Why Won’t My ‘Pokémon Go’ … GO?

Pokémon Go is a great mobile game to play on the fly, but sometimes it doesn’t work as intended, much to the frustration of players. We’ll explain what the error message “Pokémon Go Failed To Authenticate” means down below.

Recommended Videos

First and foremost, error messages like “failed to log in” or “unable to authenticate” are almost always indicative of server issues. It could be a temporary outage server-side, but sometimes it might be a problem on your end. Here are a few solutions you can try.

Android users can shut down and reopen the app to see if this fixes the problem. You’ll need to go to recently used apps by clicking the Home Button twice. Once you find the Pokémon Go app, you’ll need to close it by swiping up.

iPhone users can swipe up on the home screen to get to the recently used apps menu. Find the Pokémon Go app and swipe on it to close it. If you need additional help, you can also go to Niantic’s official support page here.

If all else fails, try reinstalling the game. This could clear up some problems with the current installation. Another solution is updating Pokémon Go if you’re on an older version. Make sure to keep your app up to date on the latest version.

Restarting your smartphone device can also fix a ton of issues sometimes. After restarting your phone, try to log back in. Make sure to check your Wi-Fi connection as well. Restarting your router might also fix a few issues. If you are on mobile data, check your connection and see if it is spotty.

Sometimes these issues can’t be fixed and you just have to wait for Niantic to fix the servers. You can use a website like Down Detector to see if the servers are up or not.

Keep calm and carry on, fellow Pokémon trainer. You’ll be playing the game again in no time at all.

(featured image: Niantic)


The Mary Sue is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more
related content
Read Article You Really Might Want to Consider Playing ‘Hades 2’ While It’s in Early Access
Melinoe and Hecate sparring in Hades 2
Read Article Cat Lovers, Unite! Get Ready to Play ‘Little Kitty, Big City’
Poster of 'Little Kitty Big City'
Read Article ‘Hades II’ Is Here! (YAY!) But Not on the Switch (BOO!)
Melinoe sparring with Hecate from Hades 2 trailer
Read Article I Played 200 Hours of ‘Hades’ to See Its True Ending
Hades, Cerberus, Persephone, and Zagreus family portrait
Read Article ‘Demon Slayer: Hinokami Chronicles’ Is Rumored to Have a Sequel
Mitsuri from Demon Slayer
Related Content
Read Article You Really Might Want to Consider Playing ‘Hades 2’ While It’s in Early Access
Melinoe and Hecate sparring in Hades 2
Read Article Cat Lovers, Unite! Get Ready to Play ‘Little Kitty, Big City’
Poster of 'Little Kitty Big City'
Read Article ‘Hades II’ Is Here! (YAY!) But Not on the Switch (BOO!)
Melinoe sparring with Hecate from Hades 2 trailer
Read Article I Played 200 Hours of ‘Hades’ to See Its True Ending
Hades, Cerberus, Persephone, and Zagreus family portrait
Read Article ‘Demon Slayer: Hinokami Chronicles’ Is Rumored to Have a Sequel
Mitsuri from Demon Slayer
Author
Michael Dawson
Michael Dawson (he/they) writes about media criticism, race studies, intersectional feminism, and left-wing politics. He has been working with digital media and writing about pop culture since 2014. He enjoys video games, movies, and TV, and often gets into playful arguments with friends over Shonen anime and RPGs. He has experience writing for The Mary Sue, Cracked.com, Bunny Ears, Static Media, and The Crimson White. His Twitter can be found here: https://twitter.com/8bitStereo