When Pokémon GO crashes on startup, it usually closes on the loading screen or kicks you back to the home screen before you reach the map. The cause is most often an outdated app, a phone that’s low on storage or memory, a bad cache, or a problem on the game’s servers. Occasionally, the phone itself is no longer supported. This guide walks through the fixes in order, starting with the quickest, for both iPhone and Android.
Quick answer
Force close Pokémon GO, update it from the App Store or Google Play, restart your phone, and try again. On Android, clear the app’s cache too. If it still crashes, uninstall and reinstall the app. Your progress is saved to your account, not the phone.
Step 1: Check whether the servers are down
If the game crashes for everyone at the same time, the problem isn’t your phone. Check the game’s official social media accounts or community sites for outage reports. During big events and right after updates, servers can struggle for a few hours.
Step 2: Force close and reopen the game
- iPhone: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause to open the app switcher, then swipe Pokémon GO up and off the screen.
- Android: Open Recent apps and swipe the game away, or go to Settings > Apps > Pokémon GO > Force stop.
Step 3: Update the app
Old versions of Pokémon GO are often blocked from starting after a mandatory update. Open the App Store or Google Play, search for Pokémon GO, and tap Update if it’s offered.
Step 4: Restart your phone
A restart clears memory and stops background processes that can starve the game of resources. It fixes more crashes than you’d expect.
Step 5: Free up storage and memory
The game needs space for downloaded assets. If your phone has less than a couple of gigabytes free, delete unused apps, videos, or photos. Close other apps, especially games and video apps, before launching Pokémon GO.
Step 6: Clear the cache (Android)
Go to Settings > Apps > Pokémon GO > Storage and tap Clear cache. Don’t tap Clear data unless you’re willing to sign in again and redownload game assets. iPhones don’t have a cache option, so reinstalling (Step 9) does the same job.
Step 7: Check date, time, and location settings
- Set the date and time to update automatically. A wrong clock can cause sign-in and loading failures.
- Make sure Location Services are on and Pokémon GO is allowed to use your location.
- Turn off any VPN, ad blocker, or location-changing app. These can stop the game from loading and may violate the game’s terms of service.
Step 8: Turn off battery saver and update your phone
Low Power Mode on iPhone and battery saver on Android can limit background activity the game needs while starting up. Turn them off while you test. Also install any pending iOS or Android updates in Settings.
Step 9: Reinstall Pokémon GO
Uninstall the app, restart your phone, and install it again from the App Store or Google Play. Sign in with the same method you used before (see signing in to Pokémon GO with Google), such as Google, Apple, Facebook, or a Pokémon Trainer Club account. Using a different sign-in method creates a new, empty account, so make sure you pick the right one.
Step 10: Check device support
Pokémon GO’s minimum requirements rise over time, and older phones and operating systems are dropped. If your phone is several years old and nothing else works, check the game’s official help center for the current supported devices list.
Contact support
If none of these steps help, use the in-game or help-center support options and include your phone model, OS version, and app version. Those details help support find known issues faster.
Tips
- After a big update, wait a few minutes on the loading screen. The first launch downloads new assets and can look frozen.
- A stable Wi-Fi connection helps the first launch after reinstalling.
- If the game only crashes when you open AR mode, turn off AR+ in the game’s settings.
Frequently asked questions
Will reinstalling delete my Pokémon?
No. Your Pokémon and progress are stored on your account. Sign in with the same account and everything comes back.
Why does Pokémon GO crash only on startup?
Startup is when the game checks for updates, downloads assets, and signs in. Problems with storage, network, or an outdated app show up then.
Summary
- Check for server problems.
- Force close, update, and restart.
- Free storage and clear the cache on Android.
- Check date, time, location, and VPN settings.
- Reinstall and sign in with the same account.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.