There could be various contributing factors to your ESPN app not working. Fortunately, it is all fixable and can be solved with a couple of steps.

We have created a troubleshooting guide to fix your ESPN app. Go through the following factors to see what works for you.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

ESPN is an app that delivers up-to-date sports news when connected to the internet. It may not be working because you are probably having problems with the internet connection on your phone.

You can check your Wi-Fi connection or mobile network to reconnect and get the app to function. To check your internet connection:

Go to Settings on your phone. Tap Wi-Fi to open a list of available networks. Toggle the tab to display all the available internet connections. Connect to your network or any other available network that is functional.

It is dangerous to connect to public or unsecured Wi-Fi, so we recommend choosing a network you are familiar with.

If your phone is working fine, you can try restarting your router and see if that does the trick. If not, contact your service provider and ask for help.

There can be several possibilities as to why your internet isn’t working. The most common reasons are unpaid bills, changed router settings, and out-of-range networks.

Your service provider will guide you on how to restore your internet connection. Don’t forget to test the internet speed to ensure your network is working properly.

2. Check Device Compatibility

Your Android and iOS devices are constantly updating to newer versions with new and improved features.

Mobile phones start getting obsolete after a while. Your phone might not receive updates to support heavier apps with the latest features. To make sure your device is compatible with the ESPN app:

Open the Play Store (on Android) or App Store (on iOS) and search for ESPN. Scroll down to the app info. Check Compatibility. You can compare it with your current OS.

The ESPN app works on iOS 14.0 and later for Apple devices and OS 5.0 and later for Android devices.

3. Check if ESPN+ Is Down

ESPN+ is for users who wish to take their sports streaming up a notch. Users must sign up for the ESPN+ app to get all the exclusive content.

If your ESPN+ subscription isn’t working, it may be because of a service outage. You can check if ESPN+ is working properly or not by going to a website like Downdetector.com to check the status of the platform.

The website will display any connection abnormalities and why the ESPN app is not working. You can then go to the ESPN Support page and report any streaming-related issues.

4. Restart the App

Since the advent of smartphones, restarting your apps is probably the most fundamental rule in the book. Whether ESPN is frozen or experiencing glitches, restarting the app might solve the issue.

Restarting the app allows you to clear the RAM, increasing processing speed and prolonging battery life.

Several apps running in the background might also be why ESPN isn’t loading or working on your phone. All you need to do is close the ESPN app and open it again to reduce crashes and lags.

5. Clear Device Memory (Cache)

The cache stores app information that you might need soon. It reduces loading time and opens desired pages instantly. ESPN can stop working if you have a heavy cache file build-up.

Clear Cache on iPhone

Unfortunately, you can’t clear the ESPN’s cache on your iPhone. However, you can still try to clear any unnecessary information on your device by doing the following:

Open Settings. Scroll down until you see Safari. Select Clear History and Website Data.

Clear Cache on Android

To clear the cache on an Android device:

Go to Settings. Click Apps. Scroll down and select the ESPN app. Tap Storage and select Clear Cache.

This closes all tabs and removes any unnecessary files hampering the performance of your ESPN app. You might need to restart the app once again.

6. Make Sure Your Device Is Not in Airplane Mode

If your device is in Airplane mode, it might not connect to the ESPN app. Since internet connectivity is mandatory to receive real-time sports news from the app, you can enable Wi-Fi without turning off the Airplane mode.

Your phone should not be on Airplane mode to use the internet on a mobile network. To disable the Airplane mode from your phone, go to Settings and look for Airplane Mode. Then, toggle the tab to turn it off.

7. Reinstall the ESPN App

Uninstalling ESPN and reinstalling it again might be helpful if none of the above-mentioned methods work for you.

Delete the app from your phone. Go to your Play Store (on Android) or App Store (on iOS) and search for ESPN. Reinstall the app back on your phone.

Your app should work properly now. If not, try the other steps.

8. Restart Your Device

Maybe a faulty file on your phone prevents the ESPN app from working smoothly. If that happens, restarting your device might be the best option. Whether you restart a Samsung Galaxy phone or restart an iPhone, restarting your phone clears the memory, increases processing speed, and kills all the RAM-absorbing content from your phone.

Just make sure to close all apps working in the background before restarting your phone. After your turn your device back on, ESPN should run correctly.

9. Update the ESPN App

A common reason apps stop working on their older version is because you get convenient fixes and improvements in the newer one. You might get a solution to the bugs and glitches, and that might be the reason why your ESPN app isn’t loading.

Go to the App Store or Google Play Store and search for the ESPN app. You should see a button labeled Update if there is an update available. If you don’t see the button, your app is already up-to-date.

10. Update Your Device

iOS and Android devices receive updates that elevate your phone’s performance and deliver better results. Update your phone to the latest OS so the app runs smoothly on your phone. If you’re using an iPhone, you can look for an update like this:

Open Settings and tap General. Select Software Update to check for updated OS versions. Your phone will install the new update or notify you about it being on the latest one.

Updating the device enhances the phone’s performance, which can help you run the ESPN app smoothly. Some users are unable to update their phones, and perhaps it’s a warning sign to change your device.

Don’t Let the Sports Stop

ESPN is an ultimate sports channel with an app and online streaming service, but sometimes, the app might not work for different reasons.

Check your internet connection or whether the phone is on Airplane mode to establish a secure connection. If that doesn’t work, restart the app and your device.

There is also a possibility that ESPN is unable to play videos because of an outdated OS or app version. Ensure your device and the app are updated for smooth streaming.