How to Fix the Sonic App When It Isn’t Working

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Troubleshoot your Sonic Drive-In app in moments

Co-authored by Darlene Antonelli, MA Reviewed by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: April 28, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Common Fixes
|
• Getting a "Something's Not Right" Error?
|
• FAQ
|
• Q&A

|Show more |Show less

Is the Sonic app not working? Luckily, there are a few troubleshooting steps that you can use to try to get the app to work for you on your Android or iPhone. After you fix the problem, order some secret menu items.

Quickly Fix the Sonic App If It’s Not Working

The Sonic app can give you errors for many reasons, like having an outdated app or corrupted app data. The fixes include updating and restarting the app, re-logging, clearing the corrupted cache on Android, using data instead of Wi-Fi, checking the server status, restarting your phone, checking your login information, and reinstalling the app.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Common Fixes

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1. 
   1
   Update the app. An outdated app can experience issues and not work. To fix this, open the App Store or the Google Play Store to update the Sonic app.
2. 
   2
   Restart the app. A simple restart can fix the Sonic app. All you need to do is swipe up from the bottom of your screen (Android and iPhone) to see a list of your open apps, then swipe on the app to close it.
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3. 
   3
   Log in again. Your currently cached data can be corrupted, preventing the app from working correctly. To sign out, tap the person silhouette icon in the top right corner of your screen, then tap My Account > Sign Out.

   • Once you are signed out, the app will redirect you back to the main menu. Tap Sign In at the bottom of your screen to log back in.
4. 
   4
   Clear the app cache on Android. Corrupted data can cause your app not to work correctly. If you're using an iPhone, the only way to clear the app cache is to uninstall and reinstall the app. However, Android users have a few extra steps:

   • Open Settings and go to Apps.
   • Tap Sonic. If needed, tap See all apps.
   • Tap Storage & cache.
   • Tap Clear storage.
5. 
   5
   Use data instead of Wi-Fi. A low-quality connection can prevent the app from working properly. This can happen if you're using Wi-Fi, which might be slow and prevent the app from loading or completing your order. If you have a good data plan, turn off Wi-Fi in your Android's quick panel or the Control Center for iPhone to use mobile data instead.

   • If you're already using mobile data, switch to Wi-Fi.
6. 
   6
   Make sure the servers are online. If the servers are down, the app won't work. Go to a site like Down Detector to see the current status of Sonic's servers.

   • In this case, the only fix is time, so wait until the servers are working again.
7. 
   7
   Restart your phone. A quick restart will often clear up problems with non-working apps. Restarting your phone sounds too simple, but it works to solve a lot of issues.

   • For Android, press and hold the side button, then tap Restart. Tap it again to confirm, and wait for your phone to reboot.
   • For iPhone, press and hold the side and volume buttons, drag the slider to power off your phone, and then press the side button again to turn your phone on. For iPhones with a Home button, press and hold the side button, drag the slider to power off, and then press the side button again to turn it back on.
8. 
   8
   Check your login information. A wrong username or password can give you an "unable to log in" error. If you created an account with Facebook or Google, make sure you have selected the right account. For example, you'll get a login error if you try to log in with Google if you created your account with Facebook or your email address.
9. 
   9
   Reinstall the app. Deleting the app clears corrupted data files that prevent it from working. It's a helpful step for many troublesome apps, including the Sonic app.

   • On Android, press and hold the app's icon on your home screen or app drawer, then tap the x icon, the trashcan icon, or Uninstall.
   • On iPhone, tap and hold the app and press Delete app.
   • Use the Google Play Store or App Store to reinstall the app.
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Section 2 of 3:

Getting a "Something's Not Right" Error?

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1. 
   Item availability or a technical glitch with the app will trigger the error. Follow all the troubleshooting steps above, but if you're still getting the error, it's most likely that the location does not have an item that you're trying to order.

Section 3 of 3:

FAQ

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1. 1
   Why is the Sonic app temporarily unavailable? If the Sonic app says "temporarily unavailable," it means the drive-in can’t process Order Ahead requests, possibly due to maintenance or high traffic.
2. 2
   Why can't I order ahead at Sonic? Order Ahead is available only during Stall Open to Stall Close hours, which vary by drive-in.
3. 3
   Why does my Sonic app not let me pay? If your Sonic app is not allowing you to make a payment, there could be several reasons for this. First, make sure you are using the latest version of the app and that you have permitted it to access your location. Additionally, verify that your payment method details, including your card information and billing address, are accurate and up to date. If you are using Google Pay, you may need to select a different card if you have multiple cards added. If the issue continues, consider clearing the app's cache and data or uninstalling and reinstalling the app.
4. 4
   Why does the Sonic app ask if I'm a teacher? Sonic restaurants offer exclusive rewards and deals to teachers through the Teachers' Circle program in the app.

   • Any teacher, faculty, or staff at a K-12 or degree-granting institution can join Teachers’ Circle by downloading or opening the Sonic app and updating their account settings to confirm they’re an educator.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  Why does the Sonic app say it won't work on my device?

  

  Community Answer

  The app may not work if your operating system is too old (Sonic Drive-In requires Android 11+ or iOS 15.1+), or if you live outside the United States.

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