How to Fix Pandora Not Working on iPhone, Android, PC & More

By Dave Henry Updated on July 15, 2025

Pandora is a top choice for music streaming fans due to its exceptional recommendations powered by the Music Genome Project. Since its debut in 2005, many users believe no other service has come close to its quality. However, you may have experienced issues with Pandora not working. Complaints about "Pandora not working" are becoming more widespread among users. So, what causes Pandora to malfunction, and how can you resolve it? We've compiled a list of common reasons and solutions for this issue, which you can refer to based on your device.

pandora not working

Part 1. Why Is Pandora Not Working?

Before we list the methods to fix Pandora malfunctioning, we must figure out the causes behind. There are various reasons why Pandora might not be functioning properly. Here are some typical problems.

  • Internet Connection Issues: A weak or unstable internet connection can prevent Pandora from streaming music.
  • App Update Needed: An outdated version of the Pandora app may lead to functionality problems.
  • Device Compatibility: Some devices may not support the latest version of the app.
  • Cache and Data Problems: Accumulated cache or corrupted data can interfere with app performance.
  • Account Issues: Problems with your Pandora account, such as subscription status or login credentials, may affect the access to Pandora.
  • Server Outages: Pandora's servers might be down or experiencing issues, affecting all users.
  • Background App Restrictions: Some devices restrict background app activity, which can hinder Pandora's performance.
  • Location Restrictions: Certain content may be unavailable in specific regions, causing playback issues.
  • Audio Settings: Incorrect audio settings or Bluetooth connectivity issues can prevent sound output.

Part 2. How to Fix Pandora Not Working on Mobile Devices

Since you have learned about the reason Pandora doesn't work, you can prepare in advance for a more enjoyable Pandora music listening experience. If you have already encountered "Pandora app not working" issues on your mobile device and don't know how to fix them, follow the instructions below, and Pandora will work smoothly again.

2.1 Fix Pandora Not Working on iPhone

Solution 1: Check Internet Connection

🛠️ Use This If: Pandora not loading, Pandora does not work
  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap WLAN.
  3. Make sure you're connected to a wireless network with a network connection.

If the network is available but Pandora still doesn't work, try switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data, or turn Airplane Mode on and off and try connecting to Wi-Fi or cellular data again.

iphone wifi check

Solution 2: Update Pandora App

🛠️ Use This If: Pandora app not working or crashing
  1. Open the App Store and tap your profile icon to see if a newer version of Pandora is available.
  2. If so, tap the Update button next to Pandora.
  3. Restart the app after updating.

Solution 3: Reinstall Pandora App

🛠️ Use This If: Pandora app not opening, Pandora app keeps crashing

If the Pandora application you are using does not have a newer version available for download, you'd better reinstall Pandora to troubleshoot the Pandora app completely.

  1. Press and hold the Pandora app icon and select Remove App.
  2. Choose Delete App, and confirm Delete in the pop-up window.
  3. Return to the App Store and reinstall Pandora.

delete pandora app on iphone

Solution 4: Check Audio and Bluetooth Settings

🛠️ Use This If: Pandora playing but no sound
  1. Make sure your phone is not muted and turn up the volume until you hear the sound.
  2. Enter the control center and check if your phone is connected to a Bluetooth device.
  3. Turn off Bluetooth and disconnect any unwanted output devices.

Solution 5: Check Battery Settings

🛠️ Use This If: Pandora pauses when screen is off
  1. Go to Settings > Battery and disable Low Power Mode (if enabled).
  2. Play Pandora music, press the lock button, then turn on your phone. If a music playback box appears on the lock screen, tap the play button.

iphone low power

Solution 6: Check for System Updates

🛠️ Use This If: Pandora app not opening

If not only the Pandora app, but many apps on your phone are flashing back, it is possible that the system you are using does not support the latest apps to run. If this is the case, try this:

  1. Go to Settings app.
  2. Go to General.
  3. Tap on Software Update.
  4. If available, tap Install Now.

check for ios system updates

2.2 Fix Pandora Not Working on Android

Solution 1: Check Internet Connection

🛠️ Use This If: Pandora not loading or skipping songs
  1. Go to the Settings app.
  2. Tap Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
  3. Check if the network you are connected to has Internet.
  4. If not, switch to cellular data.

Solution 2: Update or Reopen Pandora

🛠️ Use This If: Pandora app freezing or crashing
  1. Open the Google Play Store, search for Pandora, and then click on update.
  2. After the update, force the application to close and reopen.
  3. If there is no updated version, try uninstalling the Pandora app and then re-downloading and installing it from the Google Play Store.

Solution 3: Clear Cache and Data

🛠️ Use This If: Pandora app not responding or not loading
  1. Go to Settings > Apps > Pandora > Storage.
  2. Tap Clear Cache, then tap Clear Data.
  3. Reopen Pandora and sign in again.

clear soundcloud app cache on android

Solution 4: Check Battery and Background Settings

🛠️ Use This If: Pandora app stops when screen turns off or in background
  1. Long press the Pandora app on the home screen.
  2. Tap the i (application information) icon.
  3. Scroll to Battery Settings.
  4. Ensure that Allow background activity is turned on.
  5. If you see the Battery Optimization option, please select Not Optimized for Pandora or completely turn off battery optimization for this application.

disable optimize battery use on android

Solution 5: Check Permissions

🛠️ Use This If: Pandora app not playing
  1. Long press the icon of Pandora App at home screen
  2. Tap the i icon.
  3. In App Info, tap Permissions.
  4. You will see a lot of permissions for Pandora, such as Bluetooth, Phone, Contacts, etc. It is better to allow Pandora maximum permissions to access your phone so that the app is not prone to malfunction.

check app permissions on android

Additional Tips (For Both Devices)

In addition to the above steps for Android and iOS devices, there are some common checks for all devices.

  • Check Pandora account and subscription. It's a good idea to log out of your current account on your device and log back in to see if the Pandora service is available. Or check if your subscription has expired, if it has, some of the paid features will not work.
  • Check if Pandora is down. In a few cases, Pandora's servers are down, and if that's the case, basically all users will find that Pandora isn't working properly, so you can go to downdetector to check the status of Pandora's service, or go to Pandora's official social media accounts to see if there's a temporary fix posted.
  • Use a VPN If Content Is Restricted. There are a lot of users encountering the problem of Pandora radio not working, sometimes it's because the radio contains content that is not allowed to be played in your country, so you need to use a VPN for other countries to access more stations. (However, it's best to check in advance if using a VPN is legal in your area or country.)

Part 3. How to Fix Pandora Not Working on Computer

If you encounter the Pandora not working issue on your computer, try the following solutions.

3.1 Fix Pandora Not Working on Windows

Solution 1: Restart Pandora

If Pandora stops functioning, it might be due to network issues. In this situation, try restarting Pandora. This can help reset the service and fix the problem. Finish all Pandora processes, and install the application again.

Solution 2: Refresh Windows Update Components

If you are using a computer with Windows system, Pandora gets its updates through the Windows Update module. Therefore, if there are issues with Windows Update, it may be necessary to refresh the Windows Update component.

A Step-by-Step Instruction:

  1. Press Windows + R, type services, and click OK to open the Services app. Find the Windows Update service, right-click it, and select Stop. Repeat this for the Background Intelligent Transfer Service.
  2. Open Windows Explorer, go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution, and delete all the contents in that folder. Return to the Services app and restart the services you stopped earlier.
  3. Restart your computer and check if the issues with Pandora have been resolved.

Solution 3: Adjust the Audio Quality

If you can get into the Pandora app but can not stream Pandora music, you can slightly reduce audio quality by clicking Settings > Content Settings > Audio Quality. Toggle Audio Quality OFF for normal quality audio.

Solution 4: Adjust Your Firewall Settings

Your Pandora may be restricted by the Firewall within your computer system. Just temporarily disable your firewall to see if it resolves the issue.

A Step-by-Step Instruction:

  1. Click on the Start menu and select Settings (the gear icon).
  2. Go to Update & Security and then click on Windows Security.
  3. Select Firewall & network protection.
  4. Tap on Allow an app through firewall.
  5. Click on the Change settings button (you may need administrator privileges).
  6. Scroll down to find Pandora. If it's listed, ensure both Private and Public boxes are checked.
  7. If it's not listed, click on Allow another app. Browse to find the Pandora app and add it.
  8. Click OK to save your changes.

3.2 Fix Pandora Not Working on Mac

Solution 1: Reset the App

Open the Help menu, and scroll to find Troubleshooting, then select Reset App Data.

Solution 2: Uninstall and Reinstall the App

  1. Close the Pandora app and open a new Finder window.
  2. Tap on Applications, navigate to the Pandora app and drag it into the Trash bin.
  3. Right-click the Trash bin and select Empty Trash.
  4. Open the downloaded file and follow the instructions to finish the installation.

Solution 3: Check your Device

Ensure your device is not in airplane mode and that your WiFi or data connection is functioning properly.

Solution 4: Check Your Internet Firewall or Antivirus Software

If you have a firewall or antivirus program, it might be blocking Pandora. Try allowing access to pandora.com in those settings, or consider disabling them temporarily.

A Step-by-Step Instruction:

  1. Click on the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
  2. Tap on Security & Privacy.
  3. Go to the Firewall tab.
  4. If the firewall is off, you can leave it that way, or click Turn On Firewall to enable it.
  5. Click on Firewall Options, then hit the + button to add an app.
  6. Navigate to the Pandora app and select it, then click Add.
  7. Ensure that Pandora is set to Allow incoming connections.
  8. Click OK to save your settings.

Solution 5: Clear Website Data in Safari

  1. Click on Safari in the menu bar, then select Preferences, followed by the Privacy tab.
  2. Click on Manage Website Data, search for "Pandora," and select it.
  3. Click Remove All, and then click Done.
  4. Restart the browser and return to pandora.com.

Part 4. How to Fix Pandora Not Working on Other Devices

Besides mobile devices and computers, many users also play Pandora music through other devices such as CarPlay and Alexa, but still encounter some problems during the use, such as Pandora can not be loaded, played, responded to, opened. So, this part will provide practical solutions for Pandora CarPlay and Pandora Alexa integration.

4.1 Fix Pandora Not Working on CarPlay

Solution 1: Check Compatibility

Make sure your iPhone is at least iOS 14 or above, and secondly make sure your car's infotainment system is Apple CarPlay supported. For this, you can visit Apple's official CarPlay Compatibility page to see the list of supported vehicles.

Solution 2: Verify CarPlay Connection

  1. On your iPhone, open the Settings app.
  2. Go to General, find and tap CarPlay.
  3. Select your car from the list and re-pair it.
  4. Open the Pandora app and allow it to appear when using CarPlay.
  5. If it's not connected to CarPlay, consider using a USB cable to connect your iPhone to your car.

ios carplay enabled

Solution 3: Check Permissions and Restrictions

  1. Go to Settings app > Screen time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
  2. Tap on Allowed apps.
  3. Make sure the CarPlay app and Pandora app are enabled.

ios content privacy restrictions not allow carplay

Solution 4: Reset CarPlay

If the Pandora issue is still not resolved on CarPlay, try the following:

  1. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap General > CarPlay > Your Vehicles > Forget This Car.
  3. Reconnect your car and iPhone via CarPlay.
  4. Launch the Pandora app in your car.

forget this car for carplay

Solution 5: Restart Devices

If all the fixes don't seem to solve anything, here's another fix:

  1. Restart your iPhone and your car's infotainment system.
  2. Reconnect CarPlay and open Pandora again.
connect pandora to car
How to Connect Pandora to My Car [Step-by-Step]

Discover how to connect Pandora to your car for seamless music streaming via Bluetooth or USB.

4.2 Fix Pandora Not Working with Alexa

Solution 1: Unlink and Relink Pandora Account

  1. Open the Amazon Alexa app.
  2. Tap More > Settings > Music & Podcasts > Pandora.
  3. Disable Pandora Skill.
  4. Re-enable Pandora Skill and sign back into your Pandora account.

alexa disable pandora skill

Solution 2: Set Pandora as the Default Music Service

  1. In the Alexa app, go to Settings > Music & Podcasts > Default Service.
  2. Select Pandora as the default service for music, genre stations, and podcasts.

change default music on alexa

Solution 3: Update Alexa App and Firmware

Make sure the Amazon Alexa app is the latest version. You can check the Google Play Store or App Store and find updated versions to download. In addition to the app, the firmware must also be kept up to date. To do this, you should:

  1. Go to the Alexa app.
  2. Tap Devices > Echo & Alexa > [Your Device] > Check for Software Updates.

Solution 4: Test Internet Connection

Don't forget to double-check that your Alexa device is connected to a stable network, as failure to do so will likely result in issues with the Pandora app not playing. If necessary, you can open the Alexa app and go to Devices > Echo & Alexa > [Your device] > Change Wi-Fi network.

Solution 5: Restart and Reconnect Your Echo

If this does not resolve the Pandora problems on Alexa, try unplugging your Echo device, waiting 2-3 minutes, and then plugging it back in. Give it some time to get back up and running, then reconnect to the Wi-Fi and try to access Pandora.

play pandora on alexa
How to Connect and Play Pandora on Alexa

In this post we'll walk you through a step-by-step process to add Pandora to Alexa and play Pandora on Alexa without any issues.

Part 5. Ultimate Way to Avoid Pandora Not Working Issues

When your Pandora isn't working, it can be very frustrating, so it's wise to save your favorite Pandora music in advance on your devices. Here, we provide an excellent alternative method for playing Pandora music.

That is to use ViWizard Pandora Music Downloader to download Pandora music. This tool lets you download and convert Pandora tracks, playlists, albums, radio stations, and save them as local MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, and M4B files on your Windows or Mac computer. This makes it easy to transfer them to any device, such as Alexa, Apple Watch, CarPlay, and MP3 Player.

ViWizard stands out from many other downloaders on the market with its excellent sound quality protection technology, which ensures that you get the highest sound quality from Pandora, whether you have Pandora Free, Plus, or Premium. Once you've downloaded your favorite Pandora music, you can listen to it offline for free, without ads and any interruptions caused by Pandora bugs, problems, crashes, or malfunctions.

streaming audio recorder
Pandora Music Downloader

A versatile all-in-one streaming music recorder to extract songs, albums, playlists, and exclusive content from Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, Pandora, SoundCloud, Qobuz and LINE MUSIC into popular formats like MP3 — with support for original sound quality, fast batch conversion, and built-in music management to help you save, organize, and enjoy your favorite tracks anytime, anywhere.

How to Download Pandora Music and Play without Issues

Step 1 Choose a Compatible Output Format

Open ViWizard Pandora Music Downloader on your Windows or Mac computer. Click the menu icon, choose Preferences, and go to the Conversion tab. Based on the device you want to play Pandora music on, choose an audio format it supports, like MP3 or FLAC. For better sound quality, adjust the bitrate and sample rate. Click OK to save your settings.

set format

Step 2 Open the Built-in Pandora Web Player

Head back to the main interface of ViWizard. You'll see 9 music icons, each with a built-in web player in ViWizard. To specifically download music from Pandora, click the Pandora icon to access the web player inside the ViWizard software.

main interface

Step 3 Select Music to Download

In the Pandora web player, browse your favorite songs, playlists, albums, artists, and radio stations you want to download. Next, click the plus button in the bottom right corner to let ViWizard detect the audio on this page. Then, click Add to List to add the songs to the download list.

add pandora artist to conversion list

Step 4 Download Your Pandora Music

Click the Convert button to start downloading. Once finished, click the folder icon next to the track title to view them in the output folder stored on your computer. Now you can transfer these tracks to your phone, watch, car, smart speakers, or any device, and enjoy Pandora without issues.

click convert to convert pandora music tracks

Conclusion

Whether you encounter Pandora not working on iPhone, Android, computer, CarPlay, Alexa, or any other devices, the above solutions will quickly help you out. However, if you still fail to address this problem anyway or just want to avoid this circumstance forever, ViWizard Pandora Music Downloader is the best plan to save your Pandora music downloads for free, without the disruption of the internet or other factors.

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