If you enjoy live sports, game replays, college basketball, or exclusive video highlights, ESPN is the platform for you. Owned by Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, ESPN provides access to an extensive archive of on-demand sports videos and shows.
As one of the best subscription services available in the US, ESPN has attracted many users. We understand how frustrating it is when you want to enjoy your favorite sports show online, but only to find an error message.
This is the purpose of this post: to help you figure out what the problem is and how to fix ESPN not working ASAP. We also provide a bonus part to guide you to fix the problem on specific devices.
Common Causes of ESPN+ Not Working
There are many common causes that may lead to the ESPN+ not working problem. They might be your account subscription, the availability of the titles, your Internet connection or poor Wi-Fi, the outdated version of the ESPN app, your browser cache, the issues on the ESPN server end, etc.
The issues also vary across different devices. For example, you may often find the ESPN+ activation on TV not working successfully, and the ESPN UFC PPV streaming not working smoothly on mobile devices. Their causes and fixes also vary.
Now, let's jump into the next section to see how to fix ESPN Plus not working quickly, with 8 simple steps.
Fix ESPN Plus Not Working Quickly
To fix the possible problems mentioned above, we recommend that you try the following 8 methods step by step. Follow the guide and troubleshoot the ESPN not working problem from head to foot.
Step 1: Check the Availability
If you're using a mobile ESPN app and fail to play a specific game here, the reasons may lie in the following 2 aspects:
- A regional blackout;
- Insufficient information about your TV provider.
First, ESPN+ applies a clear blackout policy. If a participating team is in-market for your location, certain involved games will be unavailable (a black screen) through ESPN+ for you. This rule applies to some out-of-market games from NHL, MLB, and other leagues. For more information, you can refer to the blackout page for different leagues.
Second, you need an active subscription with a TV provider that has full access to ESPN network content. Therefore, before streaming on ESPN+, please make sure that you can log into ESPN through the provider, in order to get access to the full library of ESPN+. Or you can only access the content only allowed for your ESPN+ account.
Step 2: Check the Internet
One of the most common reasons ESPN Plus may not work is due to an unstable internet connection. If your device isn't connected to the internet, you won't be able to access ESPN Plus at all.
ESPN Plus requires a stable internet connection of at least 7 Mbps for streaming HD videos and 25 Mbps for 4K quality. To check your Wi-Fi signals, open another app on your phone or a web browser. You can also run a quick speed test to check your internet speed.
Always ask these questions for yourself: Are the signals strong and stable enough for uninterrupted streaming? Is there any loose wiring on your Wi-Fi modem?
Step 3: Check Your Subscription
Remember that, only an active ESPN+ account with a subscription can watch games here. If you do have an ESPN Plus subscription, but still can't log in or stream content, you can check the following items:
Double-check your login details in case you might be using an incorrect username/email or password. If you forgot your password, click on "Forget Password" and follow the guide.
Another reason could be that your ESPN Plus subscription has expired or there is an issue with your payment details. In this case, re-subscribe to your desired ESPN Plus plan. You can also update your payment details and credit/debit card information by going to your ESPN Plus account profile.
Step 4: Check the APP Update
ESPN Plus frequently releases updates for its apps to provide better features. However, these updates can also introduce bugs and glitches that require action on your part.
If ESPN is not working when you're watching shows through the official app on mobile devices or TVs, check for any available updates for the app. You can also enter the detail page of the ESPN app on the online Store, and tap "UPDATE" to do it manually.
Step 5: Clear APP Cache
Clearing your ESPN app cache will erase all data or files that may be corrupted without deleting important data like login details, custom settings, or downloaded files. It's also a good way to fix some potential issues in the app.
To do this, open your device's Settings, find your downloaded apps, locate the ESPN Plus app, and clear the cache. If you access ESPN Plus through another device, clear the cache of your web browser or TV.
Step 6: Reinstall the APP
If the problem still remains after you update the app and clear all cache, you can try deleting and reinstalling the app. It can also help eliminate bugs and issues within the app itself.
Depending on your device, uninstall the ESPN Plus app. After a few minutes, go to the online app store to find and install the official ESPN app.
Step 7: Reboot the Device
Rebooting is always a panacea, for both computers, mobile devices and TVs. It can resolve glitches that may cause the ESPN Plus app or any other app to malfunction. When a communication glitch occurs, sites and apps may fail to load. Rebooting or restarting your device can fix these issues.
Turn off the device. If you're using a TV or another streaming device, unplug its power cord from the power source. Wait a few minutes, then plug it back in. If you're using a smartphone, press and hold a couple of buttons until your device reboots and restarts.
Step 8: Check the Official Announcement
If your ESPN Plus isn't working despite trying all the tips mentioned, the problem may be on ESPN's end. It's common for websites and streaming platforms to experience technical issues, which can result in difficulties accessing or streaming content on ESPN Plus.
There's nothing you can do during an ESPN Plus outage except wait. To check the ESPN outage status, visit ESPN Plus's official Twitter page or a server down detector site (I recommend Downdetector, you can also see the latest posts from @espn here).
Bonus: Fix ESPN+ Not Working on Specific Devices
Here are some special tips for specific devices and problems, such as the activation not working, or the ESPN Plus not working on TV problem.
ESPN Activate Not Working
Yes, ESPN supports TV-connected devices, which means that you can enjoy your favorite teams' games on a bigger screen. However, when activating your ESPN account on TVs, especially the Roku TV, things might not go so well.
Based on my experience and investigation, the ESPN activate not working problem may be caused by your phone, your TV, and even the Roku/app interface. I also looked up related info on the official Roku site, but there is no official answer for this problem.
No worries! I still collected several possible methods to fix ESPN Plus not working on TV, and all of them are verified useful:
- Try using a different browser or the incognito window to enter the ESPN+ activation code；
- Try restarting and updating your phone (verified useful on Reddit);
- Try hard rebooting your TV: unplug the power > wait for 1 minute > plug it back in and launch;
- Make sure that your phone is connected to the same Wi-Fi as the TVs.
ESPN Plus Not Working on TV
If you're using the smart TVs other than DirecTV, try to follow the 8 steps above to troubleshoot the ESPN Plus not working on TV problem.
If you're a DirecTV user, unfortunately, there is no way to watch ESPN online content currently because of a contract dispute between AT&T (DirecTV's parent company) and Disney (the company owning ESPN).
We recommend you choose Sling TV, YouTube TV, NFL+, or Hulu + Live TV to continue your entertainment on ESPN+ during the standoff period.
ESPN UFC Not Working
If UFC 257 isn't working on ESPN Plus, the issue is on ESPN's end. Many ESPN Plus users have reported issues while streaming UFC 257. Even after paying $70 for the pay-per-view event, ESPN Plus UFC 257 didn't work for various users.
If you faced issues with ESPN UFC not working, contact ESPN Plus for a refund at support@espnplus.com. Here are more solutions for possible problems about UFC streaming:
| Problem | Fix |
| Can't find your purchased UFC PPV events | Check if these is a receipt on your account. Select ESPN+ Subscription in the app, tap Purchase, and tap the Restore button. |
| Can't find PPV event in the ESPN app | It will take 30 minutes for your purchase to be validated if you get it from a third-party app store. You can try to re-login or re-install the app to fix the problem. |
| Can't buy the event? | Check if you have an active ESPN+ subscription. If the problem still remains, contact ESPN+ Support. |
| Have playback issues? | If there is still a problem after trying the above steps, contact ESPN+ at 800-727-1800. |
ESPN Sign in with TV Provider Not Working
If you can't log in to ESPN on TV through the TV provider option, first try to refresh the connection information on your phone by following these steps (from Reddit user mrscott619):
- Open the Settings on your iPhone;
- Tap "TV Provider", and uncheck ESPN under "Allow TV Provider to Access";
- Close and restart the ESPN app. Make sure that your phone is connected to the same Wi-Fi as your TV;
- When the activation window prompts, enter your TV Provider details.
The problem may also lie with your ad blocker. If there is any one installed on your device or browser, try to disable it for a moment and try signing in again.
Final Solution: Avoid ESPN Not Working Problems with KeepStreams
What if the ESPN Plus not working problem still haunts you after trying so many methods? No worries! I also have the final solution recommended to help you enjoy ESPN games on a big screen: Use KeepStreams for ESPN Plus.
As a professional ESPN Plus downloader, KeepStreams is able to save ESPN videos in MP4 and MKV format for convenient offline viewing. It means that you can get compatible files of ESPN shows and transfer them to external storage such as a USB drive.
The remaining thing is to plug the drive into your TV and enjoy your favorite shows offline here. You might say that "If I record ESPN videos, I can do this too." Yes, of course. But KeepStreams can save the original video quality up to 1080p.
What's more, KeepStreams also boasts a powerful auto-download function that can help you get the latest added games automatically. You only need to set the schedule, and leave the remaining tasks for KeepStreams!
With KeepStreams, you can directly download videos from ESPN and thus avoid any possible troubles, no matter whether they happen on your phone, TVs, or the ESPN end. It's also pretty easy to use it, just follow these steps:
- Install and launch KeepStreans on your Windows laptop;
- Find ESPN from the VIP Services section;
- Login to your own ESPN account to get access to the full library here;
- Play the live streaming or the games you've purchased before;
- Set download options in a pop-up window, and click on "Download Now";
- If you want to set the auto-download schedule, tickle "Download new episodes automatically" and set the time.
Wrapping Up
There's nothing worse than keeping receiving the issue message from ESPN+ when you want to enjoy your favorite game tonight. Hope this article can answer your question "Why is ESPN now working?" and fix the problem quickly.
I've mentioned the methods to fix the ESPN app not working, ESPN activate not working, and even the tips to solve the ESPN not working on DirecTV problem. If the problem still remains, we recommend you to use KeepStreams for ESPN Plus to avoid it fundamentally.
If you want to learn about other available ESPN+ video downloaders, continue to read Best ESPN Plus Downloaders Ranking.