This site is not affiliated with IRCTC; this is an independent explanation.
When the irctc app not working message appears, it is most often because thousands of people are trying to book at the same moment, or because the booking system is in its short maintenance break. The app may freeze on the login page, show a blank screen, keep loading after you press Book Now, or say that the service is not available.
This page helps you work out whether the problem is on the railway side or on your phone. The same advice covers the IRCTC website not working in a browser, the Rail Connect app, and the common complaint that IRCTC is not working at 10 AM, 11 AM or around midnight. The first few checks need only five minutes.
Common causes
1Rush at Tatkal or advance booking time
How to tellFails around 10 AM, 11 AM or when the 60 day window opens; pages load very slowly
What fixes itLog in early, keep details ready, retry patiently instead of pressing Back
2Daily maintenance break
How to tellBooking says unavailable close to midnight and works again after a short while
What fixes itWait until the break ends; nothing is wrong with your phone
3Old app version
How to tellApp crashes at start or login is rejected after an update on the site
What fixes itUpdate the app from the app store, then reopen
4Weak or switching network
How to tellOther apps are slow, or the page stops after the payment step
What fixes itMove to stable Wi-Fi or strong mobile data before you pay
5Full cache or corrupted app data
How to tellBlank screens, repeated captcha errors, login loops
What fixes itClear the app cache; if needed, clear storage and sign in again
6Wrong login details or locked account
How to tellMessage says user ID or password invalid, or too many attempts
What fixes itUse the forgot option, wait, then try the reset link
7Browser blocking scripts or captcha
How to tellOnly the website fails; the app works
What fixes itUse a private window or another browser, disable extensions
How to fix it, step by step
Check the clock before anything else
Tatkal windows open at fixed morning times, and the system also takes a short break around midnight. If you are inside one of these windows, the delay may not be your fault. Wait a few minutes and try once more.
Judge your connection with a quick website test
Load any news page or video. If it crawls, hop onto your cellular plan if you were on home broadband, or onto Wi-Fi if you were on cellular, or flip flight mode on and off once. A weak signal is the most common reason a payment page hangs. For deeper help see internet not working.
Shut the app down and start it fresh
Dismiss it from the recents tray rather than only pressing Home, then launch and log in again. That ends a stuck session and keeps everything saved in your account.
Update the app
Go to the store where you installed it, look up the Rail Connect app and press Update if it is offered. Booking systems change often, and an old version can fail at login even when the server is fine.
Clear the cache
On Android, hold the Rail Connect icon on the home screen, pick App info, then use the Clear cache button under Storage. On iPhone there is no cache button, so offload or reinstall the app. Your tickets stay in your account, not on the phone.
Switch to the browser version
When the app keeps failing, use the site in Chrome or Safari. Use a private window to avoid old saved data. It works the other way too, so try the app when the site fails.
Reset the password if login fails
Use the forgot password option and follow the steps sent to your registered mobile number or email. Never share the code you receive with anyone, including people who call and claim to be from the railways.
Check booking history before paying again
If money was taken and the screen froze, do not pay a second time yet. Open your booked ticket list first. A ticket that was not confirmed is normally refunded to the source account automatically, and the app's help section explains how to file a refund request if it is not.
Why IRCTC app not working complaints peak at certain times
The booking system is not equally busy all day. The heaviest load comes just before Tatkal bookings open, in the first minutes after they open, and when seats become available for a popular festival date. At those times the servers answer more slowly, and a page that normally loads in two seconds can take a minute.
At 9:59 AM you are on the passenger page. At 10:01 the app shows Please wait, loading and then returns to the login screen. This is not a fault in your phone. The session timed out under load. Log in again quickly and continue from the search page.
You can reduce trouble by saving passenger details in your profile beforehand, signing in a few minutes early, and using a steady connection.
Why is IRCTC app not working today: is it only you?
If you wonder why the IRCTC website is not working or why the IRCTC site is not working today, get someone on another network to open the site at the same moment, or try your own phone on mobile data and then Wi-Fi. If everyone has the same trouble, the system is overloaded or under maintenance and you can only wait. If the app fails on your phone alone, the cause is your connection, cache, app version or account, and the steps above will help. Official notices from the railway portal, or its verified social media account, sometimes explain planned downtime.
IRCTC website versus the mobile app
| Symptom | Website | App |
|---|---|---|
| Captcha will not accept | Common, reload the page | Less common, update the app |
| Blank screen | Clear browser data | Clear app cache |
| Logs out suddenly | Session expired under load | Old version or low storage |
| Payment page stuck | Do not refresh, check history | Do not go back, check history |
If your phone itself is slow or short of space, read phone not working for general fixes.
When payment went through but the ticket did not
This worries people more than any other failure. The amount may show as held or deducted while the booking screen says failed. Do not try the same booking five times in a row. Check the booking history inside the app, check your bank messages, and read the UPI error codes page if the payment used UPI.
This is general information only. Refunds and disputes are handled through the booking help section of the app and your bank. Never give your PIN, OTP or card details to anyone who calls you about a refund.
Keeping bookings smooth next time
- Update the app a day before a big booking.
- Keep at least a few hundred MB of free phone storage.
- Save frequent travellers in the profile.
- Pay with a method that worked for you before.
- Try a quieter time for general tickets, such as late evening.
For other apps that misbehave in the same way, see the wider apps and websites guide.
Frequently asked questions
Why is IRCTC not working today?
Common reasons are heavy booking traffic, a maintenance break or an old app. Try a second device or network to learn if it fails for everyone, then clear the app cache and update.
Why is IRCTC not working at 10 AM?
That is when Tatkal booking for AC classes starts, and a huge number of people log in together. The system slows down, so be signed in early and retry with patience.
Why is IRCTC not working at 12 AM?
The booking system usually takes a short maintenance break around midnight. Wait a short while and the service normally returns without any action from you.
Is the IRCTC website not working but the app works?
Then your browser is probably the problem. Open a private window, clear saved site data or try another browser, and make sure captcha scripts are not blocked.
How can I check if the IRCTC app is working or not?
Open the app on mobile data and ask someone else to try on their phone. If both fail, the service is busy or down. If only yours fails, fix your phone side.