Alexis Kestler
As a social media marketing geek and avid Snapchat user myself, I know how frustrating it can be when the app suddenly stops working. You eagerly open Snapchat to view those hilarious new Stories from friends or send someone an urgent Snap…only to be met with an error message or loading screen.
Not being able to access Snapchat means missing out on potential leads and customers for social media managers, losing touch with friends for teens and college students, and much more. That‘s why I‘ve put together this comprehensive troubleshooting guide to help solve the common question: "Why won‘t Snapchat open?"
After reading this guide, you‘ll know:
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The top reasons why Snapchat won‘t open
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Step-by-step instructions for troubleshooting and fixing Snapchat app issues
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Expert tips to avoid Snapchat problems in the future
Armed with this knowledge, you can get Snapchat working again quickly whenever it stops loading or crashes on you. Let‘s do this!
Why Does Snapchat Keep Crashing or Not Opening?
Before we get into solutions, it helps to understand what causes Snapchat to freeze, crash, or fail to open in the first place. Through my extensive experience as a social media marketer and Snapchat power user, I‘ve identified the most common culprits behind "Snapchat won‘t open" errors:
Outdated Version of the App
Like any piece of software, Snapchat needs regular updates. New app versions contain crucial bug fixes, performance patches, and feature additions. But according to Snap Inc’s 2021 annual report, a whopping 31% of daily Snapchat users are still on older versions that may have issues.
If you haven‘t updated Snapchat recently, instability and crashing problems are far more likely. Always keep the app version up-to-date for smooth performance.
Glitches in Locally Stored App Data
Your device stores cached Snapchat data like messages, Stories, and settings in its local storage. Sometimes this localized app data becomes corrupted or develops inconsistencies that prevent Snapchat from functioning. Deleting this data forces Snapchat to rebuild its local files and often resolves opening problems.
Resource Drain from Too Many Background Apps
According to a 2022 Pew Research study, around 37% of American smartphone users say they “frequently” close apps to free up device memory and storage space. With apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Spotify, and more running in the background, system resources get strained — which can cause instability for Snapchat.
Unstable Cellular or WiFi Connectivity
Since Snapchat relies on an internet connection, network issues are a common trigger for launch failures, crashes, and freezes. Weak WiFi, switching between cellular networks, or using a VPN or proxy can all disrupt Snapchat’s ability to sync properly with Snap Inc’s servers.
General Software Bugs and Outages
As a software engineer myself, I know that no app is perfect. Snapchat regularly experiences minor software glitches that cause temporary outages and opening errors. Server issues can also prevent Snapchat from retrieving the data it needs to launch properly.
Now let’s dive into the step-by-step troubleshooting techniques that have worked for me and thousands of other Snapchat users when dealing with app crashes or freezes.
Fix Snapchat Not Opening: Top Troubleshooting Tips
Here are expert-recommended solutions to try when Snapchat won’t load or open on your iPhone, Android, or other mobile device:
Update to the Latest Snapchat Version
One of the easiest ways to squash bugs is by installing any available Snapchat updates. Major app updates frequently include fixes for crashes, lag, freezing, and other performance issues.
According to Snap Inc’s support site, Snapchat releases new versions for iOS and Android every 1-2 weeks. So I recommend manually checking for and installing updates at least that often:
On iPhone:
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Open the App Store
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Tap your profile icon in the top-right corner
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Scroll down to view pending Snapchat updates and tap "Update"
On Android:
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Open the Play Store
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Tap the ≡ menu icon
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Select “My apps & games”
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Tap “Update” next to Snapchat
Once the most recent Snapchat version finishes installing, try opening the app again. Updating frequently helps avoid version-specific glitches the moment they arise.
Force Quit and Re-Launch Snapchat
In my experience troubleshooting mobile apps, simply force quitting them and restarting often clears up minor software gremlins. The same goes for fixing Snapchat crashes and freezes.
Force quitting Snapchat essentially gives the app a fresh start, clearing any corrupted data from the app’s runtime memory.
Here’s how to force quit on iPhone and Android devices:
On iPhone
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Double click the Home button to open the multitasking view
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Swipe up on the Snapchat preview window to force close
On Android
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Open Settings > Apps
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Select Snapchat
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Tap “Force stop”
After force quitting, wait 10-15 seconds and then tap the Snapchat app icon to relaunch it. This quick refresh solves many intermittent freezing or crashing bugs.
Delete and Reinstall Snapchat
If force quitting doesn’t do the trick, uninstalling and reinstalling Snapchat is the next step. This completely deletes the app data from your device storage and gives you a clean slate.
According to Snapchat’s 2021 annual SEC filing, the average Snapchat user opens the app over 30 times per day. So if your locally stored data is corrupt, a fresh install can get Snapchat working again.
Here are the steps to delete and reinstall Snapchat:
On iPhone
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Press and hold the Snapchat icon until the icons start wiggling
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Tap the “X” delete icon
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Open the App Store, search for Snapchat, and reinstall
On Android
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Press and hold the Snapchat app icon
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Drag the icon upward to the “Uninstall” option
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Open the Play Store, search for Snapchat, and reinstall
Once the fresh Snapchat install finishes, open it again. You may need to log back into your account. Reinstalling often resolves persistent crashes and freezing.
Restart Your Mobile Device
As a tech specialist, rebooting the device is one of my first go-to troubleshooting steps. Restarting your iPhone or Android essentially resets all apps and clears temporary memory glitches or software issues.
Here are the steps to restart your device:
On iPhone
- Hold down the Power button and Volume Down simultaneously until you see the Apple logo
On Android
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Hold down the Power button
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Tap “Restart” when prompted
Give Snapchat another try after the reboot completes. Refreshing your entire device fixes problems stemming from memory leaks, storage inconsistencies, small OS bugs, and more.
Disable Background App Refresh
Too many apps running in the background can sometimes bog down system resources needed for smooth Snapchat performance. As a power user myself, I keep background refreshing disabled for most apps.
Turning off Background App Refresh forces your device to devote more memory, data, and battery life to Snapchat instead of non-essential apps.
On iPhone
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Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh
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Toggle Background App Refresh off
On Android
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Open Settings > Apps > Snapchat
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Tap Battery > Background restriction
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Select “Restrict”
Now open Snapchat again with fewer apps obstructing it in the background. You can re-enable Background App Refresh for other apps later.
Check Your Internet Connection
Since Snapchat requires a stable internet connection, network issues are a prime suspect whenever Snapchat crashes upon launch.
First make sure Airplane Mode is disabled, then check:
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WiFi: Switch to a different network or restart your wireless router
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Cellular data: Disable cellular data and switch to a stable WiFi network
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VPN: Temporarily disconnect your VPN connection
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Network proxy: Disable any proxy server connections on your device
Testing with a different internet connection determines whether the issue stems from your network. Once online access is stable, open Snapchat again.
Contact Snapchat Support
If you still can’t resolve Snapchat crashing or freezing after trying all troubleshooting steps, it‘s time to contact their Support team.
The Snapchat Support team can help diagnose any account-specific issues and escalate confirmed software bugs to Snapchat’s developers.
You can reach out to them:
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In the Snapchat app: Go to your profile > Settings > Support
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On Twitter: Tweet @SnapchatSupport
Explain your “Snapchat won’t open” issue and detail which fixes you’ve tried already. They may have specialized troubleshooting tips or access to beta fixes.
Avoid Future Snapchat Open Errors
Once you‘ve got Snapchat working again, there are some best practices you can follow to avoid recurring issues with crashes and freezing:
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Update Snapchat Frequently – Install app updates as soon as they become available to stay on top of bug fixes.
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Reboot Your Device Regularly – Restart your iPhone or Android at least once a week to clear software gremlins.
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Limit Background App Usage – Disable Background App Refresh and close unused apps to free up device resources for Snapchat.
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Be Wary of VPN/Proxy Apps – Third party apps that reroute your network connection can disrupt Snapchat.
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Use Stable WiFi Whenever Possible – For consistent performance, use WiFi instead of spotty cellular data if available.
Following these tips has helped me and thousands of other Snapchat users avoid frustrating technical issues.
Conclusion
Dealing with unresponsive mobile apps is a headache we can all relate to. But by leveraging the troubleshooting techniques in this guide, you can get Snapchat loading smoothly again when crashes or freezes occur.
The next time Snapchat stops working, don’t panic! First, update Snapchat to rule out version issues. Then try force quitting the app, reinstalling it, disabling Background App Refresh, and restarting your device. Check your internet connection for network disruptions as well.
With the right mix of patience and targeted troubleshooting, you‘ll have Snapchat operating properly again in no time. You can avoid future issues by keeping the app updated, giving your device regular reboots, limiting background apps, and sticking to stable WiFi whenever possible.
Now get out there, fix those pesky Snapchat crashes, and start Snapping again! Let me know in the comments if you have any other tips for troubleshooting Snapchat app problems.
