Pokémon GO Not Working: What’s Going On and What to Do
When Pokémon GO is not working, the problem can take many forms. The game may hang on the loading screen, refuse to open, show “GPS signal not found,” reject your login, crash mid-catch, or lag during a raid. Sometimes the cause is your phone or network, sometimes a school or public Wi-Fi block, and sometimes the game’s own servers. This guide covers each case and explains where Planet VPN can help and where it can’t.
Why Is Pokémon GO Not Working?
Pokémon GO leans on more parts of your phone than most games. It needs a steady data connection, working GPS, location permission, the correct system time, and a supported device and OS version. If one of those slips, the game can stall, lose your position, or fail to sign you in. Start with a few quick checks.
How to Fix
- Update Pokémon GO to the latest version from the App Store or Google Play.
- Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data to test your connection.
- Turn on Location Services and allow Pokémon GO to use your location.
- Set your phone’s date and time to update automatically.
- Fully close the game, then restart your phone.
- Check the official Pokémon GO channels for known issues.
Is Pokémon GO Down, or Is It Just You?
Maintenance, a rough update, or a server outage can stop many players at once, usually with sign-in failures or a game stuck on loading. There is no official status page, so watch the game’s social accounts and look for a spike in player reports. If friends are stuck too, wait it out, because nothing on your phone will fix a server problem.
How to Fix
- Check the official Pokémon GO account on X (@PokemonGoApp) for maintenance or outage notices.
- Look for a spike in reports on a tracker such as Downdetector.
- Read the in-game news and the Known Issues section of the Pokémon GO Help Center.
- If only you are affected, move on to the local fixes below.
Pokémon GO Not Loading
A game stuck on the loading screen, a black screen, or a Poké Ball spinning in the corner usually means Pokémon GO can’t finish talking to its servers. A weak or congested connection is a frequent trigger, but an outdated app, damaged cached data, or the wrong system time can do the same. A past forced update once left some Android versions stuck here until a patch arrived.
How to Fix
- Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, or move somewhere with a better signal.
- Update the app, especially after a forced update notice.
- Set the date and time to automatic.
- On Android, clear the app cache in Settings.
- If you can reach the menu, tap Refresh Game Data in Advanced Settings.
Pokémon GO Won’t Open
If Pokémon GO closes the moment you tap it, won’t install, or the store says it isn’t compatible, check your device first. The game needs at least Android 9 or iOS 15, 2 GB of RAM, and GPS, and it no longer runs on 32-bit Android phones, Android 8, or iOS 14. Rooted and jailbroken phones aren’t supported, and beta OS versions may not work properly. On a supported phone, a corrupted install or a clash after an update is the usual cause.
How to Fix
- Restart your phone to clear stuck processes.
- Confirm your phone meets the supported device requirements.
- Update your operating system and the app.
- Free up storage so the update or install can finish.
- Uninstall and reinstall Pokémon GO. Your progress is saved online.
Pokémon GO GPS Signal Not Found
“GPS signal not found” is one of the best-known Pokémon GO errors. It appears when your phone can’t give the game a reliable location: location access is off, the signal is weak indoors or between tall buildings, or the device has no GPS chip, as many tablets don’t. The same causes make your avatar drift or jump. On Android, a mock location app set in Developer options will also break location, and the game’s terms treat faking your location as cheating.
Tip: GPS works best outdoors with a clear view of the sky. Keep Wi-Fi switched on even when you play on mobile data, because your phone uses nearby Wi-Fi networks to pin down your position.
How to Fix
- Turn on Location Services and give Pokémon GO location permission.
- On Android, turn on Improve Location Accuracy.
- Keep Wi-Fi on and step outside or away from tall buildings.
- Remove any mock location app in Developer options.
- Restart the game, then your phone if the error stays.
- Avoid playing in moving vehicles, where the connection drops often.
Pokémon GO Login Problems
Sign-in trouble shows up as “Failed to log in,” “Unable to authenticate,” a spinning cog, or being sent back to the login screen again and again. The game supports Google, Facebook, Apple, Pokémon Trainer Club (now called Pokémon Trainer Central), and Niantic Kids, and your password lives with whichever provider you picked. A weak connection often causes these errors, but so can choosing the wrong provider or a suspended account.
How to Fix
- Check your connection, close Pokémon GO, and try logging in again.
- Sign in with the same provider you used to create the account.
- Reset your password through that provider, and check your spam folder.
- Use the official Account Recovery page if you can’t remember your login email.
- For Google login loops, remove Pokémon GO from your Google account’s connected apps and sign in again.
- If your account was suspended, submit a Ban Appeal through the support form.
Pokémon GO Keeps Crashing
Crashes and freezes usually come from memory pressure, a full cache, or a bug in a new release, and older or low-RAM phones feel it most. If Pokémon GO keeps closing in the background, your phone’s battery optimisation may be shutting it down. A crash that starts right after an update and hits many players at once is likely a game bug, and a fix usually follows.
How to Fix
- Close other apps to free up memory.
- Update Pokémon GO and your operating system.
- Clear the cache on Android, or reinstall the app on iPhone.
- Remove battery restrictions for Pokémon GO so it isn’t closed in the background.
- Turn off AR mode when catching to lighten the load on your phone.
Pokémon GO Lagging
If Pokémon GO is laggy, with slow catches, delayed spins, or raids that stutter, the network is usually the bottleneck. Big events and busy parks overload local mobile networks, and walls or indoor spots weaken the signal. Official support notes 5G performance still varies, so 4G can feel smoother. A VPN rarely helps with lag unless your provider throttles gaming traffic, and a distant server adds delay.
How to Fix
- Move to an open, less crowded spot.
- Switch from 5G to 4G if the game feels sluggish.
- Toggle between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
- Check that your data plan hasn’t hit a speed cap.
- Close background downloads and streaming apps.
Pokémon GO Adventure Sync Not Working
Adventure Sync counts your steps while the game is closed by reading data from Apple Health or Google Fit. When distance stops tracking or only part of it counts, the cause is usually missing permissions, battery-saving modes, or a sync delay, which the help centre says can take several hours. Manually entered fitness data doesn’t count, and refreshing game data can switch Adventure Sync off.
How to Fix
- Turn Adventure Sync on in the game’s settings.
- On iPhone, set Pokémon GO’s location permission to Always.
- On Android, allow location in the app’s permissions.
- Confirm Pokémon GO is connected in Apple Health or Google Fit.
- Turn off battery saver on your phone and in the fitness app.
- Give it a few hours, then restart the game to refresh.
Common Pokémon GO Errors
Most Pokémon GO error messages point to your connection, your location, or your account. Here’s what the common ones mean.
| Error | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| GPS signal not found (11) | The game can’t get your location | Turn on location, go outside, and keep Wi-Fi on. |
| Failed to detect location (12) | Your location can’t be confirmed | Remove mock location apps, turn on location accuracy, and restart. |
| Failed to log in / Unable to authenticate | The sign-in didn’t go through | Check your connection, reopen the game, and log in again. |
| No internet connectivity (10) | Your phone isn’t online | Turn off airplane mode and reconnect. |
| Network error (2) | A general connection or server hiccup | Restart the game, and wait if the servers are busy. |
| Something went wrong (3) | A shop purchase or exchange failed | Restart the app and try the purchase again. |
| Account suspended | The account broke the Terms of Service | Submit a Ban Appeal through support. |
Why Can’t I Access Pokémon GO?
Sometimes Pokémon GO works fine, but the network you’re on won’t let it through. School, work, and some public Wi-Fi networks block games to save bandwidth, and parental controls can do the same. The game also isn’t officially available everywhere, with mainland China the best-known gap. A VPN can help with a network block because it routes the game through a different connection, but it won’t make the game available in an unsupported country, since Pokémon GO relies on your GPS.
How to Fix
- Test the game on mobile data. If it works, the Wi-Fi is blocking it.
- Turn on data roaming, or use a local SIM card when travelling abroad.
- Check parental controls or router filters on your home network.
- Connect to a VPN server in your own country to get past a Wi-Fi block.
When a VPN Can Help with Pokémon GO
A VPN changes your IP address, not your GPS location, and that sets its limits. It can get Pokémon GO past a school, office, or public Wi-Fi block, protect your connection on open hotspots at events, and sometimes ease throttling from your provider. It cannot fix a server outage, a GPS signal problem, a suspended account, a wrong password, a game bug, or an unsupported phone.
A VPN also won’t move your avatar or bring regional Pokémon to you. Faking your location with GPS spoofing breaks the game’s Terms of Service and can get your account suspended. If you need stable access on restricted networks and safer public Wi-Fi, Planet VPN covers that, and you can read more on the VPN for Pokémon GO page.
Pokémon GO Not Working With a VPN
If Pokémon GO fails to sign in or throws errors only while your VPN is on, the shared server IP may look suspicious to the game’s security checks, or the mismatch between your IP location and your GPS may cause trouble. The fix is to keep the VPN server close to home or leave the game out of the tunnel.
How to Fix
- Connect to a server in the country you’re actually in.
- Switch to a different server and reopen the game.
- Restart the VPN to start a fresh connection.
- Use split tunneling to exclude Pokémon GO from the VPN.
- Turn the VPN off and sign in on a trusted network if the errors continue.
Why Is Pokémon GO Not Working on My Phone?
Location permission, battery settings, storage, and mobile data rules decide whether Pokémon GO runs smoothly on a phone. Tablets are hit and miss because many have no built-in GPS, which is why Pokémon GO not working on iPad is a common complaint. The fixes differ between iPhone and Android.
Pokémon GO Not Working on iPhone
iOS doesn’t let you clear a single app’s cache, so reinstalling is the reset. Your progress is stored online and comes back when you sign in.
How to Fix on iPhone
- Update iOS and the app. The game needs iOS 15 or later.
- Turn on Set Automatically in Settings, General, Date & Time.
- Allow location access, and choose Always if you use Adventure Sync.
- Turn on mobile data for Pokémon GO in Settings.
- Delete and reinstall the app from the App Store.
Pokémon GO Not Working on Android
Android gives you more control. You can clear Pokémon GO’s cache directly, and you should make sure background data isn’t restricted for the game or for Google Play services.
How to Fix on Android
- Clear the cache in Settings, Storage, then Pokémon GO.
- Update the app and Google Play services.
- Allow background data for Pokémon GO and Google Play services.
- Turn on Improve Location Accuracy.
- Enable mobile data and, when abroad, data roaming.
- Reinstall the app if it still won’t run.
How to Prevent Pokémon GO Problems in the Future
Most Pokémon GO problems are easier to avoid than to fix. Keep the app and your OS updated, since older versions lose support over time. Link a second login method so one provider problem can’t lock you out, and write down your Pokémon Trainer Central username and password. Keep location and time on automatic, skip spoofing apps, and keep a trusted VPN ready if your network often blocks games.
Conclusion
When Pokémon GO isn’t working, go in order. Check for an outage first, then test your connection, update the app, and confirm your location and time settings. Next, look at your login provider, device support, and phone settings. If the game works everywhere except one network, that network is likely blocking it, and a VPN like Planet VPN can get you back to catching.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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1. Why is Pokémon GO not working today?
The usual reasons are a server outage or maintenance, a weak connection, or an outdated app. Check @PokemonGoApp on X and a tracker such as Downdetector. If other players are fine, update the app, switch networks, and restart your phone.
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2. Why does Pokémon GO keep saying GPS signal not found?
Your phone can’t give the game a reliable location. Turn on location access, move outside or away from tall buildings, and keep Wi-Fi on. On Android, turn on Improve Location Accuracy. Many tablets have no GPS chip, so the error may never clear on them.
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3. Why won’t Pokémon GO let me sign in?
Check your connection, close and reopen the game, and log in with the same provider you used to create the account. If you’ve forgotten which email you used, try the official Account Recovery page. A suspended account can’t sign in unless a ban appeal succeeds.
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4. Why is Pokémon GO not tracking my steps?
Adventure Sync needs location permission (Always on iPhone), a connection to Apple Health or Google Fit, and no battery saver getting in the way. Syncing can take several hours, and manually entered workouts don’t count.
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5. Why is Pokémon GO not working on my iPad?
Many tablets, including Wi-Fi-only iPads, have no built-in GPS, and the game needs GPS to place you on the map. Tablets can also struggle to hold a signal on busy networks. A supported phone is the reliable option.
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6. Does a VPN work for Pokémon GO?
Yes, for network blocks and safer public Wi-Fi, but it only changes your IP address, not your GPS. It won’t move your avatar or unlock regional Pokémon, and GPS spoofing breaks the Terms of Service. If sign-in fails with the VPN on, pick a server in your own country or exclude the game with split tunneling.