What causes "Slack Not Loading or Can't Connect"?

A Slack-side outage (e.g., Feb 26-27, 2025) Corrupted desktop app cache VPN, proxy, firewall or antivirus blocking WebSocket connections to wss-primary.slack.com / wss-backup.slack.com Browser extensions interfering with Slack web Outdated browser or app version

How do I fix "Slack Not Loading or Can't Connect"?

1. Check Slack's status page: Open slack-status.com If there is an active incident, wait for the fix; local troubleshooting will not help 2. Clear the desktop cache: Open Help > Troubleshooting > Clear Cache and Restart (Windows: the ☰ menu top-left) Wait for Slack to relaunch and reload your workspace 3. Run Slack's connection test: Open slack.com/help/test in your browser If it reports errors, send them to your network administrator 4. Rule out VPN, proxy and firewall: Temporarily disconnect from VPN or proxy and reload Ask IT to allow WebSockets and not block wss-primary.slack.com, wss-backup.slack.com and wss-mobile.slack.com Pause antivirus web filtering to test 5. Try Slack in a private browser window: Open your workspace in an Incognito/private window If it works there, disable browser extensions one by one Make sure your browser is up to date 6. Collect net logs for Slack Support: Help > Troubleshooting > Restart and Collect Net Logs Reproduce the problem, then click Stop Logging Send the zip from your Downloads folder via slack.com/help/requests/new

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Slack Not Loading or Can't Connect

Workaround available Mac, Windows, Linux, Web Updated October 21, 2026

Quick answer

First check slack-status.com. If Slack is up, the fix is usually Help > Troubleshooting > Clear Cache and Restart, followed by checking VPN, proxy, firewall or antivirus that blocks Slack's WebSocket connections.

Most likely fix: Check Slack's status page.

Symptoms

Slack shows 'Trouble connecting', 'Slack is having trouble loading', channels never load, or the app reconnects in a loop.

Why it happens

A Slack-side outage (e.g., Feb 26-27, 2025)
Corrupted desktop app cache
VPN, proxy, firewall or antivirus blocking WebSocket connections to wss-primary.slack.com / wss-backup.slack.com
Browser extensions interfering with Slack web
Outdated browser or app version

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. Check Slack's status page
1. Open slack-status.com
2. If there is an active incident, wait for the fix; local troubleshooting will not help
2. Clear the desktop cache
1. Open Help > Troubleshooting > Clear Cache and Restart (Windows: the ☰ menu top-left)
2. Wait for Slack to relaunch and reload your workspace
3. Run Slack's connection test
1. Open slack.com/help/test in your browser
2. If it reports errors, send them to your network administrator
4. Rule out VPN, proxy and firewall
1. Temporarily disconnect from VPN or proxy and reload
2. Ask IT to allow WebSockets and not block wss-primary.slack.com, wss-backup.slack.com and wss-mobile.slack.com
3. Pause antivirus web filtering to test
5. Try Slack in a private browser window
1. Open your workspace in an Incognito/private window
2. If it works there, disable browser extensions one by one
3. Make sure your browser is up to date
6. Collect net logs for Slack Support
1. Help > Troubleshooting > Restart and Collect Net Logs
2. Reproduce the problem, then click Stop Logging
3. Send the zip from your Downloads folder via slack.com/help/requests/new

This guide also covers

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slack trouble connecting
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is slack down
slack won't load

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