Why is Snapchat not working how to fix it?

By Justin Jones Last updated Nov 11, 2022

Why is Snapchat not working how to fix it? When it’s not working, Snapchat is a fun way to stay in touch with friends and family, but if it’s not working for you, you can miss out on some important information.

In the event that you find yourself in the terrible position of having Snapchat stop functioning, we have compiled a list of potential solutions. If you have any problems with Snapchat, follow the troubleshooting method that has been provided below, and you will be able to fix them.

A Google Pixel 4a with 5G running Android 12 and the Snapchat Android app version 11.76.0.33 were used to compile some of the steps that are included in this post. Keeping this in mind, some of the steps that are outlined below might not apply to you depending on the device you’re using and the version of Snapchat that you have installed.

Check if Snapchat is down

If you’re having trouble using Snapchat, the first thing you should think about is whether or not the app is functioning properly for everyone else. There are two locations where you may check to see if Snapchat is now down. Down Detector is a website that monitors a wide variety of services to determine whether or not they are currently unavailable.

If you go to the Down Detector page for Snapchat, it will inform you whether or not the app is experiencing any problems right now. You can also check the Live Outage Map to determine whether the issue is confined to particular geographic areas.

The second choice is to seek assistance via the official Snapchat support account on Twitter. Follow it if you want to remain up to speed since it will always have the most recent news regarding Snapchat outages and an estimate of how long it may be before it is back up and running normally.

Close and re-open Snapchat

You should try closing the app and then reopening it if Snapchat is running but you are unable to use it. If the problem continues after you log out of your account, try signing out and then signing back in. This will resync your local snaps with the server, which, if the problem still exists, will need to be fixed.

In certain cases, reinstalling the app after first removing it from your device and starting fresh is the solution. If you want to take this strategy a step further, you can also try logging out of Snapchat and then logging back in. This is something you may do if you want to take it even further.

Check for updates

Running an outdated version of an application is normally not a problem, although doing so could result in problems in certain circumstances, particularly when significant modifications are made to applications. It’s probably a good idea to check for any updates. Check for available updates by opening either the Google Play Store or the App Store in your web browser. When you re-enter Snapchat, any snaps that you may have missed will be waiting for you there.

How to check for app updates on Android:

Open the Google Play Store.
Search for Snapchat.
Tap on the Snapchat app.
You should see an Update option if there’s an available update. Tap on it.

While you’re doing it, it’s probably a good idea to make sure that the software on your phone is running the most recent version that’s available.

How to update your Android phone:

Open the Settings app.
Go into System.
Select System update.
Hit Check for an update.
Follow instructions to finalize the update

Restart your phone

Restarting the gadget is the most common and straightforward cure for technological issues. The same reasoning holds true when Snapchat isn’t functioning properly. If you reset your device, you may find that your problems with Snapchat disappear immediately. Simply depress and maintain pressure on the Power button, then select the Restart option. If that doesn’t solve the problem, you’ll need to try another solution.

How to restart an Android phone:

Press and hold on to the Power button.
Select Restart.

Check your internet connection

If Snapchat or certain snaps won’t load, the issue can be with your internet connection. You may quickly determine whether or not this is the case by testing any other application on your device that makes use of the internet or by opening your web browser and attempting to view the Google.com website. In the event that nothing else functions, the problem is probably with your internet connection.

If you are currently utilizing data, you should attempt to switch to Wi-Fi, and vice versa. You might also try relocating into closer proximity to your wireless router. Even if the internet works on other devices in your home, you may still need to reset the router to fix the problem.

It is possible that users who access Snapchat while connected to a virtual private network will be required to turn off their VPN. If Snapchat detects any third-party apps, including VPNs, it will frequently stop functioning properly.

In addition, if you are using Wi-Fi, there is a possibility that the administrator of the network is preventing you from accessing particular services, such as Snapchat. This is typically the case in venues like schools, libraries, and other public spaces where the administration would prefer that people not use Wi-Fi for purposes of amusement.

The only answer would be to get permission from the administrator to utilize those applications, or you could only use data.

Another issue that frequently arises is when we inadvertently disable our mobile data connection. Ensure that you are able to access mobile data by going into Settings.

How to turn on mobile data on Android:

Open the Settings app.
Go into Network & internet.
Select SIMs.
Toggle Mobile data on.

Check app network permissions

Even if your internet connection is robust and functions normally in other apps, it’s possible that Snapchat lacks the permissions it needs to function properly. For instance, this is most likely the reason why you are seeing a dark screen instead of the view from the camera.

Permissions for the phone, the location, the storage, and possibly, even more, are sometimes required. Within the Snapchat app, there is a straightforward method for checking the rights that have been granted.

How to edit permissions in Snapchat:

Open Snapchat.
Tap on your avatar icon to open your profile.
Hit the Settings cog icon in the top-right corner.
Tap Permissions. It’s under the Privacy section.
Missing permissions will say Tap to enable. This will open the system settings to adjust all permissions for the app.
Go into Permissions and give Snapchat permission to use everything it needs to.

Clear Snapchat app cache

Snapchat is one of several apps that, like most others, download media and other sorts of data onto your device. If any of those files get corrupted, the program will no longer function properly. The deletion of these files will not result in the loss of any data or photographs, so there is no need for alarm on your part.

How to clear Snapchat cache:

Open Snapchat.
Tap on your avatar icon to open your profile.
Hit the Settings cog icon in the top-right corner.
Select Clear Cache. It’s under Account Actions.
Hit Continue.

What to do when snaps aren’t sending

There are a few methods available to you if you are unable to send snaps to your buddies despite the fact that your network is functioning normally. To begin, follow the instructions given above to restart your phone. In the event that that does not work, you might try ending the conversation. This will delete all Snaps that have been sent and received, even those that have not yet been opened.

How to clear a conversation on Snapchat:

Open Snapchat.
Tap on your avatar icon to open your profile.
Hit the Settings cog icon in the top-right corner.
Scroll down and tap Clear Conversation. It’s under Account Actions.
Select the conversation to clear and confirm by hitting Clear.

If you have deleted the chat, but the snaps are still not working, the best thing you can do is delete your friends from your account and then add them again. It’s possible that this will fix the problem, but it will also destroy any Snaps that have been exchanged or received with that person.

How to remove a friend on Snapchat:

Open Snapchat.
Tap on your avatar icon to open your profile.
Tap My Friends.
Select Manage Friendship.
Tap on Remove Friend.
Hit Remove.

Our walkthrough on what to do in the event that Snapchat isn’t functioning properly is now complete. Even if none of these potential fixes solve the issue, there is still a chance that something else will. You are able to communicate directly with Snapchat.

FAQs

Why isn’t Snapchat connecting on my device?

If Snapchat is online but not responding, try closing and reopening the app. If the problem persists after that, try signing out and then back into your account. Doing so will resynchronize your local snaps with the server and, hopefully, solve the issue.

Why does Snapchat close right after I open it?

One common cause of app failure is damaged data. It is possible that a corrupted portion of data stored in the app’s memory, such as cache or temporary data, has caused the program to no longer to operate as intended.

Why doesn’t Snapchat work on an iPhone?

It’s possible that after installing the latest update, the Snapchat app on your iPhone became corrupted and is now useless. If this happens, uninstall Snapchat from your device and download the most recent version from the App Store.