This site is not affiliated with Google; this is an independent explanation.
Google not working can mean several things: the search page will not open, the Google app on your phone closes by itself, results never appear, voice search stays silent, or your account keeps asking you to sign in. First decide which of these you face, because the fix for each is different.
The company runs very reliable servers, so a full outage is rare. Far more often the fault is your internet, saved data in the app or browser, an out-of-date app, or a setting such as a proxy. The steps below start with the checks that solve most cases.
Common causes
1No or weak internet
How to tellOther websites also fail or load slowly
What fixes itSwitch networks and check your data or Wi-Fi
2Full cache in the app or browser
How to tellSearch page blank, results stuck loading
What fixes itClear cache for the app or browser
3Outdated Google app or system services
How to tellApp crashes right after opening
What fixes itUpdate the app and system software
4Wrong date and time
How to tellSecure connection warning or sign-in errors
What fixes itSwitch date and time to automatic
5Browser extension or setting conflict
How to tellWorks in a private window only
What fixes itDisable extensions, reset the search setting
6Account sign-in problem
How to tellSearch works but sync or services say sign in again
What fixes itRemove and add the account again
7Network blocks or DNS issue
How to tellFails on one Wi-Fi only
What fixes itRestart the router or use mobile data
How to fix it, step by step
Open any other website
If other pages fail too, the issue is your connection and not Google. Go to internet not working. If only search fails, continue below.
Use SIM data instead of Wi-Fi
A quick change shows whether your home or office network is at fault. If data works, restart the router and test again.
Close and reopen the app or browser
Remove it from recent apps and start it again. On a computer, close all windows of the browser first.
Clear the cache
On Android, long-press the icon, choose App info, then the storage entry, and hit Clear cache. In a browser, clear cached images and files for all time, keeping saved passwords if you want.
Update the app and the phone
Open the app store and update the Google app and, on Android, the related services. Then check for a system update in Settings.
Fix date, time and region
Allow the phone to set the clock itself; a skewed clock breaks secure pages and ends sessions.
Test in a private window
Search once inside an incognito tab. If it works, turn off browser extensions one at a time and reset the default search engine in browser settings.
Sign out and in again
In phone settings go to Accounts, remove your Google account and add it back. Make sure you remember your password and recovery details first.
Google not working on my phone only
If a laptop works but the phone does not, compare their networks and apps. On Android, the Google app, Play services and the keyboard all update separately, so one old part can break search or voice features. Low phone storage also causes crashes. Free some space and restart.
If the phone itself is acting up in many ways, see phone not working.
Different Google services, different fixes
| Service | Typical cause | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Search | Network, cache | Another site and a private window |
| Meet calls | Camera or microphone permission, bandwidth | See video call problems |
| Maps | Location off, old data | See Google Maps not working |
| Sync or login | See mail app problems | |
| Store and updates | Cache, storage | See app store problems |
| Assistant | Microphone, language | See Google Assistant not working |
Browser out of memory and other messages
A tab shows Aw, Snap or an out of memory message. The page used more memory than the browser could give. Close other tabs, restart the browser and try again.
Slow browsing on a weak laptop often comes from too many tabs. If the computer itself is struggling, read laptop not working.
Check whether Google is really down
Ask someone on another network to search the same thing, and try Google on both mobile data and Wi-Fi. If everyone fails, look for news from official sources. Be careful of sites that claim your account is blocked and ask you to log in to fix it.
Never share your password or the code sent to your phone. The company will not ask for it by message or call.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Google not working on my phone?
Check your internet first, then clear the cache of the Google app, update it and restart the phone. Also confirm date and time are automatic.
Why is Google search not working but other websites open?
A browser setting, extension or a cached page may be blocking search. Use a private window, disable extensions and reset the default search option.
Why is Chrome not working on my mobile?
Update the browser, clear its cache and free up storage. If it still crashes, restart the phone and reinstall the browser.
What if Google Play services keep stopping?
Clear the cache of the services app, update it and restart the phone. If it continues, check that the system software is up to date.
Is Google down for everyone right now?
Rarely. Test another network and ask a friend. If both of you fail on different networks, wait and check official news.