How to Fix “Connection Error” in Snapchat?

Snapchat “connection error” might occur due to the faulty device’s internal configurations or restrictions from the network/router. These configuration issues may range from an outdated Snapchat app to corrupt network settings of the device. The issue arises when you fail to sign into Snapchat, mainly on mobile apps. In some instances, the issue is also reported after logging into the app but performing different actions (like watching a story).

Snapchat might show the connection error due to many reasons but the following can be easily factored in as the main ones:

1. Relaunch the Snapchat App After Force Closing it

A temporary glitch of the Snapchat app may not let the app make the proper connection to its servers and cause the connection error. Here, relaunching the Snapchat app after force closing it may solve the problem. For illustration, we will discuss the process for the Android version of the Snapchat app. Before moving on, check that the Snapchat services are up and running. Also, if you have moved to a different country, then make sure Snapchat is supported there.

1. Close the Snapchat app and open the Recent Apps or App Switcher menu.

   

2. Now swipe up on the Snapchat app to remove it from the recent apps and launch the Android phone Settings.
3. Now open Apps and select Snapchat.

   

4. Then tap on the Force Stop button and afterward, confirm to force stop the Snapchat app.

   

5. Now launch the Snapchat app and check if it is clear of the connection error.

   

2. Enable and Disable Airplane Mode of the Phone

A temporary glitch in the communication modules of your phone might cause the connection error on Snapchat. In this case, enabling and disabling the Airplane mode of the phone may clear the connection error as the phone’s communication modules are re-established. For illustration, we will discuss the process of enabling and disabling airplane mode on an iPhone.

1. Launch the Settings of your iPhone and enable its Airplane Mode by toggling its switch to the on position.

   

2. Now wait for a minute and then disable the iPhone’s Airplane Mode.
3. Afterward, launch the Snapchat app and check if it is clear of the connection error.

3. Restart or Force Restart Your Phone

You may encounter a connection error on Snapchat if the phone’s essential modules are glitched out. Here, performing a restart or force restart of your phone may solve the connection problem. For illustration, we will discuss the process to restart and force restarting an iPhone.

1. Press and hold the power button of your iPhone till the power slider is shown.
2. Now slide the power bar to power off the iPhone and then power on the iPhone.

   

3. Then launch Snapchat and check if it is operating fine.
4. If not, press the volume up button of your iPhone and immediately release it.
5. Now press and quickly release the iPhone’s volume down button.
6. Then press/hold the iPhone’s side button and wait till the Apple logo is shown.

   

7. Now release the side button of your iPhone and once the iPhone is properly powered on, launch Snapchat and check if its connection error is cleared.

4. Boot Your Phone into the Safe Mode

If a third-party app on your phone is interfering with Snapchat’s operation or if the phone’s internal settings are corrupt, then that may cause the connection issue at hand. In this case, booting your phone into the safe mode may solve the problem as 3^rd party apps are not allowed to run in the safe mode and many of the internal phone settings are reverted to their defaults. For illustration, we will discuss the process of booting an iPhone to safe mode.

1. Press/hold the power button of the iPhone till the power slider is shown and then slide the power bar to power off the iPhone.
2. Now press the power button of the iPhone and once the iPhone’s screen lights up, press/hold the Volume Down button of the iPhone.
3. Then wait till the Apple logo is shown and afterward, release the Volume Down button.
4. Now when the Power Selector menu is shown, select Safe Mode and wait till the iPhone boots into the Safe Mode.

   

5. Afterward, launch Snapchat (for some people it may not be possible to launch Snapchat in the Safe Mode) and log into the app.
6. Now restart the iPhone in the normal mode and launch Snapchat to check if its connection error is cleared.

5. Update the Phone’s OS to the Latest Build

The Snapchat app may show the connection error on a phone if the phone’s OS is outdated as it can cause incompatibility between the Snapchat app and the phone’s OS due to which essential app modules fail to execute properly. In this context, updating the iPhone’s OS to the latest build may solve the connection problem. For elucidation, we will discuss the process for an iPhone.

1. Launch the iPhone Settings and tap on General.

   

2. Then select Software Update and if the phone shows that an iOS update is available, install the iOS update.

   

3. After updating the phone’s OS, restart your iPhone, and upon restart, check if the Snapchat’s connection error is cleared.

6. Update the Snapchat App on the Phone to the Latest Build

You may encounter the connection error on Snapchat if the app’s installation itself is outdated as it can cause incompatibility between the OS and app which may not let the app access the essential network modules of the OS. In such a case, updating the Snapchat app to the latest build may solve the problem. For illustration, we will discuss the process for the Android version of the Snapchat app.

1. Firstly, force close the Snapchat app (as discussed earlier).
2. Then launch the Google Play Store and search for Snapchat.

   

3. Now open Snapchat and if an update for the app is available, tap on Update.
4. Once updated, launch the Snapchat app and check if it is clear of the connection error.

7. Set the Correct Date/Time and Time Zone on the Phone

Snapchat might show the connection error at hand if the date/time and time zone on the phone is not set correctly as the Snapchat server may fail to process the data packets with the wrong date/time stamps. In this scenario, setting the correct date/time and time zone on the phone may solve the problem. For illustration, we will discuss the process for an Android phone.

1. Firstly, force close the Snapchat app (as discussed earlier).
2. Then launch the Android phone Settings and select Date & Time.

   

3. Now disable Automatic Date & Time by toggling its switch to the off position and afterward, tap on Set Date.

   

4. Then set the correct date and afterward, tap on Set Time.
5. Now set the correct time and tap on Select Time Zone.
6. Then make sure the correct Time Zone is selected and afterward, launch Snapchat to check if the connection issue is resolved.

8. Enable Background App Refresh or Background Data for the Snapchat App

If the Background App Refresh or Background Data for the Snapchat app is disabled on your phone, then that may stop essential app modules from making a connection to the app’s servers and cause the connection issue. In this scenario, enabling Background App Refresh or Background Data may clear the connection error.

8.1 Enable Background App Refresh for Snapchat on an iPhone

1. Launch the Settings on your iPhone and open General.
2. Now select Background App Refresh and tap on Background App Refresh.

   

3. Then select Wi-Fi & Cellular and hit the back button (make sure you have a cellular plan).

   

4. Now locate Snapchat and enable Background App Refresh for it by toggling its switch to the on position.

   

5. Then restart your iPhone and upon restart, launch Snapchat to check if the connection error is cleared.

8.2 Enable Background Data on an Android Phone

1. Launch the Android Phone Settings and select Data Usage.
2. Now open Cellular Data Usage and select Snapchat.
3. Then uncheck  Restrict Background Data for Snapchat and afterward, hit the back button.

   

4. Now open Google Play Services and enable its Background Data (if disabled).

   

5. Then restart your phone and upon restart, launch Snapchat and check if it is working fine.

9. Uninstall Ad Block App on the Phone

If the ad blocking app on your phone is hindering the web traffic between the phone’s Snapchat app and its servers, then that may cause the connection error under discussion as the server response fails to reach the client device. In this context, uninstalling the ad-blocking app on the phone may solve the problem. For elucidation, we will discuss the process for uninstalling the Android version of the AdGuard app.

1. Launch the Android phone Settings and press on Application Manager or Apps.
2. Now select AdGuard and afterward, tap on the Uninstall.

   

3. Then confirm to uninstall the AdGuard app and restart your phone.
4. Upon restart, launch Snapchat and check if it is clear of the connection error.

10. Enable Cellular Data for the Snapchat App

If the cellular data for the Snapchat app is disabled, then that may not let the app communicate over your phone’s mobile data and thus cause the issue. In this case, enabling the cellular data for the Snapchat app may solve the connection problem. For illustration, we will discuss the process for an iPhone.

1. Launch the iPhone Settings and open Wi-Fi.
2. Now disable Wi-Fi by toggling its switch to the off position and afterward, hit the back button.

   

3. Then open Cellular or Mobile Data and tap on Cellular Data.

   

4. Now locate Snapchat and then enable Cellular Data for Snapchat by toggling its switch to the on position.
5. Then restart your phone and upon restart, launch Snapchat to check if it is clear of the connection error.

11. Disable Router’s Content Filters

If the router’s content filters (like Web Guard by T-Mobile) filter out the traffic between Snapchat and its servers, that may leave Snapchat in the connection error state as the response from the Snapchat servers fails to reach your device. In this context, disabling the router’s content filters may solve the problem. For illustration, we will discuss the process of disabling Web Guard by T-Mobile by using the T-Mobile app.

1. Launch the T-Mobile app and log in using your T-Mobile credentials (if already not signed in).
2. Now, in the top left, tap on the hamburger icon and open Profile Settings.

   

3. Then select Family Controls and open Web Guard.

   

4. Now select No Restrictions and save the changes made.

   

5. Then open the Snapchat app and check if it is clear of the connection error.

12. Reset Network Settings of Your Phone

Snapchat might fail to connect with its servers if the Network Settings of your phone are corrupt as the app may fail to access essential network modules and cannot send the query request to its servers. In this context, resetting the network settings of your phone may clear the connection error. Before proceeding, make sure to note down the network-related info (like Wi-Fi credentials, VPNs, etc.). For illustration, we will go through the process of resetting the network settings of an iPhone.

1. Launch the Settings of the iPhone and tap on General.
2. Now select Reset and tap on Reset Network Settings.

   

3. Then confirm to reset the iPhone’s network settings and re-setup the network on your iPhone.

   

4. Now launch the Snapchat app and check if its connection issue is resolved.

13. Try Another Network or Use a VPN

Snapchat might fail to connect to its servers if the network is limiting Snapchat’s access to its servers and Snapchat’s query string fails to reach its servers. Here, trying another network or using a VPN on your phone may solve the connection problem. If you are phone is already connected through a VPN, then check if disabling the VPN or connecting to a different server resolves the issue.

1. Firstly, force close the Snapchat app and disconnect the phone from the current network.
2. Now connect to another network like a hotspot from a phone (make sure the phone uses a different mobile carrier). If you are using Wi-Fi, you may try mobile data or vice versa.

   

3. Then launch the Snapchat app and check if it is clear of the connection error.
4. If not, download and install a VPN app on your phone.
5. Now launch the VPN and connect to a server close to your last location where the Snapchat worked (like the U.K).
6. Afterward, set the Time Zone of your phone to match the VPN location and then check if Snapchat has started to work fine without showing the connection error. If so, then force close the Snapchat app and disconnect the phone from the VPN. Then set the time zone back to the original one and wait for 24 hours. Afterward, launch the Snapchat app without any VPN to check if Snapchat is operating normally.

14. Re-log into the Snapchat App

A temporary communication glitch between the Snapchat app and its servers might cause the connection error at hand. Here, re-logging into the Snapchat app may solve the connection problem. You may try at your own risk as there are some reports where people failed to log back into Snapchat after logging out.  

1. Launch the Snapchat app and near the top left, tap on your user icon.
2. Now, near the top right, tap on the gear icon and tap on Logout.

   

3. Then confirm to log out of the Snapchat app and once done, restart your phone.
4. Upon restart, launch the Snapchat app and log into Snapchat to check if it is operating fine.

15. Reset the Snapchat Password

A glitch with the client data on the Snapchat servers may cause a connection error for you as the bidirectional communication between Snapchat and its server may fail to authenticate the other party. In this scenario, resetting your Snapchat password may re-initiate the client-related modules on the servers and thus solve the problem. Before proceeding, make sure you are logged into the linked email or the Snapchat attached phone number available to you.

1. Firstly, if you are logged in (but facing a connection error in the app), make sure to log out of the app (as discussed earlier).
2. Then, launch the Snapchat app and type your credentials.
3. Now tap on Forgot Password and use the email or phone as the recovery option.

   

4. Then use the link in the email or text message and follow the steps in the link to complete the password reset process.
5. Once done, re-log into Snapchat with the new password and check if the connection issue is resolved.

16. Reinstall the Snapchat App

You may encounter the Snapchat connection error if the installation of the Snapchat app is corrupt as the essential app modules fail to load. In this context, reinstalling the Snapchat app may solve the connection problem.

You may try the app’s reinstallation at your own risk as there are reports where people failed to re-log into Snapchat after reinstalling the app. For illustration, we will discuss the process of reinstalling the Snapchat app on an Android phone. If you are encountering the issue on a rooted Android phone or jailbroken iPhone, then make sure to delete any Snapchat-related tweaks (like Xcon), you can reinstall tweaks after reinstalling the Snapchat.

1. If you are logged into Snapchat, make sure to logout (as discussed earlier), 
2. Then launch the Android phone Settings and select Application Manager or Apps.
3. Now press on Snapchat and tap on Force Stop.
4. Then confirm to force stop the Snapchat app and open Storage.

   

5. Now press on Clear Cache and then tap on the Clear Storage or Clear Data button.

   

6. Then confirm to clear the Snapchat’s data and press the back button.
7. Now tap on Uninstall button and afterward, confirm to uninstall the Snapchat app.

   

8. Once done, hit the back button and enable viewing of the system apps (in Apps).
9. Then press on Google Play Services and tap on the Force Stop button.

   

10. Now confirm to force stop the Google Play Services and restart your phone.

    

11. Upon restart, reinstall the Snapchat app and launch it.
12. Then log in using your credentials and hopefully, Snapchat will be clear of the connection error.

If that did not work, check if installing an older version (strictly not recommended) of the Snapchat app solves the problem (if the issue started after an app update). If that is not an option or did not work, check if you can log into Snapchat on other devices. If not, then you may contact Snapchat support and request them to remove the device ban from your account.