16 simple fixes to try when Snapchat isn’t working
Snapchat is one of the most popular messaging apps, with millions of users worldwide and billions of downloads. As a bonus, the app supports self-deleting messages. Snapchat is available on Android in the Play Store, iOS for iPhones and iPads in the App Store, and on the web. So, you can connect with friends on Snapchat whether you use a smartphone,one of the best budget Chromebooks, a laptop, or a desktop PC.
But sometimes apps may not work as intended, and Snapchat is no exception. Here are some tips and tricks to fix glitches and get back on the app so that you don’t miss out on snaps from your friends and family.
Look for Snapchat outage reports on X (formerly known as Twitter)
When your Snapchat isn’t working, X is the first place you should go. You can check the official outage reports on the Snapchat Support andSnapchat X pages. While Snap tends to be proactive when posting outage updates, you may not see a notice for an hour or two. If you don’t see any issues on Snap’s X profiles,search X using the #Snapchat hashtag. You can’t do much if there’s an outage until Snap restores service. If you don’t see reports, the steps below will help you troubleshoot further.
Check the Snapchat status on Downdetector
Downdetector lists reports of website and app outages. It’s a great spot to check for issues if you don’t use X. If Snapchat servers are down, you’ll have to wait for Snapchat to fix the issue from their end.
To check if Snapchat is down, head to Downdetector and search for Snapchat. You’ll see high outage graphs if others experience the same problem. You can also glance over comments from users who report the same issue.
Restart the Snapchat app
You might face issues opening Snapchat from the Recents menu. To remedy this, completely close Snapchat and open it again.
Open Snapchat and see if it’s working. iPhone users can use the same swipe-up gesture from the bottom and open theApp Switchermenu to close Snapchat.
Check your internet connection
Snapchat requires an active internet connection to load those sizzling snaps from your friends. If the app isn’t working, you might need to check whether you’re facing connectivity issues.
Android users must swipe down from the top and open the notification panel menu. On iOS, you can swipe down from the upper-right corner to open theControl Center(or swipe up from the bottom if you have an iPhone with the home button).
Check quick toggles, turn on Wi-Fi, and connect to a fast and reliable Wi-Fi connection. When you’re using your cellular data, use apps likeSpeedtestto check the internet speed on your phone.
Check your Snapchat app permissions
Snapchat requires camera, contact, photo, location, and microphone permissions to function as expected. If you denied these permissions (especially the camera and location ones), you’re left with a broken app experience. Here’s how to activate relevant app permissions on Android.
Do the same for all required Snapchat permissions, and open the app again. iPhone users can go through the steps below to check Snapchat permissions.
Force stop Snapchat
When an app misbehaves on Android, you can force stop it and suspend all activities. Here’s how to do this with Snapchat.
Clear your Snapchat cache
Mobile apps collect cache in the background to improve loading times and perform frequent tasks faster. Sometimes, corrupt data in the Snapchat app cache can lead to problems. Here’s how toclear the cacheand try again.
Clear the Snapchat cache on Android
Clear the Snapchat cache on iOS
After you perform this task, Snapchat may take longer to load, as the app must collect cache data from scratch.
Open supported links in Snapchat
Snapchat allows users to share their profile links with others. Instead of opening Snapchat links in the browser, you can launch them in the app and avoid errors.
Log out of Snapchat and sign in again
If Snapchat is still misbehaving on your phone, temporarily sign out from your account and log in again with the same account credentials.
Clear your Snapchat conversations
Are you having trouble accessing a specific conversation on Snapchat? You can clear the conversation and start a new chat.
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