If Snapchat opens and immediately sends you back to the Home screen, the app is crashing rather than simply failing to load content. Snapchat can also crash later while you are using a specific feature.
The point where Snapchat closes helps narrow down the problem. A crash that affects only Snapchat should be handled differently from a problem that causes several unrelated apps to close.
Why Snapchat Keeps Closing After Opening
When Snapchat closes by itself, its app process has ended unexpectedly. This can happen during startup or after Snapchat tries to load a specific part of the app.
An outdated Snapchat version, temporary app data, a damaged local installation, or a compatibility problem between the current Snapchat build and the phone’s operating system can cause this behavior. If the crashes started directly after a Snapchat or system update, that timing also identifies what changed before the problem appeared.
The exact symptom matters. If Snapchat stays open but Snaps, Stories, or Chats do not load, the application itself is still running, so connection or Snapchat service problems become more relevant than app-crash troubleshooting. A crash that happens only when you open the Camera or Memories also gives you a more precise test.
How to Stop Snapchat From Closing After Opening
Work through the fixes in order, and most importantly, check Snapchat after each one. Once Snapchat stops closing and the feature that previously triggered the problem works normally, there is no reason to continue through the remaining steps.
The Android screenshots in this section were taken on a Xiaomi phone running HyperOS to illustrate the relevant settings and menu paths.
1. Close Snapchat Completely and Open It Again
A temporary failure inside Snapchat’s current process can disappear after the app is fully closed and launched again. Returning to the Home screen alone does not necessarily close the app because iOS and Android can leave it suspended in the background.
On iPhone:
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle to open the App Switcher. On an iPhone with a Home button, double-press the Home button.
- Swipe left or right until you find Snapchat.
- Swipe the Snapchat preview upward to close it.
On Android:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps and select Snapchat.
- Tap Force stop.
2. Restart Your iPhone or Android Phone
Restarting clears the current app processes and reloads the software environment Snapchat is running inside. It is worth doing before changing cached data or reinstalling the app.
On iPhone:
- On an iPhone with Face ID, press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears.
- Drag the slider to turn the iPhone off.
- Turn the iPhone back on.
On Google Pixel:
- On Pixel 6 and later, press and hold the Power button and Volume up button for a few seconds.
- Tap Restart.
- Wait for the phone to start normally.
On Samsung Galaxy:
- Press and hold the Side button and Volume down button together.
- Tap Restart when the power menu appears.
- Confirm Restart if prompted.
3. Update Snapchat
A Snapchat update replaces the current app build and can include fixes for crashes affecting an older version. Snapchat also recommends keeping the app updated when it is crashing or not working correctly.
On iPhone:
- Open the App Store.
- Tap your profile picture.
- Scroll to the available app updates.
- Find Snapchat and tap Update if one is available.
On Android:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Tap your profile icon.
- Select Manage apps & device.
- Open Updates available.
- Find Snapchat and tap Update.
4. Install the Latest iOS or Android Update
If Snapchat is already up to date, check the phone’s operating system next. Installing the latest iOS or Android version can resolve compatibility problems between Snapchat and the system software.
On iPhone:
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Select Software Update.
- Install an available iOS update.
On Samsung Galaxy:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Software update.
- Check for and install an available update.
On Google Pixel and many Android phones:
- Open Settings.
- Tap System.
- Open Software update or System update. On Xiaomi and Redmi phones, open Settings > About phone and tap Xiaomi HyperOS.
- Install any available update.
5. Check How Much Storage Is Available
A phone running very low on free storage can become unstable because apps and the operating system need working space for temporary data and updates. Check available storage before moving to stronger Snapchat-specific fixes.
On iPhone:
- Open Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Check how much storage is available.
- If the iPhone is nearly full, follow the storage recommendations shown there or remove files and apps you no longer need.
- Restart the iPhone.
On Android:
- Open Settings > Storage. On Xiaomi and Redmi phones, open Settings > About phone > Storage.
- Check how much free space remains.
- If less than roughly 10% of the phone’s total storage is free, remove unneeded files or apps.
- Restart the phone.
6. Clear Snapchat’s Cache
Snapchat stores temporary data to speed up parts of the app. Clearing that cache removes those temporary files without deleting your Memories, Snaps, or Chats.
On iPhone:
- Open Snapchat and tap the gear icon.
- Scroll to App & Privacy and tap My Privacy & Data.
- Under Manage My Data, tap Clear Cache.
- Tap Clear to confirm.
On Android:
- Open Snapchat and tap the gear icon.
- Scroll to App & Privacy and tap My Privacy & Data.
- Under Manage My Data, tap Clear Data.
- Tap Clear Cache.
- Confirm.
If Snapchat closes too quickly to reach its own settings on Android, use the phone’s app controls instead:
- Open Settings > Apps > Snapchat.
- Tap Storage or Storage & cache. On Xiaomi HyperOS, tap Clear data.
- Tap Clear cache.
7. Check Camera and Microphone Access
If Snapchat opens normally and the problem appears only when you open the Camera, confirm that Snapchat has Camera and Microphone access. This check is specific to the Camera and does not apply when Snapchat closes immediately after launch.
On iPhone:
- Open Settings > Privacy & Security.
- Tap Camera and make sure Snapchat has access.
- Return to Privacy & Security and tap Microphone.
- Make sure Snapchat has microphone access.
On Android:
- Open Settings > Apps > Snapchat.
- Tap Permissions.
- Select Camera and allow access.
- Select Microphone and allow access.
8. Check the Connection If Snapchat Stays Open
A connection failure is different from Snapchat physically closing. If Snapchat remains open but Chats, Stories, Snaps, or other online content will not load, check whether Snapchat is experiencing a widespread outage. If the service is down, wait for it to recover. Otherwise, confirm that the connection itself is working by opening Fast.com or another website.
On iPhone:
- Turn Wi-Fi off.
- Open Snapchat using cellular data.
- Check whether the previously failing content loads.
- Reconnect to Wi-Fi and test again.
If Snapchat works on cellular data but fails again after reconnecting to Wi-Fi, troubleshoot the iPhone Wi-Fi connection separately.
On Android:
- Turn Wi-Fi off.
- Open Snapchat using mobile data.
- Check whether the content loads.
- Reconnect to Wi-Fi and compare the result.
9. Before You Reinstall Snapchat
Check your Memories backup before reinstalling Snapchat if the app stays open long enough to reach Settings. Snapchat says Backup Progress should show Complete before you uninstall the app, log out, or move to another device.
Snapchat also states that Memories that were never successfully backed up cannot be recovered after they are lost. This makes the backup check part of the reinstall process rather than an optional cleanup step.
Check your Memories backup:
- Open Snapchat Settings and find Memories.
- If Backup Progress is available, continue only when it says Complete.
- If you see a backup icon on any Snap or Story in Memories, wait for it to finish backing up before reinstalling Snapchat.
10. Remove and Reinstall Snapchat
Reinstalling replaces the current Snapchat installation and resets its local app state. Use it after the earlier fixes have failed to stop a Snapchat-specific crash.
On iPhone:
- Find Snapchat on the Home Screen or in the App Library.
- Long-press the Snapchat icon.
- Tap Remove App, then Delete App.
- Open the App Store.
- Search for Snapchat and reinstall the official app.
- Sign in and test the same feature again.
On Android:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Search for Snapchat and select the official app.
- Tap Uninstall.
- Wait for Snapchat to finish removing.
- Tap Install.
- Sign in and test Snapchat again.
What If Snapchat Still Closes After Reinstalling?
If Snapchat is the only app that continues to close after a clean reinstall, report the problem to Snapchat rather than repeatedly changing unrelated phone settings. A persistent failure isolated to one freshly installed app is different from a phone-wide stability problem.
If browsers, games, or other unrelated apps also begin closing unexpectedly, the failure is no longer isolated to Snapchat. On Android, check the Play Store for updates to Android System WebView and Google Chrome, since Google has previously documented a faulty WebView update causing multiple unrelated apps to crash.
On Android when several apps are crashing:
- Open the official Android System WebView page in Google Play. If you cannot find it inside the Play Store, open the Google Play result from a web search.
- Tap Update if that option is available. If the page only shows Remove updates or Uninstall updates, leave WebView unchanged.
- Open the Google Play Store and update Google Chrome if an update is available.
- Restart the phone.
- Test Snapchat and another app that was previously crashing.
If no WebView or Chrome update is available and several unrelated apps remain unstable after a restart, continue with Android-level troubleshooting instead of repeating the Snapchat fixes.
