Snapchat is one of the most popular social media apps, allowing users to share fun photos and videos with friends. However, sometimes you may run into issues when trying to add friends on Snapchat. The dreaded “Something Went Wrong” error can prevent you from adding new connections.
Don’t worry, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take to try and resolve the “Something Went Wrong” error on Snapchat. With a little time and effort, you’ll hopefully be able to fix the problem and continue expanding your Snapchat network.
Check Your Internet Connection
One of the first things to check when you have trouble adding friends on Snapchat is your internet connection. Snapchat requires an internet connection to function, so a poor connection could be preventing you from adding friends. Here are some tips for troubleshooting your internet connection:
- Restart your phone – Toggle airplane mode on and off to restart the network connection.
- Check WiFi signal – Move closer to your router if the signal is weak where you are.
- Switch networks – Try toggling between WiFi and cellular data.
- Reset network settings – Go into Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
After addressing any connection issues, close Snapchat and restart the app to see if you can now add friends. An unstable internet connection is one of the most common reasons for the “Something Went Wrong” error.
Update the Snapchat App
An outdated version of Snapchat could also be the culprit behind adding friends issues. Snapchat periodically releases new versions of the app, which may contain bug fixes for problems like this.
To update Snapchat on an iOS device, go to the App Store and tap your profile icon in the upper right. Then scroll down to see if any updates are available for Snapchat. On Android, go to the Play Store, tap the menu button in the upper left, choose “My Apps & Games”, then check if Snapchat needs updating.
Install the latest version of the Snapchat app, then try adding friends again. Keeping Snapchat updated ensures compatibility with the Snapchat servers.
Force Stop the Snapchat App
If closing and reopening Snapchat doesn’t help, the next step is force stopping the app. Force stopping completely shuts down all processes related to Snapchat running in the background.
On iPhone, double click the home button to bring up your recent apps. Swipe up on the Snapchat preview to force close it. On Android, open Settings > Apps > Snapchat. Tap Force Stop to completely shut down the app.
After force stopping Snapchat, reopen it and attempt to add friends again. Force stopping provides a clean slate for the app and will hopefully resolve any software glitches.
Clear the Cache and Data
Outdated cached data can also interfere with the proper functioning of Snapchat. Clearing the cache and app data gives Snapchat a fresh start.
On an iPhone, open Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Tap on Snapchat, then tap Offload App to clear the cache. To also reset app data, tap Delete App then reinstall Snapchat.
On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Snapchat. Tap Storage > Clear Cache and also Clear Data if needed. Reopen Snapchat to find that your data has been erased.
Deleting old temporary files and resetting app data forces Snapchat to redownload the latest data. This takes more time but often fixes issues.
Check If Snapchat is Down
Before continuing troubleshooting, check https://downdetector.com/status/snapchat/ to see if Snapchat itself is experiencing an outage. The “Something Went Wrong” error may indicate server-side problems at Snapchat.
If Snapchat is down, there is unfortunately nothing you can do but wait it out. Server outages are usually resolved within a few hours. Once service is restored, you should be able to add friends normally.
Use a Different Network
As mentioned earlier, network issues are a common cause of Snapchat problems. If you are on WiFi, try switching to cellular data, or vice versa.
You can also try connecting to a different WiFi network than your usual one. For example, connect to a mobile hotspot or a nearby public network.
Using an alternate network source determines whether the problem stems from your specific connection. If adding friends works over cellular data or another WiFi network, contact your ISP about the WiFi issues.
Allow Snapchat Through Firewall
Firewalls that block specific apps could potentially disrupt Snapchat connectivity. Try adding Snapchat as an exception if you have antivirus software or other firewalls enabled.
Refer to your firewall or antivirus settings to whitelist individual apps. Allowing Snapchat through the firewall ensures your connections are not being blocked.
Disable VPN Connection
Snapchat may not play nicely with VPN connections, which can alter your network settings. As a test, temporarily disable or disconnect your VPN and see if Snapchat works normally.
If adding friends succeeds without the VPN active, the VPN software may be interfering. Check your VPN settings or contact their customer support for help allowing Snapchat.
Reset Advertising ID
Resetting your advertising ID essentially gives your device a fresh slate when it comes to ad targeting data. Clearing this ID has resolved Snapchat connection issues for some users.
On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Advertising and toggle Reset Advertising Identifier. On Android, open Settings > Google > Ads > Reset advertising ID.
Try adding friends after resetting the ad ID. This eliminates any corrupted ad data that may affect connectivity.
Check Account Restrictions
Snapchat may impose restrictions on accounts that violate their terms, such as sending spam. Navigating to Settings > Account Actions will show if your account faces restrictions.
If your account has been restricted, you need to contact Snapchat Support for help resolving the issue. Account limitations are set at Snapchat’s discretion.
Contact Snapchat Support
If you have tried all other troubleshooting tips with no luck, reach out directly to Snapchat Support through https://support.snapchat.com. The Support team may be able to provide specialized help resolving connection problems.
When contacting Support, provide details about when the issue started, what troubleshooting you have done, and the exact error message received. The more information you can provide, the better.
Snapchat Support will analyze your case and either provide troubleshooting advice or escalate the issue if they uncover a bug. Make sure to follow their instructions closely.
Add Friends on Desktop Site
As a temporary workaround, attempt adding friends through the Snapchat desktop website at https://snapchat.com. This uses a different network connection and may succeed if the mobile app is failing.
To add friends on the desktop site, click your profile photo at the top right, choose Add Friends, then enter the friend’s username. If it works on desktop, the issue is isolated to the mobile app.
Reset Phone Network Settings
For iPhone users still encountering “Something Went Wrong”, try resetting your network settings as a last resort. This completely erases WiFi names, passwords, and other network-related settings.
Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Your device will reboot and you’ll have to reconnect to WiFi networks and reenter passwords. Test adding Snapchat friends after doing so.
Factory Reset Phone
The nuclear option to fix any persistent Snapchat connection issues is performing a factory reset on your phone. This erases all data and fully resets the device.
Before resetting, make sure to backup your device data. Then follow the factory reset instructions for iPhone or Android.
Once your phone is reset up from scratch, download Snapchat again and try adding friends. A clean slate should eliminate any lingering issues.
Conclusion
Troubleshooting Snapchat connection problems requires patience, but hopefully one of these fixes does the trick. The most common solutions are checking your internet connection, updating the app, resetting app data, and allowing Snapchat through your firewall.
To summarize, here are the main methods to try if Snapchat gives the “Something Went Wrong” error when adding friends:
- Confirm your internet connection is stable
- Update to the latest version of Snapchat
- Force stop and clear cache/data for the Snapchat app
- Allow Snapchat connections through security software
- Disconnect VPN if enabled
- Reset advertising ID
- Make sure your account doesn’t have restrictions
- Contact Snapchat support if still not working
- Add friends through the Snapchat website
- Reset network settings on iPhone
- Factory reset phone if all else fails
Stick with it and keep trying the various fixes outlined here. With some determination, you should be able to get past the “Something Went Wrong” error and expand your Snapchat network.