Why Telegram is not working? The fix

Telegram is, without a doubt one of the best communication applications available today. Its strong security and encryption give it a significant advantage over similar apps. However, just like most tech platforms, it’s not immune to malfunctions. Complications might arise because of a wide range of issues.

In this article, we want to look at possible reasons why Telegram is not working and how to troubleshoot the app.

What prevents Telegram from working?

Telegram for PC or mobile will fail to work because of the following issues:

  • Lack of or slow internet connection.
  • Downtime.
  • A system glitch.
  • Too much cache data.
  • VPN connection.
  • Software bugs.
  • Telegram is banned in your country.
  • Bad settings
  • Lack of App Permissions

How to fix Telegram when it is not working on mobile and PC

Let’s now look at all the solutions you can use to fix the different Telegram problems.

1. Make sure your internet connection is stable

If your Telegram is not updating messages or is stuck on “Connecting”, you need to check your internet connection. Whether you’re using Wi-Fi or mobile data, ensure it’s working. You can try to open another app or website on a PC just to be sure.

In case there is a problem with the connection, switch off your Wi-Fi router or cellular data on the phone then back on. Next, if you’re using Wi-Fi, you can switch to cellular data and vice versa. Also, try and connect to another Wi-Fi, turn off data saver mode or whitelist Telegram from the feature, and check your data balance to be sure it’s not running out.

2. Force quit Telegram and reopen

Closing and opening your Telegram app when messages are not showing could help solve the issue. You should try it. For those using PC, you’ll have to ensure the app is shut down completely and doesn’t run in the background.

Now, in case it doesn’t work, go ahead and log out of your account before closing the app then log back in when you reopen.

3. Restart your device

This is an age-old go-to solution for almost every tech problem. So, when Telegram is not working on iPhone, Android, Windows, or even Mac, you need to restart your device.

A simple reboot helps to solve many errors and system issues that may prevent Telegram from working.

4. Clear cache

Accumulation of cache can hinder Telegram’s performance. You’ll discover that the videos are not opening, messages are not sending as fast as they ought to, or the app just hangs. Clearing cache frees some space that helps to enhance the app’s performance.

Depending on the device you’re using, you’ll either have to open the app in settings or from the home page. Next, look for storage then cache. Select clear cache for the app. When you go back to your account, you may have to log in again. Check if the problem has been fixed.

5. Update Telegram

Telegram

Your Telegram may fail to work because it’s outdated. Fortunately, the solution, in this case, is as simple as going to the Applications store for your device and searching for Telegram.

If you find any pending updates, download and install them immediately. Usually, the updates come with security and bug fixes that ensure the app functions optimally.

6. Update your device

In case the app update doesn’t work, then it’s time to update your device’s software.

Open “Settings” and search for “Updates”. Download and install the available updates then reboot the device.

7. Uninstall and reinstall Telegram

There could be situations where your Telegram won’t update. Hence it’ll be hard to fix the bugs and glitches.

The best thing to do in such cases is to remove your Telegram app and then reinstall it. You’ll automatically get an updated version of the app.

8. Enable app permissions

The next troubleshooting option for issues like Telegram won’t update is to enable app permissions.

First, open Settings and scroll down to the Telegram app. Click on it then toggle On the permissions that are Off. That includes allowing notifications

9. Turn Off VPN then back On

Even though VPN helps people to connect to Telegram in locations where the app is banned, it can cause performance issues. So, to solve your Telegram app malfunction, start by making sure the VPN is connected to a server where Telegram is allowed.

The next options are to disable the VPN and proxy server and check if your Telegram app starts working.

10. Check downdetector

There are times when your Telegram is not working because of issues with the servers. Visit the downdetector to confirm the situation.

If there’s an outage then you can alert the support team and wait until the problem is fixed.

11. Run a troubleshooter

Those who use the Telegram app on their Windows PC can troubleshoot the problem using a built-in app troubleshooter. Follow this guide:

  • Open the Windows settings app.
  • Go to “System” and select the Troubleshoot menu.
  • Click on “Other troubleshooters”.
  • Scroll down to “Windows Store App” then click on “Run”.
  • Let Windows run the troubleshooter and fix the Telegram problem.

Go back and check if your Telegram is working properly.

Ideally, you should consider allowing your Telegram app on Windows to always run in the background.

12. Wait

When you get the “too many attempts” error while trying to log in to your telegram account unsuccessfully, you should wait 24 hours before trying to log in again.

On the other hand, if you get the “limit exceeded on telegram” error then it’s because you’ve deleted your telegram account too many times recently. You’ll have to wait a few weeks before signing up again.

If you can’t wait that long, use a different phone number to create a new telegram account. This also helps in case Telegram has banned the other number.

Other options

  • Turn off Do Not Disturb mode to fix the notification problem.
  • Disable sound recognition to fix telegram voice messages or calls not working.
  • Free up your device’s internal storage space by deleting unnecessary files and apps that take up a lot of space.
  • Disable battery-saving mode.

Hopefully, one of these troubleshooting options helps to fix your Telegram is not working problem.