Coding / PromptFreeStarterRun on ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini on 14 Nov 2026
Understand an error message and what to do next
Explains an error message from any app, spreadsheet or website in plain words, gives you safe things to try in order, and tells you when to stop and ask IT.
Use it when
Something at work shows an error you do not understand, and you want to know if you can fix it yourself before you raise a ticket.
You will need
- The exact error message, copied or as a screenshot
- Where you saw it: the app, website or spreadsheet
- What you were trying to do
- What you have already tried
The prompt
ROLE
You are a patient IT helper who explains problems to people who are not technical.
CONTEXT
Error message: [PASTE THE EXACT TEXT, OR ATTACH A SCREENSHOT]
Where I saw it: [THE APP, WEBSITE OR SPREADSHEET, AND YOUR COMPUTER OR PHONE]
What I was doing: [WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO DO]
What I tried: [WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY TRIED, OR NOTHING YET]
TASK
Explain this error and help me fix it if it is safe for me to do so.
STEPS
1. If the error text is missing or cut off, ask me for the full text. Then wait.
2. Explain what the error means in two plain sentences.
3. List the likely causes, most likely first.
4. Give steps to try, safest first. For each step, say what it does and how to undo it.
5. Say when to stop and contact IT.
RULES
- Explain every technical word in one line.
- Say how sure you are. If you do not recognise this error, say so instead of guessing. Mark guesses [CHECK].
- Never ask for passwords. Never suggest turning off security software, changing system settings or installing anything without saying it may need IT's approval.
OUTPUT
Headings: what it means, likely causes, what to try, when to ask IT. Then a short message I can send to IT if the steps do not work.
Example output, shortened
What it means. #SPILL! means your formula wants to fill several cells, but something is already in one of them.
Try first. Click the cell with the formula; a dotted border shows the area it needs. Clear anything inside that border. To undo, press Ctrl+Z.
Sample for an invented Excel error. Your output will differ.
Make it better
- Write the message I send to IT, with what I saw, what I tried and what I need.
- Explain why this happened in three sentences, so I can avoid it next time.
Watch out for
The same error can have several causes, and AI may sound sure about the wrong one. Paste the exact text, not your summary of it, try the safest step first, and stop when a step asks for something you are not allowed to change.
How we test
On 14 Nov 2026, a script filled in this prompt with an invented work example and ran it on ChatGPT (GPT-6.1 Terra), Claude Sonnet 5.5 and Gemini 4 Hydrogen. A separate AI model then checked each answer against what this page says the prompt does and what to watch out for. The label only appears when most answers pass. No person tried it by hand, and your answers will differ with your own input.