Over the years, Niantic has done a lot of work to ensure Pokémon Go’s servers can withstand millions of players around the globe logging on to catch some Pokémon. Compared to its 2015 launch where servers would continually go out due to the large number of players that were trying to access the innovative new gaming experience, the game is usually in a good place.
But even though issues have become less frequent, they do still occur and will keep players locked out of the action—whether that be through a login error or servers crashing mid-gameplay. This frequently happens during large events or when new features are being rolled out, so be aware of these things while playing.
Regardless, players should be privy to the ways of checking the Pokémon Go server status since Niantic isn’t always on top of keeping players in the loop.
How to check if Pokémon Go is down
Unlike other multiplayer video games, there’s no official dedicated server status page for Pokémon Go. The devs at Niantic have not yet made a website that tracks the various servers and regions directly, though third-party sites have popped up that accomplish this same goal.
Check the Pokémon Go app
Before you even try to access those third-party sites, you can check the Pokémon Go app first. If the servers are indeed offline, you’ll likely encounter a message that says, “We are working to resolve the issue,” along with a standard image of the Pokémon Go logo. If this message does appear, you won’t be able to log in and will likely have to wait a brief time before being able to play.
Most of the time, if an issue is caused by widespread server outages or problems, this will be the case. But there are some outages that are region or device-specific, so you should always try the app for yourself before looking around online.
Look for Niantic a statement from Niantic or the community
Even if the company isn’t always hopping on the issues right away, Niantic does have multiple dedicated resources for players to check if they are experiencing issues with Pokémon Go or any of its other products.
You should start by checking the official Pokémon Go Twitter account, but the answer will more than likely be shared first on the Niantic Support Page—which also includes links out to other places you can check if needed.
Check community resources and websites
There are a number of community resources you can check if you see an outage.
The Pokémon Go and SilphRoad Reddit are great places to check for information, along with PokéMiners’ main issues page. Additionally, you can check mmoserverstatus, cmmcd, and jooas for more detailed data on the outages.
None of these pages are specifically officially hosted by Niantic, but they do all closely monitor the status of the game based on player feedback and other factors.
