To fix the Starbucks app, close and reopen it, try another internet connection, and install available updates before clearing Android cache or reinstalling. If only signing in, reloading a card, or earning Stars fails, follow the steps for that feature. These instructions focus on the U.S. Starbucks app, with Android settings paths labeled for Pixel or Samsung Galaxy.
The short version
- Frozen app: Close and reopen Starbucks, then restart your phone if it still fails.
- Loading errors: Compare Wi-Fi with cellular data and check whether other websites load.
- Persistent crashes: Update Starbucks and your phone, then clear Android cache or reinstall.
- Account problems: Check passwords, payment details, and Rewards eligibility separately.
- Need to order: Use U.S. web ordering at participating stores or order directly at an open café.
| Fix | When to use it | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Close and reopen | Starbucks is unresponsive | On Pixel, use Force stop |
| Restart the phone | Reopening does not help | Buttons vary by model |
| Switch connections | Pages will not load | Compare Wi-Fi and cellular |
| Enable iPhone cellular access | Starbucks works only on Wi-Fi | Check the app switch and selected SIM |
| Restart the router | Other sites fail on home internet | Wait for it to reconnect |
| Temporarily disconnect a VPN | Connection errors continue | Use it as a comparison check |
| Update Starbucks | The app keeps failing | Check the official app store |
| Update the phone | App updates do not resolve failures | Install an available compatible update |
| Clear Android cache | Failures persist after updates | Removes temporary files |
| Reset Android app data | Clearing cache does not help | Expect to sign in again |
| Reinstall Starbucks | Other app fixes fail | Can remove local app data |
| Free storage | Low space blocks an update or reinstall | Review unneeded content |
| Reset the password | Your U.S. account rejects your password | You can start in a browser |
| Correct reload details | A U.S. card reload fails | Contact the issuer if details are correct |
| Reload outside the app | You need to add card funds | Use the website or a participating store |
| Check the card balance | A U.S. balance appears missing | Balances refresh every four hours |
| Check Rewards eligibility | Stars are missing | Allow approximately 24 hours |
| Restore location permission | Nearby-store results are inaccurate | Addresses location features |
| Order another way | You need an order while the app fails | Use web ordering or an open store |
| Contact Starbucks | Account or service problems persist | Support can investigate further |
Close Starbucks and restart your phone
When Starbucks is unresponsive on an iPhone without a Home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause. Find Starbucks, swipe its preview upward, then reopen it. On a compatible iPhone SE with a Home button, double-click Home, find Starbucks, and swipe its preview upward before reopening.
On Pixel, open Settings > Apps > See all apps > Starbucks > Force stop. Tap OK, then reopen Starbucks. Other Android manufacturers can place Force stop elsewhere in the app information screen.
If reopening does not help, restart the phone. On a Face ID iPhone, hold either Volume up or Volume down together with the Side button until the power slider appears; on an iPhone SE second or third generation, hold the Side button. Drag the slider, wait 30 seconds, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
On Pixel 6 and later, including Fold, hold Power + Volume up for a few seconds and tap Restart. If a Samsung Galaxy itself is frozen, hold Power/Side + Volume down simultaneously for more than seven seconds. Samsung notes that button arrangements differ by model.
Check your internet connection
On iPhone, open Settings > Wi-Fi, turn on Wi-Fi, and select a network. Make sure Airplane Mode is off. Try another Wi-Fi network or cellular data to see whether the failure follows the connection.
For an iPhone that works on Wi-Fi but fails on cellular, open Settings > Cellular, called Mobile Data in some regions. Turn on Cellular Data, find Starbucks, and enable its cellular-data switch. With multiple SIMs, also check the selected Cellular Data line.
On Android, open Settings > Network & internet or Connections, depending on the manufacturer. Turn off Wi-Fi and turn on mobile data, try Starbucks, then compare with mobile data off and Wi-Fi on. Check whether another website also fails.
If other apps or websites fail on your home connection, unplug the router, wait 30 seconds, and reconnect power. Allow it to reconnect before trying Starbucks again. Follow the router manufacturer's instructions where they differ.
If you use a VPN or security app on iPhone, temporarily disable its filtering features and retry the connection. You can also search Settings for VPN, profile, firewall, or filter settings. Consult the provider or administrator when those settings are managed.
On Android, open Settings > Network & internet > VPN, tap the settings icon beside the VPN, and turn it off. For an app-managed VPN, use that app's controls, then retry Starbucks. Some of these Android steps require Android 14 or later; this comparison helps identify a connection issue but is not a guaranteed Starbucks fix.
Update Starbucks and your phone
Install an available Starbucks update before resetting local app data. On iPhone, open App Store, tap your photo or tap My Account, then tap App Updates and Update beside Starbucks. Older supported iOS releases can present updates differently.
On Android, open Google Play Store, tap your profile picture, and open the app-management menu. Under Updates available, tap See details, then tap Update beside Starbucks. Update availability can vary by device.
For a persistent iPhone problem, back up the phone and connect it to power and Wi-Fi. Open Settings > General > Software Update, then tap Download and Install when an update is available.
On Pixel, open Settings > System > Software update and follow the available update instructions. On Galaxy models with this path, open Settings > Software update > Download and install.
If Starbucks cannot install, check Compatibility in its official App Store listing or check device-specific availability in Google Play. The U.S. iPhone listing requires iOS 17.5 or later; older installed versions can have different requirements. Use a compatible device if your iPhone cannot install the required operating system.
Clear Android cache before resetting app data
On Pixel, open Settings > Apps > See all apps > Starbucks > Storage & cache, then tap Clear cache. On Samsung Galaxy, open Settings > Apps > Starbucks > Storage, then tap Clear cache. This removes temporary files; reopen Starbucks afterward.
If the problem continues on Pixel, return to Storage & cache and tap Clear storage or Clear data, as displayed, then tap OK. On Galaxy, return to Storage, tap Clear data, then tap Delete; labels can vary by model and market. Clearing data erases locally saved app data, so expect to sign in again.
Reinstall Starbucks if it still fails
On iPhone, touch and hold Starbucks, tap Remove App > Delete App, then tap Delete. Download Starbucks again from its official App Store listing. Apple warns that deleting an app can remove locally stored data.
On Android, open Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, open the app-management menu, and tap Manage. Select Starbucks and tap Uninstall, then return to the official listing by Starbucks Coffee Company and select Install. Uninstalling removes local app data, and some of these steps require Android 13 or later.
If an update or reinstall fails because storage is nearly full, free space first. On iPhone, open Settings > General > iPhone Storage, review the recommendations, and remove unneeded content. Tap Show All for additional recommendations.
On Pixel, open Settings > Storage > Free up space to review content you can remove. On Galaxy, open Settings > Device care > Storage and review unneeded files before retrying the update or reinstall.
Fix login and card reload problems
For a rejected password on a U.S. account, open the official Starbucks password reset page. Enter your registered address in Email, select Reset password, and follow the instructions Starbucks sends. You can use this recovery route even when the app's sign-in screen will not open.
When a U.S. Starbucks Card reload fails, check that the billing name and address match the card issuer's records. Confirm the payment card's expiration date and security code, then correct outdated details before trying again. If those details are correct and authorization still fails, contact the financial institution that issued the payment card.
To reload outside the app, open the official Starbucks gift-card management page and select Add or reload. You can also reload at a participating Starbucks store.
To check a missing U.S. card balance, select Scan in the app or select Check balance on that gift-card page. Starbucks says balances refresh automatically every four hours. For an unregistered card, you need its security code.
Check missing Stars and nearby stores
If Stars are missing, allow approximately 24 hours for qualifying U.S. purchases to post. Confirm that you purchased while signed in or after scanning your member barcode and that the store participates. Guest checkout does not earn Stars, and promotional offers can have different posting conditions.
For inaccurate nearby-store results on iPhone, open Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and enable Location Services. Select Starbucks and choose While Using the App. Enable Precise Location when offered if you need accurate nearby-store positioning.
On Pixel, open Settings > Location > App location permissions > Starbucks. Select Allow only while using the app; location options appear only when the app requests that permission. These changes address location features rather than general crashes.
Order another way and contact Starbucks
If you need to place a U.S. order while the app fails, open Starbucks' ordering options and select Order on the Web. Continue in the browser at a participating store. You can also order with a barista at an open café or use a participating drive-thru and an available payment method.
For a persistent account or app problem, contact U.S. Starbucks support at 800-782-7282 or [email protected]. Contact Starbucks when you suspect a broader service failure or need help investigating your account. Reinstalling the app cannot tell you whether Starbucks' servers are available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Starbucks icon have a cloud beside it on iPhone?
A cloud symbol means the app has been offloaded. Tap its Home Screen icon to reinstall it, which requires an available compatible download. To prevent automatic offloading on current iOS, open Settings > Apps > App Store and turn off Offload Unused Apps.
What should you do if a Starbucks UK password reset fails?
For a UK account, select Forgot password? and enter your registered email, then check junk mail and use the reset link within 30 minutes. Choose an unused password of 8 to 25 characters containing a number, uppercase letter, and special character, avoiding £, $, and %. If the reset link fails, open it in another browser.
Can the wrong phone time cause connection problems?
An incorrect clock can cause Pixel connection problems. On Pixel, open Settings > System > Date & time and turn on Set time automatically. To correct an iPhone's clock, open Settings > General > Date & Time and turn on Set Time Automatically. Carrier or device-management restrictions can prevent changes.
Why are Starbucks notifications missing when the app otherwise works?
In the U.S. app's application settings, check the Starbucks Notifications switch and enable the notifications you want. On current iPhone software, open Settings > Apps > Starbucks > Notifications and turn on Allow Notifications. On Pixel, open Settings > Notifications > App notifications, select Starbucks, using All apps if necessary, and enable its notifications.
Can Data Saver limit Starbucks background data on Pixel?
On Pixel, Data Saver can restrict background data, although Google says actively used apps can already use mobile data. Open Settings > Network & internet > Data Saver > Unrestricted data and enable Starbucks, or turn off Data Saver. This is a background-data check rather than a fix for every loading error; install Starbucks app updates through Google Play.
