Duolingo is one of the most popular language-learning apps out there, but it does a lot more than just teach words. It uses gamification with points, levels, leaderboards, and streaks to make learning fun. The app also offers personalized learning paths that adjust to your skill level, multimedia-rich lessons for listening, reading, writing, and speaking, and Stories to practice comprehension.
But many times, you might notice the Duolingo platform isn’t working as expected. Here’s a look at some common Duolingo errors and how to fix them.
Duolingo Errors We Will Solve in This Article
Here are the Duolingo errors we will cover and show you how to fix:
- Duolingo Error 404
- Duolingo Error 429
- Duolingo Error 4XX
- Duolingo Error 5XX
- Duolingo Error 500
- Duolingo Error Creating Account
- Duolingo Error Try Again Later
- Duolingo Error Occurred, Try Again Later
- Duolingo Error Something Went Wrong
- Duolingo Unexpected Application Error
- Duolingo Crashing
- Duolingo Won’t Open.
How to Fix Various Duolingo Errors
Try Incognito or Private Mode
Sometimes Duolingo throws errors like 404, 429, 4XX, 5XX, account creating error, or the “try again later” message because of saved cookies and cache in your browser. These files are usually helpful, but they can also cause trouble after a while.
An easy way to check if that’s the issue is by opening Duolingo in a private window:
- On Chrome, click the three dots in the corner and pick “New Incognito Window.”
- On Firefox, Edge, or Opera, click the menu button and choose “New Private Window.”
- On Safari, click “File” in the top bar and then “New Private Window.”
Now open Duolingo and sign in. If it works fine here, the problem is most likely with the saved cookies and cache in your normal browser. Clearing them out should solve it.
Clear Cache and Cookies
If Duolingo works in private mode but shows errors in normal browsing, clearing your cache and cookies should fix it. The shortcut is the same on most browsers:
- Windows / Linux – Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete
- Mac – Press Command + Shift + Delete
This will open the Clear browsing data window. Now just select “Cookies and Cached images and files,” then confirm by clicking “Clear data.”
Check if Duolingo Servers Are Down
Duolingo errors like 404, 429, 4XX, 5XX, account creation problems, “try again later,” or unexpected app errors can sometimes happen just because Duolingo’s own servers are having trouble.
The easiest way to confirm is by visiting the Duolingo server status page. If there’s maintenance or an outage, you’ll usually see it there.
If the status page looks fine but you still see errors, check Duolingo’s official X (Twitter) or Facebook page for updates. Another option is searching on sites like Downdetector or checking recent posts to see if other users are facing the same issue.
Use the Duolingo App
If nothing else seems to work, try using the Duolingo mobile app instead of the website. The app runs on both Android and iOS and usually avoids many Duolingo errors that pop up more often on the web version.
Try Using a VPN
Some Duolingo errors can be caused by your location. In fact, Duolingo is restricted in certain countries due to U.S. sanctions, such as Syria, China, and Iran. If you are in one of these regions, you may not be able to access the app at all.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is one way around this problem. A VPN lets you change your virtual location by connecting through servers in another country. For example, if Duolingo doesn’t work in your current region, you can switch to a location where it’s available and log in normally.
There are both free and paid VPN services you can use on phones and computers. Just install one, choose a different region, and try opening Duolingo again.
Turn Airplane Mode On and Off
If you are already using the Duolingo app on your phone, try a quick trick with your internet connection. Switch on Airplane Mode (aka Flight Mode), wait for a few seconds, and then switch it off again. 
If you are on a Windows or Linux computer and using Duolingo in the browser, you can also do the same thing. Just enable Airplane Mode from your settings, turn it off again, and then open Duolingo once more.
Clear App Cache (Android)
Clearing the app cache and data is a common troubleshooting step to fix Android app issues, so it’s worth trying to fix whenever the Duolingo app is not working.
To clear the cache of the Duolingo app, navigate to Settings > Apps > Duolingo > Storage > Clear Cache.
Or, just press and hold the Duolingo app icon > App info > Storage > Clear Cache. Unfortunately, you can’t really clear the cache on an iOS device. The only effective way to do this is by offloading and reinstalling the app.
Reinstall the Duolingo App
If nothing works, you can delete and reinstall the Duolingo app on your Android or iPhone device. Keep in mind that if you clear app storage or uninstall it, the app resets completely. So make sure you remember your account credentials.
