If X (formerly Twitter) isn't working, restart the app first, then check X's own server status before assuming it's your phone. Most fixes involve clearing the app cache, checking your internet connection, updating the app, and, if all else fails, uninstalling and reinstalling. Rarely is it your account specifically being blocked.
Start With The Obvious Checks
Before you do anything else, check whether X is down for everyone or just for you. Outages happen and there's nothing you can do about those except wait.
Search on another device or browser for 'is X down' and you'll usually get an answer within seconds. If it's a widespread outage, close the app and try again in twenty minutes.
If X seems fine for other people, the problem is on your end. That's good news because it means you can fix it yourself.
Restart The App And Your Phone
This sounds too simple to work, but it fixes more problems than anything else on this list. Close X completely, not just minimise it, then reopen it.
On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom and hold, then swipe X's window off the top of the screen. On Android, use the recent apps button and swipe X away.
If that doesn't help, restart your phone. A full restart clears out background processes that might be interfering with the app.
Check Your Internet Connection
X needs a stable connection to load your feed, send posts, and refresh notifications. A weak or patchy signal causes half-loaded pages and posts that won't send.
Try switching from WiFi to mobile data, or the other way round, to see if that solves it. If one connection works and the other doesn't, you've found your answer.
- Turn off WiFi and try X on mobile data
- Turn off mobile data and try X on WiFi
- Run a speed test if both feel slow
- Move closer to your router if using WiFi
Update The App
An outdated version of X can behave oddly, especially after X has pushed changes to how the app talks to its servers. Check your app store for pending updates.
On iPhone, open the App Store, tap your profile icon, and scroll to see if X has an update waiting. On Android, open the Play Store, tap your profile icon, then Manage apps and devices.
Update it if there's a new version, then restart the app once more.
Clear The App Cache
Cached data builds up over time and can cause crashes, slow loading, or posts that fail to send. Clearing it won't delete your account or your posts, it just clears temporary files.
On Android, go to Settings, then Apps, find X, tap Storage, then Clear Cache. Don't tap Clear Data unless you're prepared to log in again.
iPhone doesn't let you clear an app's cache directly. Instead, you'll need to offload the app through Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage, which removes the app but keeps your data, then reinstall it.
Check Your Phone's Operating System
An old operating system can stop apps working as they should, especially if X has updated to use newer features your phone's software doesn't support yet.
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On iPhone, go to Settings, then General, then Software Update. On Android, go to Settings, then System, then System Update. Install anything pending, then restart your phone.
This won't always be the cause, but it's worth ruling out before you try more drastic steps.
Reinstall The App
If nothing else has worked, uninstall X completely and reinstall it from your app store. This gives you a completely fresh copy of the app with no corrupted files or leftover settings causing problems.
- Press and hold the X app icon
- Choose uninstall or delete app
- Restart your phone
- Reinstall X from the App Store or Play Store
- Log back in with your username and password
You'll need your password and any two-factor authentication method to hand, so make sure you have access to those before you start.
When It's Still Not Working
If you've been through every check and X still won't load, it might be a problem with your account rather than the app itself. This could include a temporary restriction or a security flag on your account.
Try logging into X through a web browser instead of the app. If the browser version works but the app doesn't, the fault is with the app, not your account.
If neither works, you may need to go through X's support channels directly, since some account issues can't be fixed from your end and I can't offer a workaround for those.
Frequently asked questions
Why does X keep crashing on my iPhone?
This is usually caused by an outdated app version, a full cache, or an old iOS version. Update the app and your iPhone's software first, then restart the phone before trying anything else.
Will clearing the X app cache delete my posts?
No, clearing cache only removes temporary files, not your account data or posts. On Android, use Clear Cache rather than Clear Data to keep your login and settings intact.
Is there a way to check if X is down right now?
Search 'is X down' on another device or browser, or check a status page. If it's down for everyone, there's nothing you can fix on your end, so just wait it out.
Why won't X let me log in even after reinstalling?
This could point to an account restriction rather than an app fault. Try logging in through a browser instead. If that also fails, you'll need to contact X support directly, as this isn't something you can fix yourself.
More X and Twitter fixes: the X help guide.
