A request can be stopped in three places: by our check before it runs, by the model provider's safety filter while it runs, or by our stricter check when you try to make something public. The message tells you which.

Blocked before it ran

These messages come from our own check, in the prompt tools and in the studio:

  • "This prompt can't be generated. Try a different prompt." The request matched our list of blocked terms. The message does not name a rule.
  • "This request was blocked." followed by the rule: content involving anyone under 18, nude or sexual images of real people from photos, or extreme violence and terror.
  • "We can't write a prompt for this image." (image to prompt) The image you added breaks the content rules.

Nothing was charged. In the prompt tools the run does not count against your free prompts, and in the studio no credits were taken.

The check reads words and some word combinations, so an innocent request can trip it. A word about children next to a word about nudity is always blocked, whatever the intent, and in the studio nudity words are blocked whenever a photo is attached. Rewrite that part and try again.

If the message says the content check is unavailable, nothing was started or charged. Try again in a few minutes.

Blocked by the model's safety filter

In the studio, the result card says "Blocked by the safety filter". The model provider refused the request, so there is no result. The first 10 of these in any 24 hours are refunded automatically; after that, further rejections that day keep their credits. Every charge and refund is on the Credits page.

Some models are stricter than others, especially with photos of real people. Another model, other photos or a clearer prompt often works.

When you start from a photo, the images the model returns are checked as well, and a sexual result is not saved. That counts as a safety filter rejection, with the same refund rule.

Blocked when sharing

"This can't be made public." means the item failed the check for public pages, which keeps the gallery and the prompt library free of adult, graphic and self-harm content. The item stays private in your history and nothing was charged. See Sharing your work and suggesting templates.

Repeated blocks in the studio

After 5 studio prompts blocked by our checks in 24 hours, new studio generations pause until the oldest of those blocks is more than 24 hours old. The message says roughly how long that is, and we email you. Accounts that keep trying to make prohibited content can have generation turned off, and requests involving anything sexual with minors are reviewed by a person and can lead to suspension and a report to the authorities.

If you think it was a mistake

Appealing a decision explains what to send. The rules themselves are in What you can create and the Terms.