Snapchat “Could Not Refresh Messages. Please Try Again Later” Fix (Android and iPhone)

Snapchat shows “Could not refresh messages. Please try again later” when the app cannot reach Snapchat’s servers to load your Chats. Snapchat’s Help Center says it is usually caused by a network problem, like weak mobile data or bad Wi-Fi, and sometimes by a server issue on Snapchat’s side. In most cases, switching networks, updating the app, and clearing the cache gets your messages loading again.

The tricky part is that “network problem” covers more than a weak signal. Hidden settings like data saver, a VPN, or a hotel Wi-Fi login page can block Snapchat even when your internet looks fine. This guide helps you find the real cause quickly.

Quick Overview

If this is true	Most likely cause	Fastest fix
Other apps are slow too	Weak signal or bad Wi-Fi	Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, or toggle Airplane Mode
Other apps work, Snapchat does not	App glitch, data restriction, VPN, or old version	Update Snapchat, allow data access, turn off VPN, clear cache
Your friends see the same error	Snapchat outage	Wait. Changing settings will not help
Chats load at web.snapchat.com but not on your phone	Your phone or the app	Clear cache, restart, then reinstall if needed
Only one chat will not load	A problem with that conversation or that friend’s app	Ask your friend to update Snapchat too

What Does “Could Not Refresh Messages” Mean on Snapchat?

It means Snapchat tried to fetch new Chats and Snaps from its servers and the request failed. According to Snapchat’s official article on the “Could not refresh messages” error, the app is having trouble connecting to Snapchat’s servers. Snapchat also says that when it has server issues, it updates its system status with more details.

A few things this error does not mean:

• It does not mean you are banned. A ban or lock shows up as a login error with a code, not a refresh message.
• It does not mean your messages are deleted. Your Chats live on Snapchat’s servers. The app just cannot download them right now.
• It does not always mean your internet is down. Your connection can work for YouTube or WhatsApp and still fail for Snapchat.

You may see the shorter version, “Could not refresh. Please try again,” on the Chat screen or the Stories page. They point to the same connection problem.

Why Does Snapchat Keep Saying Could Not Refresh Messages?

The app needs a clean, steady path to Snapchat’s servers. Anything that breaks or blocks that path can trigger the error:

• Weak mobile signal or slow Wi-Fi. The request times out before your messages arrive.
• Wi-Fi that needs a login page. Hotel, airport, cafe, and college Wi-Fi often shows “connected” before you accept the sign-in page. Until you do, apps cannot get through.
• Network blocks. Some school and office networks block social media apps on purpose.
• Snapchat blocked from using data. Your phone’s settings may stop Snapchat from using mobile data or running in the background.
• A VPN, proxy, or ad-blocking DNS that routes or filters Snapchat’s traffic.
• An outdated app. Old versions can fail to talk to Snapchat’s current servers.
• Corrupted cache files. Broken temporary data can stop Chats from loading properly.
• Wrong date and time on your phone, which can break secure connections.
• Full phone storage. The app may not have space to save new messages and media.
• A Snapchat outage. When servers go down, millions of users see “could not refresh” at once.

How Do You Know If the Problem Is You or Snapchat?

Run three quick checks before you change any settings. They take about two minutes and save you from fixing the wrong thing.

1. Open another app that uses the internet. Load a video or a website. If it is slow too, your connection is the problem.
2. Check for an outage. Look at an outage tracker like Downdetector or the official Snapchat Support account on X. If many people are reporting problems right now, stop troubleshooting and wait.
3. Try Snapchat on a computer. Open Snapchat for Web in Chrome, Edge, or Safari and log in. If your Chats load there, your account and Snapchat’s servers are fine. The problem is on your phone.

Tip: If you can, ask a friend nearby to open Snapchat on the same Wi-Fi. If their app fails too, the network is the problem, not your phone.

How to Fix “Could Not Refresh Messages” on Snapchat

Start with the first fix and test Snapchat after each one. Most people only need the first three or four steps. This Snapchat could not refresh messages fix list goes from quickest to most involved.

1. Switch Networks or Toggle Airplane Mode

If you are on Wi-Fi, turn it off and open Snapchat on mobile data. If you are on mobile data, connect to a trusted Wi-Fi network. Snapchat’s own chat troubleshooting advice is to move to a spot with better cell service or a stable Wi-Fi network.

Still stuck? Turn on Airplane Mode for 15 seconds, then turn it off. This forces your phone to reconnect to the network from scratch. If you are at home, restarting your router can also help.

2. Finish the Wi-Fi Login Page

On public Wi-Fi, open a browser and try to visit any website. If a sign-in or “accept terms” page appears, complete it. Snapchat cannot load messages until you do. If you are on school or work Wi-Fi and nothing else works, assume Snapchat may be blocked there and switch to mobile data.

3. Force Close and Reopen Snapchat

Swipe Snapchat away from your recent apps, wait a few seconds, then open it again. On Android, you can also go to Settings > Apps > Snapchat > Force stop. This clears a stuck connection without touching any of your data.

4. Update Snapchat

Open the App Store on iPhone or Google Play on Android, search for Snapchat, and tap Update if it appears. If the problem only happens in one chat, ask that friend to update too. Snapchat’s help pages for chats that will not send or load recommend that both people run the latest version.

5. Let Snapchat Use Mobile Data and Run in the Background

This is the fix most guides skip. Your phone can block Snapchat from the internet even when everything else works. Check these settings:

On iPhone:

• Go to Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data), scroll to Snapchat, and make sure the toggle is on.
• Check Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options and turn off Low Data Mode while you test. Wi-Fi networks have their own Low Data Mode toggle too, under the network’s info icon.
• Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and make sure it is on, and that Snapchat is allowed.
• Turn off Low Power Mode while you test, since it limits background activity.

On Android:

• Go to Settings > Apps > Snapchat > Mobile data (or Data usage) and allow Background data. If you see “Unrestricted data usage,” turn it on.
• Turn off Data Saver while you test. It is usually under Settings > Network & internet.
• Go to Settings > Apps > Snapchat > Battery and choose Unrestricted or “Don’t optimize.” Aggressive battery savers can cut Snapchat’s connection.

Menu names differ between phone brands like Samsung, Pixel, Xiaomi, and OnePlus. If you cannot find an option, search for it in your phone’s Settings search bar.

6. Turn Off VPNs, Proxies, and Private DNS

VPNs send your traffic through another server, which can slow or block Snapchat’s connection. Turn off any VPN app, including VPNs built into antivirus or browser apps.

On Android, also check Settings > Network & internet > Private DNS. If it is set to an ad-blocking provider, set it to Automatic or Off and test again. Ad blocker and firewall apps can cause the same problem.

7. Set the Date and Time to Automatic

• iPhone: Settings > General > Date & Time > turn on Set Automatically.
• Android: Settings > System > Date & time > turn on automatic time.

This matters most if you just traveled or ever set your clock by hand.

8. Clear the Snapchat Cache

Clearing the cache gives Snapchat a fresh start. Snapchat says clearing the cache does not delete your Memories, Snaps, or Chats. It only removes temporary files.

1. Open Snapchat and tap your profile icon.
2. Tap the gear icon to open Settings.
3. Look for Clear Cache. Depending on your app version, it may be under Account Actions, Clear Data, or App & Privacy > My Privacy & Data.
4. Tap Clear Cache and confirm.

On Android, you can also clear it from Settings > Apps > Snapchat > Storage > Clear cache.

Warning: Do not confuse these options. “Clear Cache” is safe. “Clear Conversations” removes chats from your Chat feed. On Android, “Clear storage” or “Clear data” in phone settings resets the whole app and logs you out. Use only Clear Cache at this stage.

9. Free Up Phone Storage

If your phone is almost full, Snapchat may not have room to save new messages and media. Delete unused apps, old videos, or downloads until you have at least a few gigabytes free. Check storage on iPhone under Settings > General > iPhone Storage, and on Android under Settings > Storage.

10. Restart Your Phone

Turn your phone completely off, wait about a minute, and turn it back on. A full restart resets network services and clears background glitches that a quick app restart cannot.

11. Log Out and Log Back In

This refreshes your session with Snapchat’s servers. Before you log out, make sure you know your password and have access to the email or phone number on your account. If you use two-factor authentication, keep your code or backup codes ready.

Also check that your Memories have finished backing up. Snaps saved only on the device and not backed up can be lost when you log out.

12. Reinstall Snapchat

If nothing else works, delete Snapchat, restart your phone, and download it again from the official App Store or Google Play. Use the same precautions as logging out: confirm your login details and make sure your Memories are backed up first.

If you want a full copy of your data before you reinstall, you can request it from the “My Data” section at accounts.snapchat.com. If that request keeps looping, see our fix for when the Snapchat Memories email takes you back to the request form.

What If Only Some Messages Are Missing After They Refresh?

Sometimes the error goes away, but a few messages seem to be gone. That is often not a bug. By default, Snapchat deletes one-on-one Chats after both people have viewed them, unless someone saved them in the chat. Group Chats follow their own timer settings. So a message that disappeared after you opened it may have been deleted on purpose, not lost to the refresh error.

If new messages arrive as notifications but the chat stays empty, the app is receiving alerts but cannot download the content. That points back to the connection fixes above, especially data restrictions and the cache.

What Should You Do If Snapchat Logs You Out With an Error Code?

The refresh error itself does not lock you out. But if you log out or reinstall and then see a code on the login screen, you are dealing with a different problem. Here is what the common codes mean, based on Snapchat’s login error help article:

Code on login screen	What it means	Next step
C13A, C14A, C14B, C16A	Snapchat cannot complete your login right now, often due to the network	Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data and try once
SS07	Too many accounts are linked to the device	You cannot log in more accounts on that device
SS06, SS18	The device has been banned	Snapchat Support cannot unban a device

Each of these needs its own approach. If you see a service unavailable code, start with our guide to the Snapchat C13A error fix. For device-related codes, read about the Snapchat SS07 error if too many accounts are tied to your phone, or check our breakdowns of the SS06 device ban and the SS18 error.

What Mistakes Make the Refresh Error Harder to Fix?

• Reinstalling first. It is the riskiest step because unsaved Snaps can be lost. Try the cache and data settings before you delete the app.
• Tapping “Clear Conversations” instead of “Clear Cache.” One is a safe cleanup. The other removes chats from your feed.
• Changing settings during an outage. If Snapchat is down for everyone, nothing on your phone will fix it.
• Using modified Snapchat apps or plugins. Third-party tweaks can break the app and put your account at risk of a lock.
• Logging in and out over and over. Repeated login attempts can trigger a temporary restriction on your account.

How Do You Report the Problem to Snapchat?

If the error lasts more than a day and there is no outage, report it so Snapchat can look into it.

1. Open Snapchat and tap your profile icon, then the gear icon.
2. Scroll to the support section and tap I Spotted a Bug or Bugs and Suggestions (the label depends on your app version).
3. Choose Chat as the topic and describe what happens. Include your phone model, app version, and whether it fails on Wi-Fi, mobile data, or both.

You can also contact the team through the Snapchat Support contact page. Snapchat does not offer phone support, so the form or the in-app bug report is the way to reach them.

FAQs

Why does Snapchat say could not refresh messages when my internet is working?

Your phone may be blocking Snapchat specifically. Check that Snapchat is allowed to use mobile data and background data, turn off Low Data Mode or Data Saver, and disable any VPN or Private DNS filter. Public Wi-Fi with an unfinished sign-in page can also look connected when it is not.

Will I lose my Snapchat messages if I clear the cache?

No. Snapchat says clearing the cache does not delete Memories, Snaps, or Chats. It only removes temporary files the app rebuilds on its own.

How long does the “could not refresh” error last during an outage?

It varies. Short outages clear up within minutes, while bigger ones can last a few hours. Snapchat says it updates its system status during server issues, and the Snapchat Support account on X usually posts when service is back.

Why do my Snapchat Stories also say could not refresh?

Stories, Chats, and Spotlight all load from Snapchat’s servers. If the connection fails, every feed that needs fresh content can show the same error. Fixing the connection fixes all of them.

Does the error mean someone blocked me?

No. Being blocked or removed does not show a “could not refresh” message. If only one friend’s chat behaves oddly while everything else loads, ask them to update the app or check whether you are still friends.

Does this error happen more on Android or iPhone?

It happens on both. The causes are the same, but the settings differ. iPhone users should check Cellular data and Background App Refresh, while Android users should check background data, Data Saver, and battery optimization.

Final Recommendation

The most reliable Snapchat could not refresh messages fix is to check the connection path first. Switch networks, make sure Snapchat is allowed to use data, turn off your VPN, and update the app. If your Chats load at web.snapchat.com but not on your phone, clear the cache and restart your device.

Leave logging out and reinstalling for last, and back up your Memories before either one. If Snapchat is down for everyone, put the phone down and try again later. That is the one time the error message means exactly what it says.