Why is my Snapchat not working?” is a common question among Snapchatters. From October through November of 2021, the app had two significant outages. And there doesn’t seem to be a stop.
But server issues are not the only reason why your Snapchat isn’t working correctly. We identified four main factors that can lead you performance problems on your app. And we’re going to teach you how to fix them like a pro.
The 4 Primary Reasons ” Why Your Snapchat Is Not Working “
If your Snapchat is not working, chances are your connection is unstable, your device is incompatible with the app, an outage or server issue is going on in Snap inc., or you’re banned. Here’s everything you need to know about each glitch or bug and how to deal with them.
#1: Network Issues.
In almost 80% of the cases, a network problem is causing your Snapchat not to work. The app requires a constant internet connection, and it will collapse as soon as you go offline. The most common connection-related issues on Snapchat are:
“Could Not Connect”
Snapchat connection error happens when you try to login into your account or refresh your feed using slow Wi-Fi or cellular data. But users have reported receiving the same error message regardless of their connection speed.
“Network Is Temporarily Blocked”
Using VPNs or suspicious IP activities (such as a sudden location change) might trigger this error. You’ll see a message that says, “Oops! The network you are connected to has been temporarily blocked because of suspicious activity.”
How to Fix It
First off, test your Wi-Fi or cellular data stability. You can use online tools like Speedtest.com to see if you’re using a reliable connection. The next thing you want to do is turn off your VPN and try re-opening the app without it. If that didn’t resolve the issue, disconnect from your current Wi-Fi, try another, or reconnect after a couple of minutes.
#2: Snapchat not working due to server issues.
Most of the time, your Snapchat is not working because the Snap servers are down. You can use online tools, such as Dwondetector.com, to see if that’s why your app is malfunctioning. An easier way would be using other apps to see if they’re running with no problem. If the only app currently crashing is Snapchat, there’s probably a global or local outage.
How to Fix It
You cannot do anything about this issue. You need to be patient and wait for the Snap team to resolve it and get things back going again. But make sure to stay logged in during such outages as that’s what the support team usually suggests.
#3: Device Incompatibility
The Snapchat app is not compatible with all the smartphones out there. Usually, older phones have a hard time running the application, resulting in more frequent crashes. For example, Apple iPhone 5S, Apple iPod 5, iPod 4, iPod 5 touch, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, Asus Zenfone 2, Sony Xperia Z5 Compact, Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and 4 as well as many other devices are NOT compatible with all the features of the app.
How to Fix It
You need to ensure that your device’s operating system (iOS, Android, etc.) is up-to-date. If you cannot update your OS to the latest version, it’s time to buy a new device.
#4: Account Lock
The worst-case scenario when your Snapchat is not working is facing a ban or block. Now, Snapchat usually places a permanent ban on accounts that seriously violate the terms and conditions. So, that’s not a common issue for many users. But you may face a temporary block on Snapchat because of suspicious activities or minor guideline violations.
Permanent: If your Snapchat account gets a permanent ban, there’s no way to unlock it. No matter how many emails you send to the support team, they’ll not restore your data and unblock you. So, you’re better off without wasting your time.
Temporary: If the ban is short-term, you can head to accounts.snapchat.com and log in to your profile to have it back. But make sure to check what you did wrong to get banned. That’s because repeating terms and conditions violations might get your account permanently suspended.
Common reasons for Snapchat bans are:
– Spamming.
– Excessive friend requests in a short time.
– Compromising your account.
– Logging in from a banned device.
How to Avoid/Prevent Snapchat Crashes?
They’re a couple of ways to get you rid of the big question, “What is my Snapchat not working?” By taking the following steps, you’d reduce the chance of facing a crash to zero.
Keep your app and phone updated.
It’s not true about Snapchat only. If you want to have a smooth experience using the apps on your phone, make sure to update your device and apps constantly. The updates fix minor bugs and enhance the performance of the applications. So, you don’t want to skip them as it may result in frequent crashes and glitches.
Don’t use VPNs or unstable connections.
Snapchat does not want its users to have VPNs on while using the app. So, you’re better off without any application that changes your IP address or alters it in any way. You also want to use a stable, high-speed internet connection (whether it’s Wi-Fi or cellular data) to ensure the app won’t crash.
Never install third-party apps or plugins.
Installing apps or plugins that have access to your Snapchat profile is not a good idea. You might get banned for using such applications or face constant crashes as they interfere with Snapchat’s performance on a device. So, please stay clear of them to keep the bugs and glitches away.
Follow Snapchat Support Team on Twitter.
You need a reliable source to be aware of possible outages. Following the Snapchat support team on Twitter gives you instant, trustworthy updates on the app’s current state. Plus, the team usually shares tips and tricks on how to deal with the app’s glitches. So, you can benefit from their how-to guides as well.
To Wrap Things Up
There’re four common reasons why your Snapchat is not working: 1) the app’s servers are down, 2) your internet connection is unstable, 3) your device is not compatible with the app, and 4) your account is banned or suspended.
- Keeping the app and your device updated is the best way to avoid any crashes and bugs.
- You can try restarting your phone, logout/login, or clearing the Snapchat app’s cache to fix some of the minor bugs.
- It would help if you did not use a VPN while logging into your Snapchat account.
