How-To

How to Fix Snapchat C14a Error

By Ben Stockton

Published January 1, 2024

A Snapchat C14a error is an error you’ll see when you try to sign into your account but, for some reason, you can’t. If you can’t sign in, a C14a (or C14b error) might appear. There’s no obvious cause for this problem, so it’s a little tricky for most people to troubleshoot. Thankfully, there are some common troubleshooting fixes you can try to resolve the error on your device.

Restart Your Smartphone

One common fix for the Snapchat C14A error is simply restarting your phone. This is a simple, easy way to clear temporary glitches and help apps run smoother.

For an Android device, the steps can vary slightly based on the device model, but typically involve the following steps.

1. Hold down the power button on your device until a menu appears.
2. Tap Restart or Reboot if available. If not, select Power off, wait for the device to shut down, then hold the power button again until the device turns back on.
   

For an iPhone, follow these steps.

1. Press and hold either the side button or the volume button until you see the slider appear.
2. Slide to power off, wait for your iPhone to shut down, then press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo.
   

Check for Wider Service Issues

Before you delve into troubleshooting your Snapchat error, it’s worth checking if the issue is on your end or a wider server problem. Snapchat’s servers may undergo maintenance or unexpected downtime affecting multiple users. If that’s the case, you just need to wait it out until the situation is resolved.

To do that, follow these steps.

1. Visit the Downdetector status page for Snapchat from your web browser, or use an alternative service. These platforms provide real-time status updates for various services.
2. Look at the real time data—this typically includes a graph showing a high number of reports during server downtime.
   
3. Alternatively, check Snapchat’s own website or official social media accounts for any official announcements regarding service disruptions.

Keep in mind that if there’s a problem with Snapchat’s servers, there’s not much you can do but wait until they resolve the issue. In the meantime, make sure your internet connection is stable, as both Wi-Fi networks and mobile data can affect your access to online platforms like Snapchat.

If other websites are working fine for you, this can rule out local internet trouble and confirm a problem on Snapchat’s end.

Update Snapchat to the Latest Version

Keeping your Snapchat app up-to-date is crucial in fixing bugs and errors like C14A. App developers regularly release updates to enhance performance and resolve issues. You’ll find these updates in the App Store for iPhone and iPad devices or the Google Play Store for Android.

To update Snapchat, follow these steps.

1. Open the App Store on your iPhone or the Google Play Store on your Android device.
2. Search for Snapchat and select it.
3. If an update is available, tap the Update button next to Snapchat. If the Update button isn’t visible, your app is up-to-date and you should see the Open button instead.
   

Clear Snapchat Cache and Data (or Reinstall the App)

Clearing Snapchat’s app cache and data is a straightforward fix to refresh the app and fix any undiagnosable problems. The cache stores temporary files that, over time, can reduce app performance—these files can sometimes become corrupt and fill up your device, leading to errors like the C14A.

Clearing the data resets the app, which might resolve underlying issues. This only works for Android users, however—iPhone users will need to remove the app and reinstall it to achieve a similar effect.

To clear your Snapchat cache on Android, you can follow these steps. As the user interface for Android devices varies, these steps may look slightly different on your own device.

1. Open Settings on your Android device and select Apps or Application Manager.
   
2. Scroll through or use the search bar to find Snapchat and tap it to open the app’s information.
   
3. Tap Storage.
   
4. Hit Clear cache to remove temporary files.
   
5. To reset the app data, tap Manage storage (or Clear data). When prompted, confirm your choice.
   

Clearing cache and data does not affect your Snapchat account or messages, as these are stored on Snapchat’s servers. You will need to sign in again afterward, however.

Still having trouble with Snapchat? You can also remove the app and reinstall it—this clears out any data that may have been corrupted and restores the app to its initial state.

Disable VPNs (or Change Your Internet Connection)

If you’re seeing the Snapchat C14A error, but you like to protect your privacy with a virtual private network, then your VPN connection might be the culprit. Snapchat can encounter issues if you’re using a VPN due to the artificial rerouting of your internet connection that VPNs create.

This confusion can prompt errors like C14A that prevent Snapchat from logging in properly. With this in mind, make sure to disable any VPN connections on your device before trying to sign in to Snapchat. Once the VPN is switched off, try to access Snapchat again to check if the error persists.

If disabling the VPN doesn’t fix the issue, you may need to switch to an alternative internet connection. For instance, if you’re using Wi-Fi, switch to another network, or use your mobile data connection. Once you’ve done that, re-open Snapchat to see if the error has been resolved.

Sometimes, changing to a different network is all you need to do to fix the problem. Using a stable Wi-Fi connection is usually more reliable than mobile data when troubleshooting app-related issues. However, if your Wi-Fi isn’t working, a quick switch to your mobile data connection could fix the problem.

Contact Snapchat Support

If all else fails, it’s time to get in touch with Snapchat’s support team to see if they can offer any specific advice. If there’s an issue with your account, for instance, Snapchat’s support team may be able to resolve it.

1. Open the official Snapchat Support website from your web browser and press Contact Us.
   
2. Choose the problem you are experiencing from the list provided, such as I can’t access my account for a Snapchat C14a error.
3. Fill in the details of your issue in the form supplied, then submit the form and wait for a response.
   

Keep an eye on your email for any follow-up questions or instructions from Snapchat’s team. Don’t expect a quick fix or response, however—you may need to be patient and wait this one out.

Fixing Snapchat Issues

Using the steps above, you can hopefully fix a C14a error on Snapchat (or the similar C14b error) that prevents you from signing in to your account. Managed to get signed in? You can keep in touch with your friends by starting a group chat on Snapchat next.