What do I do if my Lyft app is not working?

If you use the Lyft app regularly to move around your city, then a problem with the app can be a major inconvenience. The most common issue that leads to the Lyft app improper functioning is poor connectivity. Connectivity issues arise because each cell service network has different services in each city. There are common signs of connectivity issues including:

1. Trouble logging into the app
2. Issues requesting a ride from the app by customers
3. Inability to accept ride requests by drivers
4. Inability to begin or end a ride on Lyft
5. Text or pop-up messages about connectivity problems
6. Inability of a device to reach Lyft servers

Sometimes there are system wide issues with the app. Review the different social media, blogs and forums that are Lyft related. Also check out their website. Sometimes there are app-wide bug reports and you can only sit and wait for them to be fixed.

How to solve connectivity problems

Connectivity issues can be resolved by altering some of your device's default settings. They can also be resolved by altering some elements of your phone's service plan. Changes you can make to improve connectivity include:

1. Updating your device's software and settings. Whenever you have some free time, update your device's software and settings which should prevent future connectivity problems with the app.
2. Close all peripheral apps. When using the Lyft app you should close as many background apps as possible. Multiple background apps will reduce the amount of data bandwidth that Lyft can access.
3. Switch airplane mode on and off. If you are having connectivity issues with Lyft, turn on airplane mode and leave it on for 10 seconds then turn it off. This refreshes your network connection.
4. Switch locations. Moving from one place to another allows you to move to a place with stronger network connection.
5. Restart your device. The oldest troubleshooting solution in the book resets your device and eradicates any tiny glitches in the app.
6. Uninstall and reinstall the Lyft app. Deleting then downloading the Lyft app may fix bugs that were present in the earlier version of the app that were causing the problems. It is advised that you switch off your phone after deleting the app for a clean slate.
7. Turn off Wi-Fi. You can prevent Wi-Fi calling problems from interfering with the Lyft app by using cellular data. You can do this by changing Wi-Fi Calling preferences to 'Cellular Preferred' or 'Cellular Only' in your device.
8. Set background apps to run on Wi-Fi only. Background apps, as stated before, can consume significant cell data bandwidth that causes the Lyft app to stop working. You can ensure that background apps are only refreshed using data from Wi-Fi while Lyft uses cellular data. The process to do this is different for Android and Apple device users.

• For Android devices

i. Go to 'Settings'

ii. Click 'Data Usage'

iii. From the Mobile section, click 'Mobile Data Usage'

iv. Choose an app from below the data usage graph (begin with apps that use the most data)

v. Turn off 'Allow background data usage'

• For Apple devices

i. Go to 'Settings'

ii. Select 'General'

iii. Click 'Background App Refresh'

iv. Select 'Wi-Fi only'

If your app is frozen or it has crashed, it may be as a result of installing new apps on your phone that are incompatible with Lyft. You should delete the apps one by one until Lyft returns to proper functioning.

You can also contact Lyft through their online help desk and notify them of the issues with your app. You can find the link to the help desk on GetHuman.