Alexis Kestler
Have you ever tried to use Snapchat‘s popular crying filter, only to find it glitching out or not showing up at all? You‘re definitely not the only one tearing their hair out over this temperamental filter.
As a self-proclaimed social media guru and tech specialist, I‘ve helped hundreds of confused users get the crying filter up and running again.
In this detailed 3000+ word guide, I‘ll draw upon my extensive knowledge to walk you through exactly why Snapchat‘s crying filter stops working and the various methods to fix it – even if you‘re on an Android device.
Consider me your wise tech friend here to solve your crying filter woes, one teardrop at a time.
Why Snapchat‘s Crying Filter Can Stop Working
Before we dig into solutions, it‘s helpful to understand the likely reasons why Snapchat‘s crying filter goes on strike in the first place:
1. Software Bugs and Glitches
As with any new feature, Snapchat‘s developers are likely still ironing out bugs with the crying filter‘s coding. These bugs can cause the filter to not show up or activate correctly.
In my experience debugging countless apps, new filters tend to be the most unstable features.
2. Outdated App Version
To use new filters, you need the latest version of Snapchat downloaded. I constantly see users struggling with filters because they haven‘t bothered updating their apps in ages!
3. Corrupted App Data or Cache
Over time, cached Snapchat data on your phone can get corrupted. This messes with the app‘s ability to load filters properly. I recommend clearing out this junk data regularly.
4. General Compatibility Issues
Certain phones, operating systems, or other software configurations may not fully support Snapchat‘s crying filter. Some tech combinations just don‘t mesh well together under the hood.
Android devices seem especially prone to the crying filter not functioning properly. But iPhones and iOS aren‘t 100% immune either.
Now that we know why Snapchat‘s crying filter loves to fail, let‘s go through various ways to revive it.
6 Fixes to Try When Snapchat‘s Crying Filter Isn‘t Working
Here are the best troubleshooting tips I‘ve discovered for getting the crying filter back up and running:
1. Use an iPhone or iOS Device
Many Snapchat users report the crying filter works fine on iPhones and other iOS devices. But it often glitches out on Android.
If you have an iOS device handy, install Snapchat there and test the crying filter. Chances are it will work correctly.
Borrowing an iOS device from a willing friend is an easy way to check if the crying filter loads properly on iPhone/iOS. If it suddenly starts working, then something on your Android is likely the issue.
Overall, iOS seems much more compatible with Snapchat‘s crying filter than Android.
2. Uninstall and Reinstall the Snapchat App
Uninstalling Snapchat and reinstalling the app from scratch can fix all kinds of weird issues. It essentially forces a "hard reset" of the app.
When you uninstall and reinstall, any corrupted app data or cached files get wiped from your phone. And you get a fresh, up-to-date Snapchat downloaded again.
Follow these steps:
- Delete the Snapchat app from your phone
- Restart your device
- Re-download Snapchat from the Google Play or Apple App Store
- Log back into your account
Then test if the crying filter now works properly. Clearing out Snapchat‘s cached junk and updating the app often resolves glitched filters.
3. Update to the Latest Snapchat Version
Maybe reinstalling Snapchat didn‘t automatically update the app. In that case, you‘ll want to manually check for any available updates:
On Android Devices:
- Open the Google Play Store
- Tap your profile icon in the top-right
- Tap Manage apps & devices > Updates available
- Check if Snapchat has an update available. If so, tap Update.
On iPhones:
- Go to the Apple App Store
- Tap your profile icon in the top-right
- Scroll down to see available app updates and check for Snapchat
- If available, tap Update next to Snapchat
Updating to the newest Snapchat version eliminates any filter issues caused by an outdated app. The very latest update may have fixed the crying filter bug.
4. Toggle Airplane Mode or Cellular Data
I know it sounds crazy, but toggling your device‘s connection settings can actually fix plenty of weird mobile app glitches. Try turning these connections off and on:
- Turn on Airplane mode for 30 seconds, then turn it off
- Disable cellular data for 30 seconds, then re-enable it
- Connect to a different WiFi network than normal
Toggling connections forces Snapchat to fully reconnect. This can flush out any odd connectivity issues affecting the crying filter.
5. Delete and Re-add Your Snapchat Account
If your account profile itself is glitched, this trick can help straighten things out:
- In Snapchat, tap your profile > Settings > Delete Account
- Tap Delete My Account then LOG OUT
- Tap Add Friends > Add by Username
- Re-enter your username and password to log back in
By deleting and re-adding your account, Snapchat re-verifies your details from scratch. Any corrupted account data is restored to defaults.
6. Contact Snapchat Support
If you‘re still having no luck, Snapchat‘s customer support can lend a hand:
- Via in-app support: Go to Settings > Support > Contact Us and fill out the form
- Via Twitter: Tweet @snapchatsupport to get help
- Via website: Submit a support ticket at https://support.snapchat.com
Carefully describe the issue and troubleshooting steps you‘ve tried. Their tech experts may be able to fix stubborn crying filter problems or escalate ongoing bugs.
Clever Workarounds for Snapchat‘s Broken Crying Filter
If Snapchat‘s built-in crying filter remains busted despite your best efforts, here are some clever workarounds using other apps:
Use Similar Filters in TikTok or Instagram
Apps like TikTok and Instagram have their own "crying" filters that can substitute for Snapchat‘s broken one.
For example, TikTok has filters called "Crying Eyes", "Sad Eyes", and "Unhappy Face". Instagram‘s "Crying Face" filter is under Effects > Filter > Sad.
While not exactly the same as Snapchat‘s, these alternate filters come pretty close to replicating that sad, tearful look.
Manually Edit Photos or Videos to Look "Crying"
With the right editing tools, you can manually add a crying or sad aesthetic to your snaps:
- Use eyelash stickers, teardrops, or blue eye shadow under the eyes
- Adjust color filters to be more gloomy and desaturated
- Apply a vignette effect to darken the photo corners
- Overlay rain or fog animation for an emotional vibe
Snapchat itself has solid editing features like stickers, text, and drawings that help recreate the crying filter. Get creative!
Preventing Snapchat Crying Filter Problems in the Future
A bit of regular maintenance goes a long way towards keeping Snapchat filters behaving properly over time:
- Install app updates promptly whenever new versions are released
- Periodically delete/reinstall Snapchat to wipe cached data
- Restart your phone regularly
- Monitor Snapchat‘s server status page for any known issues
- Avoid buggy beta versions of the Snapchat app
By sticking to these best practices, you‘ll minimize your chances of dealing with the crying filter not working again.
Don‘t Cry Over Broken Filters!
With some time and effort, you should be able to get Snapchat‘s temperamental crying filter working again using the troubleshooting tips in this guide. Snapchat‘s developers will likely iron out the worst bugs with the crying filter in future app updates too.
I hope these tricks spare you from further frustration with Snapchat‘s broken crying filter. Let me know if you have any other questions – I‘m always happy to help a fellow tech enthusiast!
