More than one user has reported difficulty getting their Reddit chat window to load, especially after the site goes through an update. Well, don’t worry yet: there are some things you can try…
First, do some testing
A useful piece of information to help you debug the problem can be gained by seeing where the chat does load, and where it does not. For example, it may have stopped working on your mobile device, but still works fine on a PC. Or, as many users have noted, it may stop working in Chrome, but still works in Firefox. First try a couple of different browsers (remember, on an Android device you should have “Internet Browser” in addition to Chrome). You might need to download Firefox or another browser to test this out. If the problem is happening in only one browser, that tells you a lot about where the problem is! Also, it gives you a “band-aid” fix for the problem — if you can’t get anything else to work, you can always just use the browser that still functions.
Try to delete your cookies
If it’s only working in one browser and not the other, try clearing your cookies on that browser. For example, in Chrome you can go to the menu icon (three dots) and select Settings, then open “Show advanced settings”. Under the “Privacy” section, you want “Content Settings”. Then, in the Cookies section, you can select “All cookies and site data” and finally the “Remove all” button. Keep in mind that cookies are on your browser for a reason — some previously saved data might get removed this way, and you’ll be logged out of some sites. Anyway, you can use Google to search for specific instructions for your browser (Safari, Edge, etc.).
The old standard IT trick
As you already know if you’ve ever asked IT for help, the standard response is “have you tried turning it off and on again?” Assuming you’ve already tried rebooting, a more likely solution is to Uninstall the app and then Reinstall it. This is an especially likely fix if it’s working on one device (e.g., your laptop) but not on another (like your phone). Both Android and iOS should give you an option to uninstall an app if you long press the icon.
You might be shadowbanned
Reddit admins sometimes “shadowban” user accounts — usually because they are suspected of spamming. If this has happened to you, your chat won’t load! You don’t need to be an active user of Reddit to get shadowbanned, either — and you might not even know it happened (that’s the “shadow” part). Moderators and janitors do NOT have sufficient privilege to un-ban you, but they can tell you if you have been banned or not. Luckily, you can appeal your ban if you feel it was not deserved … or you can just make a new account.
Ask Reddit for help
If everything has failed, you can try asking the mods what to do next by making a new thread at Reddit’s help forum. Be sure to tell them everything you’ve already tried above (which devices work, which browsers don’t). A screenshot of the chat not loading will be helpful. Also, give them information about your system (e.g., “I’m using Chrome 43.9 on Windows 10”). They may also ask you to provide detailed information about the error message inside your browser or app; they should tell you what to do to find that information, as it will be different for different systems. Good luck!
Reddit Chat not working? 6/27/2022 from help
I’m trying to use the chat on the iOS mobile app and it says I have messages but when I look it doesn’t load and just gives an error. I tried using the browser version Safari for iOS as well and still was giving an error. Any suggestions or is there a problem with the servers?
Please comment on this post if you need any more details. (I would say to message me, but...)
Being on Reddit gives you a place where you can be with people sharing your interest. You can join communities that specifically talk about what you are interested in and what you want to know. It allows you to join in discussions and share what you know with people asking for information.
Reddit is a social forum and discussion website that fosters online interaction. It consists of subreddits focusing on different topics and categories. Users can join existing subreddits or create new ones. It keeps the community growing and helpful to everyone in it.
However, some users complain that their Reddit chat window is not working. They simply can’t access or start a new chat conversation when using Reddit on the web on their desktop PC computers or through the mobile app on their phones. The direct chat window just won’t open, load and the chat message box is no longer accessible on their devices.
On Reddit website through desktop computer, when users try to open the chat window, it gets stuck at “Fetching message”. Mobile users on the other hand see the error message “Let’s try that again. Whoops! Something went wrong and chat can’t be loaded. Please try again.”
It is frustrating to come across such a bug or issue when you want to join subreddits, participate in the discussions, join a chat room, or start a personal message with someone you want to talk privately. There can be different factors that cause the problem, but there are also ways to troubleshoot the error and eventually fix it.
How to Reddit Chat Box Window Not Working, Opening or Loading on Desktop or Mobile App
One of the common issues why the Reddit chat window won’t open or load is an ongoing problem with Reddit server itself. There are instances when Reddit’s server is down and causes an interruption in the user’s end. If this is the case, you cannot do anything about it except wait for Reddit to fix the problem themselves and restore the chat functionality and features.
There are also other reasons for the Reddit error. Check out other solutions below.
Solution #1 – Switch to the Reddit App or Browser
If you experience the error when using Reddit on your Windows PC or Mac computer browser, you can try switching to another one. Sometimes, the problem is due to the browser, so switching will help. If it does not work, you can try to use the Reddit mobile app on iPhone or Android phone.
If you don’t have the Reddit app, launch the Google Play Store or the App Store on your smartphone. Search for Reddit and select the Reddit app under Reddit Inc developer. Then, install the iOS or Android version of the social media app.
Solution #2 – Disable your Computer’s Antivirus
If you are using Reddit on your Windows 10 PC, try to disable the Microsoft Defender temporarily and try again.
- Launch the Settings menu.
- Go to Update & Security.
- Select Windows Security.
- Click Virus & threat protection.
- Go to Manage settings.
- Look for Real-time protection.
- Toggle the button to Off.
If you have a third-party antivirus, you can also disable it for a while and see if it gets rid of the error.
Solution #3 – Power Cycle your Network Device
Power cycling your device will refresh both your device’s processes and your network connection.
- Exit all running apps and turn off your device.
- Unplug your router and modem.
- Wait for at least 1 minute before plugging them back in.
- After connecting to the Internet, try Reddit again.
Solution #4 – Delete Browser Cache
You can delete the browser cache first. Go to the Settings menu of your browser and navigate to Advanced or More options. Look for Clear browsing data and select your cookies, cache, and browsing history. Hit the Clear Cache button.
Solution #5 – Contact Reddit Moderators to Appeal Suspension
If nothing from the troubleshooting methods above works for you, try to contact Reddit moderators for help. They can check your Reddit account and see if there is a problem. In some cases, chat windows do not load because of shadowbanned accounts.
A shadowban means that some moderators have partially banned or suspended your account on Reddit. You can still use most of Reddit’s features as usual but certain functionalities are disabled, like starting a chat message. You can try to ask for an appeal for the suspension or account restriction through //www.reddit.com/appeals/.
Did you fix the Reddit chat window error? What helped you troubleshoot the issue? We would love to know more so please do write to us in the comments below.