Slow Responses
If NorthSignal seems to be taking a long time to generate a response, there are several common explanations — and they're usually by design, not a bug.
1. Reasoning Mode Is Enabled
The most common cause of slow responses is having Reasoning Mode turned on. This mode instructs the AI to "think deeply" before responding, which can add 10–30 seconds of processing time.
The Fix:
- Check the toggle next to the Model Selector below the input bar.
- If it's enabled and you don't need deep reasoning, turn it off for faster responses.
Reasoning mode is excellent for complex math, multi-step coding problems, and logical puzzles. For casual questions, disable it for near-instant responses.
2. Long Context / Large Files
If you've pasted a large amount of text or attached a big file, the AI needs more time to process all that input. The larger the input, the longer the generation time.
- 10,000+ tokens: Expect a few extra seconds.
- 100,000+ tokens: May take 15–30 seconds depending on the model.
The Fix:
- This is expected behavior. Be patient with large inputs.
- If speed is critical, consider summarizing the input first, then asking detailed follow-up questions.
3. Provider Server Load
All AI providers experience periods of high demand, which can slow response times across the board.
The Fix:
- If a response is taking over 60 seconds, it may have timed out. Cancel and try again.
- Check provider status pages: