The New York Lottery app is one of those apps you don’t really think about—until it stops working. It’s supposed to make your life easier by letting you scan tickets, check numbers, find nearby stores, and stay in the loop with jackpots and Scratch-Offs. Most of the time, it just works. And when it does, it’s great.
But then, out of nowhere, the app decides to act up. Maybe it won’t open, maybe it crashes, maybe the scanner gives you nothing. It’s frustrating, especially if you’re just trying to see if your ticket hit the jackpot. And let’s be honest, nobody wants to deal with tech problems when all they want is a quick check.
There’s no magic fix for the NY Lottery app not working issue, but there are a bunch of things you can try that usually help. We’ve pulled together a list of simple tips that might just get things working again.
Why is My NY Lottery App Not Working Today?
If the NY Lottery app isn’t working for you today, it could be due to a few common reasons. Maybe your internet is having a problem, the app has piled up too much cache, or the NY Lottery servers might be having issues. Sometimes the app just needs a quick update, or it might not have all the permissions it needs to work properly. Any of these can make the app slow, glitchy, or stop working altogether.
Another thing to keep in mind is your account. To use features like ticket scanning, you need to sign in with your Collect ‘N Win login. If you had the old version of the app, you’ll have to create a new account—but make sure to use the same email as before. That way, it links up correctly.
The New York Lottery also updated its account verification process to keep things safer for all players. So if the NY Lottery app scanner is not working, is stuck on the login screen, or getting weird errors, it might be because of those new rules.
How to Fix NY Lottery App Not Working on Android and iPhone
Check if You’re Using the Latest Version
One common reason the NY Lottery app stops working is that it’s not updated. Older versions can run into bugs or issues that have already been fixed in newer updates. The developers regularly roll out updates to improve performance and fix glitches.
If you’re on an iPhone, open the App Store, click the search bar, and type NY Lottery app, and see if there’s an update waiting. Tap “Update” if you see one. If you’re on Android, head to the Google Play Store and do the same.
After updating, open the app again and see if it’s working like it should. A new version can often sort out a lot of problems faced in the earlier version.
Force Close App
Sometimes, a simple force close is all you need when you have issues with the NY Lottery App not working! You can do this by simply swiping away the NY Lottery App on your multitasking app switcher. Or you could also do it through the device settings.
How to force close an app on Android:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go into Apps.
- Select See all apps or Installed Apps
- Tap on the NY Lottery App and hit the Force stop option.
- Select OK.
On iPhone:
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle.
- Find the NY Lottery App and swipe it up to close it.
Once it’s closed, try opening it again and see if that helps.
Turn on Airplane Mode
I’m not exactly sure why this works, but a lot of people say that turning Airplane Mode on and off can help when the NY Lottery app isn’t working.
The easiest way to enable and disable is by swiping down from the top of your screen (on Android or iPhone) to open the quick settings or control center. Tap the Airplane Mode icon to turn it on. Wait a few seconds, then tap it again to turn it off.
If you don’t find the airplane mode or flight mode option on quick settings or control center, follow below to do it from settings.
On Android (through settings):
- Open the Settings app
- Go to Network & Internet
- Turn Airplane mode on
- Wait a few seconds, then turn it off again.
On iPhone (through settings):
- Open the Settings app
- Toggle Airplane Mode on
- Wait a few seconds, then turn it off again
After that, try opening the app again and see if it’s working normally.
Wipe the NY Lottery App Cache
Cache is helpful most of the time. It saves bits of data to make apps load faster and use less internet. But if too much of that old data builds up, it can sometimes cause the app to glitch or freeze. That’s why clearing the cache every now and then can actually fix small issues.
- Open the Settings app
- Go into Apps
- Tap on the NY Lottery App
- Click on Storage & cache
- Now, tap on Clear cache
That’s it. Now open the app again and see if you can scan the ticket now.
Give the App the Permissions It Needs
If the NY Lottery app isn’t working right, it might be missing some of the permissions it needs. It’s not just about location—it also needs access to things like your camera (for scanning tickets), storage, and internet to work properly. If any of these are turned off, the app might not function like it should.
On Android
- Open Settings on your phone
- Go to Apps and tap on the NY Lottery App
- Tap Permissions
- Set Location to “Allow only while using the app.”
- Also, turn on any other permissions it needs, like Camera, Storage, and Network
On iPhone (iOS)
- Open the Settings app
- Scroll down and tap on NY Lottery
- Set Location to “While Using the App”
- Also, turn on other things it asks for, like Camera, Notifications, and Mobile Data
Uninstall the App and Install It Again
If updating didn’t fix the problem, the next thing you can try is deleting the NY Lottery app and installing it again. This helps clear out any hidden bugs or broken files that might be messing things up.
- First, uninstall the NY Lottery app from your phone.
- If you’re using an iPhone, head to the App Store and reinstall it.
- If you’re on Android, open the Google Play Store, search for NY Lottery, and download it again.
- Once it’s completed the download and installation, open the app, log in, and see if it’s working better now. Sometimes a reinstall does the trick.
Try Using a VPN
If you’ve never used a VPN before, it’s basically a tool that hides your real location online. It routes your internet connection through another server, so apps and websites can’t easily tell where you’re actually connecting from.
Sometimes, the NY Lottery app might not work right if it thinks you’re outside of New York—even if you’re not. A VPN can help with that. Just download a trusted VPN app from app store/Play Store.
If you already have a VPN on your phone, open it, connect to a New York-based server, then launch the NY Lottery app and see if it works better.
Contact NY Lottery Support
If you’ve tried everything and the NY Lottery app still isn’t working right or certain features won’t open, the problem has to run deeper than usual, and you should probably contact NY Lottery customer service. Sometimes, the problem could be with your account or something technical that only their support team can sort out.
You can visit the official NY Lottery Help Center https://nylottery.ny.gov/help-center#help-center-contact to find all the contact options. They have a form you can fill out online. Just make sure to explain what’s going wrong and mention what device you’re using, and submit.
For direct help, you can call the NY Lottery customer service phone number at (518) 388-3300. If it’s related to security, call the same number and follow the prompts to reach the Security Office. They’re available Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM EST, which are the official NY Lottery app customer service hours. While there isn’t a separate NY Lottery app customer service email, the help center form works just as well—just let them know what problem you’re facing and which device you’re using.
