How can I resolve the 'Network Request Failed' error when calling the OpenAI API from an Expo Android project?

Below is a checklist and some changes you can try to resolve the “Network Request Failed” error when calling the OpenAI API from your Expo app:

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1. Use the Correct Request Payload

For the Chat Completion endpoint the API expects a JSON body with a field named “messages” (an array of message objects) rather than “prompt.” For example:

JAVASCRIPTCopied
await fetch("https://api.openai.com/v1/chat/completions", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Accept": "application/json",
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${process.env.EXPO_PUBLIC_API_KEY}`,
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    model: "gpt-4o-mini",
    messages: [
      {
        role: "user",
        content: prompt,
      }
    ],
    temperature: 0.7,
  }),
})
  .then((response) => response.json())
  .then((data) => {
    console.log(data);
  })
  .catch((error) => {
    console.error("Error making request:", error.message, error.stack);
  });

Making sure the payload matches the API’s specification will allow the server to interpret your request correctly.

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2. Verify Your API Key

• Environment Variable:
  Make sure that process.env.EXPO_PUBLIC_API_KEY is correctly set in your project. In Expo managed projects, environment variables may need to be passed through a Babel config or defined in your app.config.js/app.json (via extra config) so they can be injected at build time.

• Key Validity:
  Double-check that the API key is valid and not empty or malformed.

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3. Android Network Permissions in Expo

In a managed Expo project, you don’t modify the native AndroidManifest.xml directly. Instead, add the permissions in your app.json (or app.config.js) like this:

JSONCopied
{
  "expo": {
    "android": {
      "permissions": ["INTERNET"]
    }
  }
}

Since your request uses HTTPS, you don’t need to enable cleartext traffic. In any case, Expo already handles many of the native configurations for you.

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4. Check Network Conditions and Debugging

• Simulator/Device Network:
  Ensure that the device or emulator has an active internet connection. Sometimes network errors arise because of connectivity issues on the testing environment.

• Detailed Error Logging:
  The error “Network Request Failed” can sometimes mask the underlying cause. Adding more error logging or using tools like Flipper might help diagnose whether it’s a certificate issue, a DNS problem, or something else.

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Recap

1. Payload: Use “messages” rather than “prompt” when calling the chat completions endpoint.
2. API Key: Confirm that your API key is correctly set up and valid.
3. Expo Permissions: Ensure your Expo project has the necessary network permissions in app.json.
4. Testing Environment: Verify your device/emulator’s connectivity.

Applying these changes should help you overcome the “Network Request Failed” error when interfacing with the OpenAI API.