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Is Duolingo down? Why is it not working?

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  • 3 min read

Learning a new language, code or speaking has become immensely easier thanks to technology. Some apps can teach users foreign languages rather quickly, and Duolingo is one of them. 

That said, the app isn’t perfect and keeps running into issues from time to time. This article looks at why Duolingo isn’t working for you and what you can do to fix the error.


Why isn’t Duolingo working?

There are several reasons why Duolingo might not work as expected for you. Common causes include:

  • Internet connectivity issues.
  • Duolingo is facing an outage.
  • Active VPN or proxy.
  • Corrupt app data or cache.

Also read: Super Duolingo: How much does it cost? And everything else 


How to fix this?

Here are seven fixes you can try out.

Restart your phone 

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again, restarting your device can do wonders with seemingly random issues. If you’re not getting your Instagram notifications, try restarting your phone to see if it fixes your issue.


Check Duolingo servers

If Duolingo servers are having some issues, then there is nothing you can do to fix this error. You will have to wait for the servers to come back online. The servers generally get fixed in a few hours. Head to their status page to check if Duolingo servers are working correctly.


Clear the app cache

Clearing the app’s cache can eliminate corrupt files or data that might interfere with Duolingo’s functionality.

How to fix the 'Instagram notifications not working' issue?
  • Tap on Apps and notifications.
  • Tap on Show all apps. If you’ve recently used Duolingo, it’ll also appear in the recent apps.
  • Tap on Duolingo.
How to fix the 'Instagram notifications not working' issue?
  • Then tap on Storage & cache.
  • Then tap on the Clear Cache button.

This should fix the problem.

Also read: How to change the language on Duolingo?


Update your app

Another thing you should try is looking for updates for the Duolingo app. Head over to the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store and check if you’ve got any updates. If any updates are available, install them right away and try again.


Reinstall Duolingo

If updating didn’t work, try removing the app from your phone and installing it again. This can help freshen things up and eliminate any corrupt files or data hindering app functionality.


Disable any proxies or VPNs

If you’re running a VPN connection or any proxies, they could hamper your connection to the app’s servers. In such cases, try disabling any active VPN connections or proxy settings to see if that helps resolve the issue. 


Check date/time settings

The wrong date and time settings on your phone can cause several issues with apps, especially ones like Duolingo that access their servers over the internet.

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  • Open your phone settings and head over to Settings.
  • Tap Date and time.
  • Enable the Set time automatically slider. 
For iPhones, check out our detailed guide on how to set the date and time here

Also read: How to delete Duolingo account?

Yadullah Abidi

Yadullah Abidi

Yadullah is a Computer Science graduate who writes/edits/shoots/codes all things cybersecurity, gaming, and tech hardware. When he's not, he streams himself racing virtual cars. He's been writing and reporting on tech and cybersecurity with websites like Candid.Technology and MakeUseOf since 2018. You can contact him here: yadullahabidi@pm.me.

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