How to Fix Pandora Not Working on Any Case

You open Pandora and are excited to listen to your favorite station, but instead, the app starts acting up? Perhaps it works fine on your phone but won’t start on your desktop? Or worse, it’s unresponsive everywhere? The "Pandora not working" issue can show up in different ways. However, don’t worry! It’s all easily fixable.

We’ll walk you through every fix, step by step, across all platforms, whether you’re using Pandora on your phone, desktop, Apple Watch, or car. And if the "Pandora not working" issue keeps happening too often, you can use Eassiy All-in-One Music Converter to download your entire Pandora collection as MP3 files, ensuring your favorite tracks stay accessible.

Before Fixing Pandora Not Working

No matter if the Pandora app refuses to load or won't play music, or some interface elements suddenly disappear on the app screen, don’t immediately assume there's something seriously wrong with Pandora or your device's settings. It's smart to check two quick things first, which helps avoid extra work that you probably don't even need.

1. Check Pandora Downtime

The app is stuck on the Pandora logo or homepage, showing a “404 Error”, or failing to recognize your account: all these point to a possible server-side issue.

To rule out any service outages, visit isitdownrightnow.com and search for Pandora. This will instantly show live outage reports along with user comments. So if others are facing the same issue, you’ll know it’s not just you.

2. Check Network Connection

Everything seems fine until you hit the Play button on Pandora. The station may refuse to start or the first song itself gets stuck in endless buffering. If Pandora keeps loading without actually playing anything, it’s likely a connection issue. Here’s what to check:

Start by testing your internet. Open another app that streams music or video, like YouTube or Spotify. If all those apps load slowly, your WiFi is the likely culprit. Switching to mobile data or restarting the router might help.

Plus, don’t ignore your VPN. Keep in mind that Pandora is a US-only service, so using a non-US IP address will block playback entirely. Even within the US, free VPNs can slow things down, causing playback errors and endless buffering. So, if a VPN is active on your device, disable it and refresh the app.

How to Fix Pandora Not Working on Desktop Web

Pandora plays without a hitch on your phone, but the moment you switch to your computer, it starts acting up. Whatever is stopping the music, these steps will help set things right.

Case: When I Hit "Play," Nothing Happens

And that's just the beginning: sometimes songs start playing but suddenly cut off after a few seconds. Maybe the stations refuse to load or Pandora insists you haven't set up any stations yet. If you're facing these issues while using Pandora on your computer’s browser, these three quick solutions will fix it instantly.

Fix 1. Clear Pandora Cache and Cookies

When using Pandora on your web browser, most playback troubles usually come from stored-up cache or cookies. Removing this extra junk definitely won't hurt anything. Here’s an example of how to do this on Chrome or Brave:

Step 1. Click the three-dot icon in the browser's top-right corner. Select Settings.

Step 2. On the left side, pick Privacy and Security. You'll see a pop-up for clearing your browsing data. Under Basic, do this:

• Set the time range to All time.
• Check all three boxes. 

Step 3. Finally, hit Clear data or Delete data to finish the cleanup.

That's it. You’ll need to log back into Pandora afterward, but this quick cleanup will clear up playback hiccups for good.

Fix 2. Reset Pandora Password

Pandora only allows you to stream music only from one device at a time. So, if Pandora suddenly stops playing, it could be because playback is already happening on another device. The quickest way to rule out this issue is to change your password and sign out from all connected devices.

Follow these steps to securely reset your Pandora password and log out of all devices:

Step 1. Visit Pandora.com. Click your profile icon at the top-right corner. Then, select Settings.

Step 2. Click Account. Next to Account Info, select Edit.

Step 3. Erase your old password, enter your new one, and hit Save (at the bottom).

Step 4. Pandora will pop up a window asking for your current password again. Enter it and tick the box labeled Log out of all other devices. Then click Submit.

You'll see a Changes Saved message at the top.

Now you'll need to log back into Pandora everywhere again, which ensures you have full control over your music streaming.

Fix 3. Switch to Another Browser

Pandora support members recommend Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge to get the best streaming experience. So, make sure you’re accessing Pandora via the supported browsers itself.

However, keep in mind that even the supported browsers, Pandora playback can run into trouble because of built-in tools like HTML5 Autoplay, script or ad-blockers. The simplest fix in such cases is to jump onto another browser. For instance, if Chrome isn't cooperating, give Edge a quick try or vice versa.

Bonus: How to Access Your Music When Pandora Not Working

Pandora is great, but sometimes it just won't cooperate. However, most of the time, you simply want your Pandora music to flow but not sit around trying endless fixes to get access to your favorite songs. That's when downloading your Pandora music directly to your computer becomes a good idea. You can safely save your music offline as MP3 using StreamFox for Music, the Eassiy All-in-One Music Converter.

StreamFox for Music comes with an integrated Pandora web player. So, you simply sign into your free account, pick your favorite playlists, stations, or custom tracks, and download them neatly onto your Windows or Mac device in open formats. StreamFox also effortlessly handles batch downloads at an ultra-fast 50x speed, so you can also quickly save your entire Pandora music collection easily. This way, even if Pandora runs into problems, your music will always stay accessible.

How to Download Pandora Music Using StreamFox

Step 1. Start by installing StreamFox for Music on your Mac or Windows computer. Once set up, launch the program and select Pandora from the main interface.

Step 2. Sign into the embedded Pandora browser using your Pandora account, whether it's basic or upgraded.

Step 3. Drag and drop music onto the plus (+) icon at the top-right corner. You can select individual tracks, entire playlists, or even whole stations at once.

Step 4. Hit the Convert All button to start the process. Within moments, the selected tracks will be downloaded to your computer in your chosen format and to your selected location.

How to Fix Pandora Not Working on Android/iPhone

Some listeners are complaining that the home screen is refusing to load in the Pandora app. Others are saying that they are getting the “Session Timed Out” messages. However, the most common problem users are encountering is as follows:

Case: Music Stops or Continuous Buffering

For instance, the music might start normally but soon starts stopping mid-song or endlessly stuttering. And it could really be confusing if it happens even when your bandwidth is good, like other apps are working flawlessly.

Well, whatever the problem might be, they could easily be fixed by addressing incorrect phone settings or Pandora-specific glitches.

Fix 1. Clear Pandora Cache

Pandora doesn’t include any built-in option to remove this clutter. However, regular listening to songs can quickly build up cache on your device. In fact, seasoned Pandora users recommend one thing: remove cache weekly for smoother playback, whether on Android or iOS devices. Here’s how to manually remove Pandora's temporary data:

For Android

Step 1. Open your phone settings. Navigate into Apps or Application Manager. From the list, tap on Pandora.

Step 2. Inside the app info, select Storage. There, you'll see Clear Cache at the bottom right. Tap it.

The moment you do, you'll notice Pandora's bulky cache shrinks drastically, from GBs down to mere MBs. Then, restart Pandora app and your music will play with no pauses.

For iPhone

Clearing cache on iOS isn't as direct, as Apple doesn’t allow it easily. Still, there's a quick workaround called "offloading":

Step 1. Tap the gear icon (Settings) from your home screen. Navigate to General > iPhone Storage.

Step 2. Find Pandora and tap it. Then, choose Offload App. Confirm when the card appears from the bottom.

That’s it! The app will take some time to load when you hit the icon on the home screen (it has to reinstall), but then again, it will be refreshed.

Fix 2. Turn off Battery Saver

Battery saver mode turns off 5G, refreshes rates, and throttles your device’s performance severely, which can disrupt Pandora music playback. So, make sure to use Battery Saver mode only when you’re low on power, not constantly. You can check and turn off such settings with the steps below:

For iPhone:

Check your battery icon color. If it’s yellow, Low Power Mode is active. Follow these steps to turn it off:

Step 1. Head straight to iOS Settings, then Battery.

Step 2. Toggle off Low Power Mode.

Your phone will return to normal performance instantly, fixing the Pandora interruptions.  

For Android:

Step 1. Open Settings and find options similar to Batteryor Power Options (changes depending on device’s manufacturer).

Step 2. Look for Battery Saver or Power saving mode, and ensure toggles assigned to such options are off. Usually, your battery icon's color changes visibly when enabled, so keep an eye out for that.

Fix 3. Lower Audio Settings

Most Pandora lovers outside the US typically rely on VPNs. So, if you’re using a VPN or your internet speed is slow, simply switch to basic sound quality to ensure non-stop music streaming. You can adjust these settings within the Pandora app itself.

Whether you’re on Android or iOS, follow these simple steps within the Pandora app:

Step 1. Tap the profile tab (bottom-right corner). Then, access the settings by tapping the gear icon (top-right). Inside settings, select Advanced.

Step 2. Under Advanced, you'll find a toggle labeled Higher quality audio in the top section itself. Turn this option off.

This small adjustment will noticeably resolve playback hiccups or stuttering issues.

Fix 4. Disable Battery Optimization and Allow App to Run in the Background

Mid-song interruptions or buffering as soon as you close the Pandora app or switch to a different app means that your phone is not allowed to use resources when in the background. And such changes could happen automatically when you update your software.

Checking these battery optimizations ensures that the app has permission to access Battery resources and run in the background. Here’s how you can:

On Android:

Step 1. Go to the phone’s app settings and select Pandora from the list of apps to access its details page. This time, choose the Battery section.

Step 2. You’ll usually find battery options labeled as Optimized or Restricted. Adjust this setting to Unrestricted (or Not Restricted depending on your device).

That’s it! There will be no sudden stops in playback when you switch to other apps, after playing a track in Pandora.

On iPhone:

Without Background App Refresh, Pandora can abruptly stop working altogether. To verify this isn't causing your problems:

Step 1. Choose General in the phone Settings. Then tap on Background App Refresh.

Step 2. Confirm the main Background App Refresh toggle is enabled.

Also, scroll down through the list until you find Pandora. And make sure that Pandora's own green toggle is green and active.

How to Fix Pandora Not Working on Apple Watch

Lately, users on Apple Support communities and Pandora forums have started reporting a common headache: Pandora constantly crashing or refusing to open on the Apple Watch. Syncing glitches, playback interruptions, and unexpected shutdowns have also surfaced widely.

Case: Pandora App Isn't Opening At All

The most frequent scenario: you tap Pandora and it won’t budge. Recently, a problematic app update triggered this, but it's easily fixable too.

Fix: Reinstall Pandora

Reinstalling Pandora on your Apple Watch doesn’t mean you use the regular “delete and install again” approach. Follow these tailored steps instead:

Step 1. On your iPhone, head directly to App Store (don’t rely on the standard update tab). Search Pandoraand manually tap the Update button beside the app. Just make sure you’ve installed the recent version of the Pandora app on your iOS.

Step 2. Turn to your Apple Watch. Hold the Pandora app icon until you see the tiny X appear, tap it and confirm to delete the app entirely from your watch.

Step 3. Completely shut down both your Apple Watch and your iPhone.

Step 4. Once restarted, open the Watch app on your iPhone. Scroll to the Available Apps list and tap Install next to the Pandora app.

How to Fix Pandora Not Working on Car

Case: Pandora App Doesn’t Appear on the Infotainment’s Screen

Whether Pandora is embedded directly within your car’s infotainment system or accessed via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, issues frequently crop up.

Regardless of how you connect, these three quick fixes usually bring up the Pandora app on the screen as well as make it fully functional.

Fix 1: Ensure Launch from Car Option is Enabled

Pandora includes a handy built-in setting specifically for in-car use. Confirm it’s active:

Step 1. Go to the Settings page in Pandora. Move into the Advanced tab.

Step 2. Under the Bluetooth Devices section, make sure the Launch from Car toggle is switched on.

Fix 2. Restart Phone

When connected via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, there could be syncing or connectivity problems and it could be the reason for the Pandora app icon to vanish entirely.

Step 1. Remove the plug from your car’s USB port. Then try the good-old straightforward device reboot, which will stop the device connection.

Step 2. When the device restarts, connect the phone to the car again. And the Pandora icon will appear in your car’s interface.

Fix 3. Reinstall Pandora on Phone

If the app still isn’t visible, you can force your car to recognize the Pandora app by restarting the communication. You can do this by simply reinstalling the Pandora app:

Step 1. Unplug the phone from your car.

Step 2. Delete Pandora from your phone and head straight to App Store or Play Store to reinstall.

Step 3. Make sure after reinstalling, the Android Auto or CarPlay has included Pandora in the Allowed Apps list.

Step 4. Reconnect your phone to the car. The Pandora app should appear.

Final Words

And with that, we’ve covered everything. No matter where you’re facing problems with Pandora, you now have the fixes. Whether it was buffering, not loading, or refusing to open, these solutions should make your music play smoothly again.

That said, if you want to avoid these headaches altogether, there’s a smarter way. Eassiy All-in-One Music Converter lets you download and forever keep all your favorite Pandora stations, playlists, and songs. Even better, you don’t need an active Pandora subscription to save them in MP3 at 320kbps. So, even if Pandora glitches again, your music will always be available.