How to Finally Fix the Annoying Snapchat Loading Screen for Good

Hey there! I know how frustrating that dreaded loading screen can be when you‘re trying to view your BFF‘s hilarious snap. You tap and you wait, but nothing loads. Ughh!

Not to worry, I‘ve been there myself too many times. But after tons of trial and error, I‘ve discovered some super effective tricks for getting Snapchat working again. Keep reading and I‘ll walk you through exactly how to fix the Snapchat loading screen issue once and for all!

Why Does the Loading Screen Happen in the First Place?

Before we dig into the solutions, it helps to understand what causes Snapchat to freeze up with the loading screen. There are a few common culprits:

Slow internet connection – The #1 cause of loading issues is a weak, unstable, or intermittent internet connection. Whether you‘re on cellular data or WiFi, network problems almost always lead to loading fails.
Outdated Snapchat app – Like any app, Snapchat needs regular updates to fix bugs and improve performance. An outdated version can definitely cause freezing and loading glitches.
Storage space full – Snapchat takes up storage space on your phone as you use it. If your storage is completely full, the app can‘t save new data properly, leading to issues.
Software bugs – Sometimes Snapchat itself has glitches in the coding that cause widespread freezing even on fast connections. Server outages also prevent snaps from coming through.
Corrupted cache – The cached Snapchat data that builds up on your phone can become corrupted over time, resulting in all kinds of weird problems.
Restrictive phone settings – Things like battery saver mode, data saver mode, and VPNs can interfere with Snapchat‘s normal functioning and prevent content from loading correctly.

According to a Harris Poll survey, nearly half of Americans complain about glitches and freezing with their apps. So you and I definitely aren‘t the only ones facing annoying mobile app issues!

Step-by-Step Solutions to Try

Now that we know what‘s going on behind the scenes when Snapchat gets stuck, let‘s talk about how to get it working again! I‘ve compiled all of the most effective troubleshooting tips based on my own experience resolving Snapchat loading problems:

1. Restart Your Phone

Sometimes the simple act of restarting your phone can knock out minor software glitches causing Snapchat to freeze and load slowly. It‘s an easy first step that takes just a minute:

Close all apps completely, including Snapchat.
Hold down your phone‘s power button until the prompt appears to power down.
Let the phone stay off for at least 30 seconds before powering back on.
Once fully restarted, launch Snapchat and see if your snaps load!

2. Check Your Internet Connection

Loading issues almost always point to some kind of network connectivity problem. A few things to try here:

Switch between WiFi and cellular data to see if one works better than the other for loading snaps.
Run an internet speed test in another app to spot an overall slow connection.
Try loading other apps or websites that require an internet connection to pinpoint the issue.
If your WiFi is slow, switch wireless bands between 2.4GHz and 5GHz.
Contact your cell provider or ISP if you determine the issue is on their end.

According to a Nielsen survey, millennials spend over 5 hours a day on their smartphones, so we definitively need reliable Internet!

3. Update Snapchat to the Latest Version

Outdated apps are a magnet for bugs and glitches. Here‘s how to get Snapchat updated on both iPhone and Android:

iPhone – Go to the App Store, select your profile icon, scroll down to Snapchat and swipe to check for available updates. Install any update shown.
Android – Open the Play Store, tap the menu icon (3 lines), choose My Apps & Games > Installed > Snapchat, and click Update if available.

The update process only takes a minute or two. Afterwards, restart your phone and test Snapchat again. Updates frequently include loading screen fixes!

4. Clear Out Snapchat‘s Cache

Over time, the cache files that build up can get corrupted and cause all kinds of strange app behavior. Clearing this data is an easy fix:

iPhone – Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Select Snapchat, then tap "Offload App" to delete the cache.
Android – Open Settings > Apps > Snapchat > Storage > Clear Cache.

This won‘t delete your saved snaps or settings, just temporary junk files causing trouble. Reopening Snapchat will rebuild a fresh cache.

5. Uninstall and Reinstall Snapchat

If no other fix does the trick, the nuclear option is to completely remove Snapchat then install a fresh copy. Just make sure your data is backed up first:

iPhone – Hold down the Snapchat icon until the icons jiggle, then tap the X to delete. Head to the App Store and reinstall.
Android – Go to Settings > Apps > Snapchat and select Uninstall. Then install a new copy from the Play Store.

Hopefully after reinstalling, Snapchat will be back working like new again! This is a surefire way to eliminate any corrupted files.

6. Check Snapchat‘s Server Status

Sometimes loading screens and failed snaps aren‘t an issue on your end but rather due to widespread outages on Snapchat‘s end.

It‘s always a good idea to check Snapchat‘s server status at status.snapchat.com before troubleshooting loading issues on your device. Outages are shown on their status page in real time.

You can also follow @SnapchatSupport on Twitter where they‘ll post updates on any downtime. If their systems are down, there‘s unfortunately nothing you can do but wait it out!

7. Turn Off Battery and Data Saver

Most phones have battery saver and data saver modes that restrict apps running in the background. These can inadvertently block Snapchat from loading content properly:

Battery saver – Turn off completely when you need to actively use Snapchat.
Data saver – Disable if on cellular data and having loading issues.

In Settings, find the modes and toggle them off temporarily to see if it alleviates any Snapchat glitches.

8. Reset Network Settings

For recurring connection-related loading problems that other troubleshooting hasn‘t resolved, resetting your network settings is a last resort option:

iPhone – Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
Android – Go to Settings > System > Advanced > Reset Options > Reset WiFi, Mobile Data and Bluetooth.

This will delete any saved WiFi passwords, so you‘ll need to re-enter those afterwards. But it can knock out stubborn network issues interfering with Snapchat.

Avoid Future Loading Screen Problems

Okay, now that you‘ve got Snapchat loading properly again, let‘s talk about avoiding more issues in the future:

Always keep Snapchat updated to the latest version in the app stores.
Periodically clear out the app‘s cache and restart your phone to keep things fresh.
Avoid using Snapchat on slow or unreliable internet connections whenever possible.
Don‘t let your phone‘s storage fill completely – leave at least 500MB free if you can.
Turn off battery saver mode if you‘re actively using Snapchat for long periods.
Use WiFi instead of cellular data if you have issues loading snaps on LTE/5G.
Test other data-intensive apps to rule out wider network problems.

By staying on top of updates, giving Snapchat enough resources, and proactively monitoring issues, you‘ll have way fewer loading fails in the future!

When to Contact Snapchat Support

Alrighty, we‘ve covered a ton of troubleshooting steps. But if you still can‘t get your snaps to load after trying everything, it‘s probably time to ask Snapchat for help directly:

In-app support – Open Snapchat settings and scroll down to the Support section. Tap "Contact Us" to start a live chat.
Twitter – Tweet @SnapchatSupport explaining your persistent loading issue and ask if they have insight.
Online – Visit Snapchat‘s support site and submit a request form with details about the problem you‘re encountering.

Hopefully Snapchat can then investigate things from the backend and identify any app issues on their end contributing to the loading screen you‘re stuck on. With over 250 million daily active Snapchatters, you‘re definitely not alone in running into this!

The loading screen is super disruptive when you just want to send snaps to your besties. But with some focused troubleshooting using these tips, you should be able to get Snapchat back up and running smoothly. Let me know if any of the fixes work for you! I‘m happy to help you get Snapchat back on track.