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 and Snapchat 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.

Image showing a graph of Snapchat outages

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.

Use the swipe-up gesture from the bottom and open the Recents menu (if you use navigation buttons, tap the Overview button).
Swipe up on the Snapchat app and close it.

Open Snapchat and see if it's working. iPhone users can use the same swipe-up gesture from the bottom and open the App Switcher menu 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 the Control 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 like Speedtest to check the internet speed on your phone.

Screenshot highlighting Wi-Fi and mobile data options on Android

Screenshot highlighting Wi-Fi and mobile data options on iPhone

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.

Long press the Snapchat app icon.
Select the 'i' button to open the app info menu.
Go to the Permissions menu.
Check denied permissions.
Select the required permission for Snapchat.
Tap the radio button beside the Allow only while using the app option.

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.

Open the Settings menu on your iPhone.
Scroll to Snapchat.
Tap Location and select While Using the App from the following menu.
Turn on the Precise Location toggle if you frequently use Snap Map.
Go to the Snapchat menu and turn on the Microphone, Camera, and Mobile Data 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.

Long press the Snapchat app icon.
Tap the 'i' button.
Open the App info menu.
Select Force stop.
After you close the menu, try your luck 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 to clear the cache and try again.

Clear the Snapchat cache on Android

Open the Snapchat app info menu (refer to the steps in the previous section).
Go to Storage (Storage and cache in stock Android phones.)
Select Clear cache from the following menu.

Clear the Snapchat cache on iOS

Open Snapchat on your iPhone.
Select your profile picture in the upper-left corner.
Go to Snapchat settings by tapping the gear icon.
Scroll to Account Actions.
Select Clear Cache and confirm your decision.

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.

Launch the Snapchat App info menu.
Go to the Set as default menu.
Turn on the Open supported links toggle.

If Snapchat is still misbehaving on your phone, temporarily sign out from your account and log in again with the same account credentials.

Open Snapchat and tap the circular profile picture in the upper-left corner.
From the profile menu, select the settings gear in the upper-right corner.
Scroll down and select Log Out from the Account Actions menu.
Sign in with your Snapchat account details and get back to taking snaps in style.

Clear your Snapchat conversations

Are you having trouble accessing a specific conversation on Snapchat? You can clear the conversation and start a new chat.

Open Snapchat settings (check the steps in the previous section).
Tap Clear Conversation to see all your Snapchat conversations.
Tap the x beside a conversation that you want to clear.
Tap the Clear button. This action clears all unsaved snaps from the conversation.

Deactivate your VPN connection

Are you trying to use Snapchat on a VPN connection? The VPN app on your phone might be connected to an IP address in a country where Snapchat is banned. In that case, none of the Snapchat services will work for you. Disconnect any VPN services on your phone and use the app again.

Update the Snapchat app in the App Store or the Play Store

Snapchat regularly releases new app updates to fix bugs and add new features. You should update Snapchat and get the latest version since an outdated Snapchat app on your phone might give you trouble.

Open the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store on your phone.
Type Snapchat in the search bar.
Go to the app info page.
See if there is a pending app update. If so, download the update.

Snapchat Notifications Not Working

Do you frequently miss trendy snaps or messages from your friends? You need to allow notification permission for your Snapchat account.

Turn on notification permissions on Android

Head to the Snapchat App info menu (check the steps above).
Select Notifications.
Turn on the All Snapchat notifications toggle.

Allow notification permissions on iPhone

Navigate to Snapchat in the iPhone Settings (refer to the steps above).
Select Notifications.
Turn on the Allow Notifications toggle.
Select the radio buttons beside Lock Screen and Notification Center.

If you activate Do Not Disturb on Android or iPhone, make an exception for Snapchat to continue receiving notifications from it.

The user wasn't found on Snapchat

Are you unable to find a specific user on Snapchat? If you had a conversation with that user, send a friend request through the old chat thread. If the app says, "Sorry! Couldn't find the user," there are three possibilities:

Snapchat may have suspended the account for violating company rules.
The user may have deleted the account from Snapchat.
The person may have blocked you on social media.

In any of these cases, you won't be able to find the user on Snapchat or send a friend request from old conversations.

The dark theme isn't working on Snapchat

Snapchat recently added a dark theme for Android, so make sure your app is updated. Here's how to activate dark mode on an Android device:

Open Snapchat and tap the circular profile picture in the upper-left corner.
Select the Settings gear in the upper-right corner.
Scroll down and select App Appearance.
Select Always Dark.
Tap Restart now.

As for the iPhone, here's how to match your Snapchat appearance to the iOS theme settings.

Open Snapchat settings on your iPhone.
Select App Appearance.
Tap the radio button beside Match System.

Give Snapchat a break and try X (aka Twitter) instead

If you're an active Snapchat user, the troubleshooting methods listed in this tutorial should help you get back on the app in no time. But if you're tired of Snapchat, you can delete your Snapchat account and replace it with another social media app, like X. Or, you can consider these alternative social media apps to keep in touch with family and friends.