Snapchat is a rather popular messaging app centred around privacy with self-deleting messages and snaps that notify users if they’ve been replayed or screenshotted.

However, just like everything tech, Snapchat can also stop working out of the blue at times. In this article, we’re going over why Snapchat won’t open and what you can do to fix the situation.

Why won’t my Snapchat open?

There can be many reasons behind this problem. The most common ones being:

Poor or no internet connectivity.
Buggy app cache.
Out of date app.
Outdated phone software

Also read: What does other Snapchatters mean?

How to fix the Snapchat won’t open issue?

Try out either of these solutions to see if they resolve the issue for you.

Restart your phone and app

It doesn’t matter if you’re on iOS or Android; restarting your device can fix anything from app crashes to other system errors and a bunch of other seemingly random issues. So if Snapchat isn’t working on your phone, try restarting it to see if that resolves the Snapchat won’t open issue.

Check your internet connection

Snapchat requires an active internet connection to function properly. Not having an active connection, whether via WiFi or cellular data, can cause all sorts of issues on the app, including but not limited to crashes, black screens or snaps not sending.

If you’re using mobile data, check if you’ve got proper signals and network coverage and enable mobile data. For users on WiFi, try turning it off and on again, make sure you have internet access and that the signal strength is good.

Is Snapchat down?

Now, this doesn’t happen very often since Snapchat is built to support the hundreds of millions of users it boasts; still, you can check if its server is down, and that’s causing the Snapchat won’t open error.

One of the best ways to ascertain whether Snapchat is down is through their official Support Twitter handle, where the company is pretty active and puts out server error notifications. If you want to double-check Snapchat’s server, you can also do that through third-party websites like Downdetector.

Update Snapchat

App updates bring bug fixes and improvements. If you haven’t updated your app in quite some time, your installation may be riddled with bugs that need fixing.

Go to the Play Store on Android or App Store on iOS and check for updates to the Snapchat app. If you find one, update the app and check if the Snapchat won’t open issue is fixed.

Updating Snapchat on Android

Open the Play Store and follow the steps mentioned below to update Snapchat.

In the Play Store, tap on the hamburger menu icon in the top-left.
Tap on My apps and games.
You’ll be able to see all apps that require an update here. If you see the Snapchat app, update it and the Snapchat won’t open issue should be resolved.

Updating Snapchat on iOS

Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad and follow the steps mentioned below to update the apps on your device.

How to update apps on the iPhone? | Candid.Technology

Tap on the profile icon at the top-right of your App Store’s homepage.
Scroll down a bit to see a list of all the app updates available on the next screen.
If you see an update available, tap on the Update button beside Snapchat.

Also read: Snapchat not working: 7 fixes

Clear Snapchat app cache

App cache can often cause issues with the smooth functioning of an app. Follow the two methods below, which will help you clear Snapchat’s cache via in-app settings on iOS and Android, and via Android’s device settings.

Clear cache via app settings

Open the Snapchat app and follow the steps mentioned below to clear the app cache.

Tap on the profile icon at the top-left of the screen.
Then on the next page, tap on the Gear (Settings) icon at the top-right of the screen.
On the next page, scroll down to the bottom and tap on Clear Cache under Account Actions.

Clear cache via Android settings

Open your Android device settings and follow the steps mentioned below to clear the Snapchat app cache.

Tap on Apps & notifications
On the next page, if you’ve recently used Snapchat, it will appear under Recently opened apps at the top. If it doesn’t, tap on the See all apps option. Then find and tap on the name of the app whose cache you want to clear.
On the next page, tap on Storage & cache.
Then tap on Clear Cache.

Reset app preferences (Android only)

You can also try resetting app preferences to fix the issue. This makes sure all app settings go back to their factory defaults. However, this will not delete any app data.

Head over to your phone’s settings and tap on Apps & notifications.
Tap on Show all apps.
Tap on the three vertical dots in the top-right.
Select Reset app preferences from the dropdown options.

Also read: What does Strx mean on Snapchat?

Lift Content and Privacy restrictions (iOS only)

Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad and follow the steps listed below.

Locate and tap on the Screen Time subsection.
Next, tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
Now, tap on Content Restrictions.

Update your phone

If nothing else works, it could indicate a problem with your phone. Try checking for a software update if available and see if that fixes the Snapchat won’t open issue.

On Android

Open your device’s settings and follow the steps mentioned below.