability.
After registration, the Plus/Pro subscription region must match the IP, otherwise errors will occur.
3、Access ChatGPT and Switch to GPT-5.1
After accessing the ChatGPT official website, ensure the page loads normally.
Select “GPT-5.1 Instant” / “GPT-5.1 Thinking” in the upper left corner.
If not visible: all advanced capabilities of GPT-5.1 (enhanced multimodality, improved reasoning, personality styles, etc.) are currently prioritized for paid users, with free users to receive the update gradually. It may also be due to rollout delays—try again later or re-login.
Summary
ChatGPT 5.1 is currently the most powerful and humanized GPT model, with comprehensive and obvious upgrades. But the biggest challenge for domestic use is not “how to use it,” but “whether it can be accessed stably.” Among them, the access environment is the key—without a stable, clean overseas IP, no matter how powerful GPT-5.1 is, you can’t use it.
