Snapchat not working? Fix Snapchat with these 10 simple hacks (2023)

Snapchat is one of the most popular instant messaging apps in the world, with over 300 million active monthly users. Its ‘ephemeral messaging’ and fun filters appeal to a younger audience and are a big reason for its popularity. But, like every other app, Snapchat also has the tendency to stop working from time to time. In this article, we bring you the 10 simplest ways to fix Snapchat if it isn’t working.

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Check your internet connection

If you’re having trouble sending and receiving snaps from your contacts, you may have a network connection issue. Even when your connection is down the Snapchat app opens up and you can view some of the pre-loaded stories. But as soon as you send a message, it will get stuck on pending. In order to check your internet connection, use another app to see if you’re able to send messages, or open a webpage on your phone’s web browser to check if the internet is still working. 

Restart your smartphone

Restarting your phone can fix any temporary glitches or background issues that may be preventing Snapchat (or other apps) from working properly. This should be the first step you take towards fixing any issue with your phone. To restart your phone, long press the side key and select ‘Restart’ from the power options menu. If the side key triggers Google Assistant on your device, press and hold the side key and volume up button together to access the power options.

Check if Snapchat is down

If your internet connection is fine but Snapchat still isn’t working, the issue may lie on Snapchat’s end. It is not uncommon for Snapchat’s servers to go down, leading to an outage. To check Snapchat’s running status, log on to www.downdetector.in and search for Snapchat to see if any outages have been reported.

Log out of your Snapchat account and log in again

If there’s nothing wrong with your internet connection or Snapchat’s servers, you may want to try logging out and then logging back into Snapchat. Don’t worry, this won’t clear any of your saved messages. If there’s a glitch in your account, this method will fix it. To log out of Snapchat, tap on your Bitmoji at the top right corner of the screen. Then, tap on the gear icon to go to settings, scroll all the way down and select ‘Log Out’. You can log back in using your Snapchat username, phone number (if registered), or email address.

Update the Snapchat app if it isn’t working

If you haven’t updated Snapchat in a while, the current version may no longer be compatible with your smartphone. Snapchat rolls out new updates frequently and the older versions are slowly phased out. It is also possible that the current version of the app may have developed some bugs which would be erased in the updated version. It is a good idea to keep updating the app every once in a while. To update the Snapchat app, go to the Google Play Store, search for Snapchat and select ‘Update’.

Check the app permissions

Snapchat needs certain permissions to work on your phone. You need to give the app access to your phone’s camera and microphone to use the basic functions. If you want to send an image from your gallery, Snapchat requires Files and Media access as well. If you’ve removed certain permissions for Snapchat, the app may not function as desired. Depending on what issue you’re facing, grant the necessary permission to Snapchat. For instance, if you’re not able to update your location on the app, you need to give it location access. In order to send a snap, you need to give the app the camera and microphone access. In order to check which permissions you’ve given to Snapchat, go to Settings>Apps>Snapchat>Permissions. You can select which permissions you want to give to Snapchat.

Clear app cache to fix Snapchat if it isn’t working

The cache is temporary storage on your device where certain apps store files and data that are immediately needed upon opening the app. This reduces the load time and elevates the user experience. When certain files stay too long in the cache, they may get corrupted and affect the functioning of the app. It is always a good idea to clear the cache from time to time. In order to clear the cache open the Snapchat app and go to your Profile>Settings>Clear Cache.

Force Stop and Restart the app

You’d be surprised how often restarting the app can fix any minor issues that may be keeping it from working. Force-stopping the app shuts down any background activity as well, so you can perform a total reboot while restarting the app. In order to Force Stop Snapchat go to Settings>Apps>Snapchat and tap the ‘Force Stop’ option at the bottom part of your phone’s screen. In order to restart, simply open Snapchat from the app drawer again.

Disable VPN to fix Snapchat if it isn’t working

If you’re using a VPN to access Snapchat, try disabling it and trying again. The VPN may be connected to an IP address from a country where Snapchat is not available or outright banned. Connect to a different IP address and see if it works.

Clear Snapchat conversations

This method is only useful if you’re unable to send messages or snaps to a particular user. If the messages are stuck on ‘Pending’, it may mean that the user has blocked you. Check out this article to know more. However, if your messages are stuck in the process of being sent, clearing the conversation may help. To do so, tap on your Bitmoji at the top right corner of the screen and go to settings. Scroll down and select ‘Clear Conversations’, then tap the cross icon next to the conversation you want to clear. This won’t delete any saved messages, but unread and unsaved messages will be cleared.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Snapchat not working?

If you’re unable to send messages on Snapchat, it may be because of a faulty internet connection or a server outage. Check your internet connection and restart your phone just to be sure that the issue does not lie on your end.

Why can’t I open Snapchat?

If the Snapchat app on your device isn’t launching properly, delete its cache by going to Settings>Apps>Snapchat>Storage>Clear Cache.

How can I restart Snapchat?

To restart Snapchat, you need to force-stop the app first. Go to Settings>Apps>Snapchat>Force Stop and then relaunch it from the app drawer.

Read Also: How to block or unblock someone on Snapchat? (2022)

Conclusion

These are the 10 simple ways to fix Snapchat if it stops working. If you’ve tried all of the above-mentioned techniques and Snapchat is still down, the app may be corrupted. You can try deleting the app and reinstalling it again. Deleting the app will not clear your snap streak or saved messages and media.