There’s still no app more popular than Duolingo when it comes to learning a new language. It’s no surprise, as the app hosts a wide variety of different languages you can get to grips with.
So, what can you do if the Duolingo app stops working? Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to get it up and running again.
Duolingo not working on Android/iOS? – How to Fix
If you’re having problems with the Duolingo app, the first thing to look at is your internet connection. Making sure your Wi-Fi or mobile data is connected properly is the first thing to do, as this is the most common issue users have.
It could also be related to the Duolingo servers, which could be down – though this is pretty unlikely. We’ll walk through these steps in a little more detail, as well as a few other reasons why the Duolingo app may have stopped working.
Internet Issues
Duolingo requires a working internet connection to work. If you don’t have an internet connection, you likely won’t be able to use the app to its full potential.
Check that your internet is working, by using something that requires the internet – e.g. a YouTube video. If it doesn’t work, then there’s probably something wrong with your internet connection.
Try disconnecting and reconnecting to your network on your device, and try using the internet again.
If it still doesn’t work, try turning your router on and off again.
If the issue persists, then you can check if there are any problems with your internet provider by going on https://downdetector.co.uk/ and searching for your broadband.
Click on your broadband to see their recent outage reports. If there’s a high amount of reports, then there your internet broadband is having problems.
These should be solved within a few days, though it can be worth getting in touch with your broadband provider to check. If your broadband is fine, then the issue may lie elsewhere.
Server Issues
Make sure the issue lies in the Duolingo app rather than Duolingo’s servers. You can find out whether this is the case by going on https://support.duolingo.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000472386-Is-Duolingo-down-right-now- to check Duolingo’s server status.
If the server status is ‘up’, it means the server is not down at the moment and the app should be working as normal.
Restart Device
Duolingo may not be working due to an issue with your device – both Apple and iOS users may face trouble running the app.
It’s a good idea to try restarting your device, and using the app again – this will clear any saved data from your current session.
For Apple users:
Hold down the lock button on the right side of your phone until the option to ‘power off’ appears on the screen. Slide the switch to shut down your phone.
Then, after about 10 seconds, hold the lock button until the apple logo appears on the screen to start your phone again.
For Android users:
Hold down the lock button on the right side of your phone until the option to restart your phone appears on the screen. Press ‘restart’ to restart your phone.
Update Device
Duolingo may not be working due to your device using outdated drivers or systems. Check for updates and download any that are available. Then, after updating your device, try using the app again.
For Apple users:
Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If there’s an available update to download, press ‘download and install’ to update your phone.
For Android users:
Go to Settings > Software Update > Download and Install, to check for updates. If there’s an available update, download it to update your phone.
Update App
Duolingo may not be working because you have an outdated version of the app. Try checking to see if your app needs updating, and update the app if it does.
For Apple users:
Go to the App store, pressing on your profile picture, and pressing ‘purchased’. This will show you a list of all the apps you’ve downloaded.
Find the Duolingo app and see if there’s an update option for it. If there is, press on it to update the app.
For Android users:
Go to the Play store, and press on your profile icon. Then, press manage apps and devices to show a list of all your apps.
Press updates available to see if there are any updates for your apps. If there’s an update available for the Duolingo app, press the update option for it to update the app.
Reinstall App
If none of the solutions above made your app work again, try uninstalling and reinstalling Duolingo. Then, try using the app again.
For Apple users:
Press and hold the Duolingo app icon on your home screen. This should make a list of options appear. Press ‘remove app’ to uninstall the app.
This will cause another set of options to appear. Press ‘delete app’ to confirm the uninstallation.
A final set of options will then appear. Press ‘delete’ to start the uninstallation.
Finally, go on the app store, press on your profile picture, and press purchased to see a list of all the apps you’ve ever downloaded. Find the Duolingo app and press on the cloud icon to reinstall the app.
For Android users:
Press and hold the Duolingo app to make a row of options appear. Press the uninstall option, which will make a notice appear.
Press ‘ok’ to confirm the uninstallation.
Finally, go to the play store store and search ‘Duolingo’ in the search bar. This should show the Duolingo app as the first search result. Press the ‘install’ option to reinstall the app.
Contact Customer Support
If none of these solutions worked, then try contacting Duolingo’s customer support.
Go to https://www.duolingo.com/contact to find their request form. Fill it in to send your query to the support team.
Conclusion
To conclude, there’s a few factors that could be stopping the Duolingo app to from functioning properly. If it’s due to an uncontrollable factor, such as the internet, try waiting a day or so before using the app again. These issues shouldn’t persist for long.
However, if the app is failing to work due to a more personal reason, such as an issue with your device, it’s best to seek out specialised help. Contact Duolingo customer support, and I’m sure they’ll get your app working again soon.
