To fix Claude not working, check for an outage, follow any usage reset time, then apply the browser, login, or app fix that matches your error. Retry Claude after each change, and use the error message to choose your next step.
The short version
- Service problems: Check status.claude.com and wait for recovery if an incident matches your issue.
- Chat limits: Wait until the displayed reset time or shorten requests that exceed the conversation length limit.
- Login failures: Check your sign-in method, disable interfering extensions, and remove Claude’s stored browser data.
- App trouble: Reopen or update Claude, then try another official app or the website if needed.
| Problem | Fix | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Service outage | Wait for recovery | An active incident matches your service |
| Capacity warning | Wait a few minutes and resend | Claude reports temporary capacity constraints |
| Usage limit | Wait until the displayed reset time | Your session or weekly allowance is exhausted |
| Paid allowance exhausted | Enable or replenish usage credits | Pro, Max 5x, or Max 20x, with additional charges |
| Conversation length error | Reduce the request or start a new chat | Messages or attachments exceed the conversation limit |
| Login fails with a VPN | Disconnect the VPN and retry | A VPN is active during login |
| Extension interference | Turn off other browser extensions | Desktop Chrome login problems |
| Stored website data trouble | Remove Claude’s site data | Desktop Chrome |
| Persistent browser login failure | Clear cookies and cached files | Desktop Chrome, with sign-outs from affected sites |
| Email login failure | Check delivery and enter any cross-device code | Email-link sign-in |
| Google login failure | Reset the Google sign-in connection | Accounts authenticated through Google |
| Apple relay login failure | Enter the account’s private relay address | Accounts created with Apple’s email privacy feature |
| Frozen iPhone app | Close and reopen Claude | App switcher controls depend on hardware |
| Continued iPhone app trouble | Restart the iPhone | Face ID models or iPhone SE second or third generation |
| Unresponsive Android app | Restart the phone or force-stop Claude | Controls vary by manufacturer |
| Outdated iPhone or iPad app | Update Claude through the App Store | App Store installations |
| Outdated Android app | Update Claude through Google Play | Google Play installations |
| Android sharing trouble | Clear Claude’s cache | Particularly missing sharing options |
| iPhone or iPad app still fails | Apply available device software updates | No Claude app update is available |
| Persistent iPhone or iPad failure | Delete and reinstall Claude | Locally stored app data may be lost |
| One app will not work | Try another official Claude app or the website | Features differ between apps and the website |
| Desktop app trouble | Install a current compatible build | Match the operating system and architecture |
| Outdated Linux installation | Update through the package manager | Anthropic’s apt repository is configured |
| Attachment failure | Check format and upload limits | Chat and project limits differ |
| Spreadsheet processing failure | Enable file creation | Free, Pro, and Max accounts |
| Voice cannot hear you | Check microphone access or use push-to-talk | Voice mode beta |
| Choppy voice responses | Check connection, device load, battery, and limits | Voice mode beta |
| Voice model problem | Select an available compatible model | Claude Fable is excluded from voice mode |
| Persistent unexplained error | Contact Claude support | Signed-in users |
| Suspended or terminated account | Submit an appeal | The affected account |
Check for an outage or capacity warning
Open status.claude.com and inspect the affected service and active incident updates. If an incident matches your problem, wait for recovery before retrying.
For a capacity warning, wait a few minutes and resend your request. Anthropic says temporary capacity constraints may not appear on its status page, so a clear status page does not rule them out.
Handle usage and conversation limits
If you have exhausted a session or weekly allowance, retry after the reset time shown in the limit message. Switching between the website and an app does not remove account limits.
For a conversation length error, shorten your message, summarize the relevant material, or split it into smaller requests. Attach fewer or smaller files, or start a new conversation with the context needed for your next task.
On Pro, Max 5x, and Max 20x, you can optionally enable usage credits to continue beyond your included allowance, with additional charges. Open Settings > Usage > Usage credits, click Enable, and configure payment and spending preferences. Mobile subscribers must enable credits on the web.
Use Adjust limit to set a spending cap. Click Add funds, enter an amount, then click Purchase. If you already use credits but cannot continue, check both your remaining balance and spending cap.
Fix browser login problems
If login fails while a VPN is connected, disconnect it and retry. To check for extension interference in desktop Chrome, open More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Turn off other extensions and try signing in again.
Next, remove Claude’s stored website data in desktop Chrome. Open More > Settings > Privacy and security > Third-party cookies > See all site data and permissions. Search for claude.ai, select Delete beside its entry, then reopen Claude and sign in.
If login still fails, open More > Delete browsing data and choose All time. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, then select Delete data. Removing cookies signs you out of affected websites; reopen Claude and sign in again.
Recover your sign in
For email login, enter your account email address and select Continue with email. Check spam, junk, and quarantine folders, and allow messages from @mail.anthropic.com. Sign in only through Anthropic’s own app or website, and never share a code, password, or remote access with someone who contacts you. Retry after a few minutes if the message has not arrived; institutional email may require help from your IT team. If opening the link on another device produces a code, enter it on the original device.
If your account uses Google and that connection fails, open your Google account connections. Select Claude by Anthropic > See details, then click Stop using Sign in with Google. Return to Claude and select Continue with Google.
If you chose to enable Hide My Email when creating your account with Apple, enter the account’s @privaterelay.appleid.com address. Select Continue with email, then open the resulting message in your Apple ID mailbox. Select Sign in with Claude.ai to finish.
Get the mobile app responding again
Close and reopen Claude when the iPhone app freezes. On a Face ID iPhone, swipe up from the bottom and pause; on a Home-button iPhone, double-click Home. Find Claude, swipe its preview upward, and open the app again.
If reopening does not help, restart your iPhone. On Face ID models, hold either Volume Up or Volume Down together with Side until the power slider appears; on iPhone SE second or third generation, hold Side. Drag the slider, wait 30 seconds, then hold Side until the Apple logo appears.
On Android, restart your phone using its manufacturer’s power controls. You can also force-stop an unresponsive Claude app through Settings, although the location and confirmation labels vary by manufacturer.
On iPhone or iPad, open the App Store, tap your profile icon, then select App Updates and update Claude. On Android, open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, select Manage apps & devices, and update Claude under Updates available.
For Android app trouble, particularly missing sharing options, open Settings > Apps > Claude > Storage & cache. Tap Clear cache, then reopen Claude. Your phone may use different wording for these controls.
On iPhone or iPad, apply an available iOS or iPadOS update if no Claude app update is available, then retry the app. If you need to reinstall Claude, touch and hold its icon, tap Remove App, then Delete App, and finally Delete. Redownload it through the official download page’s App Store link; locally stored app data may be lost. Device management or parental controls can prevent deletion.
Try another official app or update desktop
Open claude.ai in a browser or sign in to the same account through another official Claude app. On the official Claude download page, choose Download for your desktop platform or follow the mobile store link. Features differ between the website and apps, and switching does not bypass an outage or account limit.
For desktop trouble, check compatibility before installing a current build. Claude Desktop requires macOS 13 or later, Windows 10 or later, or the Linux beta on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later or Debian 12 or later. The Linux beta supports x64 and arm64. Choose the installer matching your operating system and architecture, open it, then launch Claude and sign in.
A standalone .deb installation does not automatically configure ongoing repository updates, so use the official download page for a current matching installer. If your supported Ubuntu or Debian installation uses Anthropic’s apt repository, run these commands in order:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
Fix file uploads and spreadsheet problems
Check the file’s format and size when chat works but an attachment fails. Supported documents include PDF, DOCX, CSV, TXT, HTML, ODT, RTF, EPUB, JSON, and XLSX; supported images include JPEG, PNG, GIF, and WebP. Convert other formats or split oversized material before retrying.
Chat uploads allow 500 MB per file and 20 files, with images limited to 8000 × 8000 pixels and PDFs limited to 1000 pages. Project files have a separate 30 MB per-file limit and an overall context limit. Select + > Add files or photos, choose the file, then select Open, or drag the file into chat.
On Free, Pro, and Max, XLSX uploads require Code execution and file creation. Open Settings > Capabilities and turn on Code execution and file creation. On mobile, first open Settings through your name or initials in the left sidebar, then select Capabilities and enable the capability.
Restore voice input and responses
For voice mode beta on web, desktop, iOS, or Android, enable Claude’s microphone permission in your device settings when it cannot hear you. Move somewhere quieter and speak clearly, or switch to push-to-talk and hold its button while speaking.
For choppy spoken responses, use a stable internet connection, close resource-intensive apps, and check your battery charge. Check usage limits if responses stop. On web or desktop, click Stop to leave voice mode and continue in text.
Open the model selector during voice mode and select an available compatible model. Available models depend on your plan, and Anthropic excludes Claude Fable from voice mode.
Get help for persistent errors
If the matching fixes do not resolve the problem, click your name or initials at the bottom left while signed in and select Get help. Click Send us a message, then click Accept. Select the issue and provide the error message, affected device, and when it happened.
Continue in the same support conversation to keep the details together. Your initial contact is Claude’s AI support assistant; access to human assistance depends on your plan and organizational support permissions. If your account is suspended or terminated, sign in to the affected account and select Submit an appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t Claude access Gmail, Google Drive, or Google Calendar?
You may need to reconnect the affected Google connector. Open Customize > Connectors, select it, click Disconnect, then click Disconnect again. Use the Google Workspace feature again and complete authentication. If that fails, open your Google account connections, remove Claude’s connection using Delete all connections, then reconnect.
Why is Claude in Chrome unable to read a webpage?
Refresh the webpage, check that Claude’s extension is enabled, and let the page finish loading. Verify that the extension has permission for the current site. Claude in Chrome requires a paid plan, and your organization may restrict the extension or requested site.
Why does Claude pause before taking an action in Chrome?
Your task may be waiting for approval. Review the requested action, then click Approve plan in the classic panel, or select Allow this time only or Allow all for this website in the Cowork panel. Restricted actions may remain unavailable regardless of the permission mode.
Why can’t Claude use other apps on my phone?
Review Claude’s relevant permissions under Settings > Apps > Claude on Android or Settings > Privacy & Security on iOS. Make sure the destination app is installed and configured. On Android, also update the destination app and retry with a specific request naming the intended action. For iOS calendar problems, check your selected default calendar app and update it.
