Could Not Find Matching Credentials- All You Need To Know

As we all are Snapchat users, we all are addicted to using the app to interact with our friends and family. You must have also been interacting with your friends through Snapchat either by messaging them or by sending Snaps. The platform has become a vital part of our lives. But imagine not being able to log in to your Snapchat account. What if Snapchat shows the error Could Not Find Matching Credentials? How restless would life be without Snapchat? 

If you are among those who have encountered this error but haven’t got any solution to fix it, you are at the right spot. In this guide, we will introduce you to many effective fixes that will help you to solve the problem of not being able to log in to your Snapchat account. Therefore if you also want to access your Snapchat account again, keep reading.

Quick Takeaways

• Snapchat will show you the error  “Could Not Find Matching Credentials” if it finds something unusual associated with your Snapchat account 
• You can use some troubleshooting steps so as to get back access to your Snapchat account.
• There are many reasons which cause Snapchat to show you such errors. If you want to fix the error, you must know the root cause of the problem first.

However this is only the nutshell and if you want a brief explanation of the error,  “Could Not Find Matching Credentials”, then you must read till the end.

What does Could Not Find Matching Credentials mean on Snapchat?

Many Snapchat users have encountered the problem worldwide and to fix this, they all hustle a lot. The matching credential is nothing but a login error that Snapchat shows. This is a very usual problem and the Snapchatters still find it very difficult to conquer it. When you enter an incorrect username and incorrect password, then Snapchat will show you this error. The most common fix to this problem is to change your Snapchat password. However many users found that after changing the password, the problem still exists. Therefore, if you don’t want the error to occur, you must keep one thing in mind your Snapchat login Credentials should be correct.

Why is not Snapchat able to find Matching Credentials?

This error on Snapchat is very common and Snapchatters worldwide are encountering this problem. This only happens because of the technical problems with Snapchat or maybe its servers. 

Snapchat is concerned about your security and will do everything to protect your account. If you are logged in to your device and Snapchat finds a suspicious activity that someone is trying to log in to your Snapchat account from another location, it will be concerned about your account. If someone is trying to log in to your Snapchat account simultaneously from different locations, Snapchat will detect it as something unusual and some hacker trying to access your account. Therefore, to protect your account Snapchat will take many security measures and will lock your account. After all, how can Snapchat leave your account to be accessed by fraud users and hackers? Therefore, it will lock your account as soon as it finds multiple log-ins to your account from simultaneous locations. Now, that Snapchat has locked your device, it will remain locked until proper verification is done.

After your account is locked, if you try to log in to your account before verification, Snapchat will be not able to find your login credentials and will show you the error, Could Not Find the Matching Credentials”

Reasons Why Snapchat is Showing You the Error, “Could Not Find the Matching Credentials”

Snapchat usually does not show this error but if it does, there must be a reason behind it. If a user has entered the wrong Snapchat login credentials i.e. wrong username or wrong password, the error will get prompted on your screen. But there are many other reasons associated with this error which are listed below. If you are among those who are facing this problem, then you can read below.

Poor Internet connection

If you are trying to log in to your Snapchat account with a poor and unstable internet connection, chances are you might get interrupted by the error. Snapchat needs a strong internet connection and logging in with a poor connection might not be the best choice.

Outdated version

If you are using an outdated version of the app, and trying to log in to your account, chances are that the error will be triggered. When you are using an app that is outdated and you have not updated it yet, there are chances that the bugs will cause problems while you use the application.

Bugs and Glitches

An outdated version of the app will have bugs that would cause problems while you use the app. Therefore, if you are using an app that is out of date, bugs will attack the application and hinder the smooth functioning of the app. This will also trigger the error, ” Could Not Find The Matching Credentials”.

Caches

Caches are something that are beneficial and harmful at the same time. Caches are used to enhance the performance of the app. If your device has caches that are stored for a very long time and are not cleared, chances are your Snapchat will not function properly and will show you certain errors such as, “Could Not Find The Matching Credentials”. 

Suspicious activity

If Snapchat finds unusual and suspicious activity on your account, it will lock the account. Let us explain this to you briefly. If someone is trying to log in to your Snapchat account and does not have your accurate login credentials, they will try to log in again and again. Snapchat will detect this activity as unusual and will be suspicious about it. Therefore to protect your account from hackers, it will lock your account. Now if your account is locked, and you try to enter your login credentials, it will show you the error that your login credentials could not be found.

VPN for Snapchat

Many Snapchat users are obsessed with changing their Snapchat location. This means they want to show another location on Snapchat to their friends. Though Snapchat does not allow users to change their current location, it is very difficult to mock your location. Therefore Snapchatters use VPN to change their location. This may cause problems as Snapchat stops responding and users encounter the error that their login credentials could not be found.

Wrong Credentials

If you are trying to login to your Snapchat account, you need to make sure that you remember your login credentials well. If you are encountering the error “Could Not Find The Matching Credentials”, chances are that you are trying to log in with the wrong credentials. Therefore, either you are entering the wrong username or the wrong password. 

Fixing the error, “Could Not Find The Matching Credentials”?

If you are among those who are encountering this error, you are in the right spot. Below are some fixes that will help you to solve this problem. Therefore, you must read them.

Strong Internet Connection

If you are using a poor and unstable internet connection, you might encounter this error. In order to fix this, you must use a strong and stable internet connection to ensure that Snapchat does not show this error. If you are using your device’s data, try to switch to a strong Wi-Fi connection and vice versa. As soon as you fix your connection, try logging in again and you will see that the problem will disappear.

Stop Using VPN

Virtual private networks will help you change your Snapchat location. But is it worth it to use by risking your login activity on Snapchat? 

As Snapchat does not allow you to change your current location, it will also not allow you to use a VPN for the same. If you do, you will notice certain errors appearing on your Snapchat. Therefore to fix it, you must stop using the VPN. After all what is the point of changing your Snapchat location if you don’t get to log in to your Snapchat account?

Updating the App

If you are using an outdated version of the app, then you will encounter this error. Therefore, you must update the app and then try to log in again. For this, you need to uninstall the current version of Snapchat. Then go to the App Store or Play Store and search for Snapchat. Now click on the Install option and you have installed the latest version of the app. Now you can again try to log in to your Snapchat account and the error will be gone.

Checking your login credentials

If you enter the wrong login credentials on Snapchat, you will encounter the error “Could Not Find The Matching Credentials”. Login credentials involve the username and your password. Therefore you need to make sure that you are entering both of them correctly so that Snapchat does not show you the error. If the error still persists, then you need to change your Snapchat password and then try again later. 

Unlocked Snapchat ID

If you are encountering the error, then the reason might be that your account has been locked. Check if your Snapchat ID is locked or not. If you have previously tried to log in to your Snapchat account with the wrong credentials, or if any suspicious user has tried to log in to your Snapchat account, then your account is locked by Snapchat. This means that you will not be able to log in again until you change your Snapchat password.

Fixing Bugs and Glitches

If your Snapchat app is outdated and you have not updated your Snapchat, then you will encounter this problem. The reason behind this is that outdated versions of apps have more chances of being attacked by bugs. Also, outdated versions of Snapchat will be a hub for technical glitches that will also cause errors while you try to log in. Therefore, you need to update your Snapchat for all the bugs and glitches to disappear.

Clearing Caches

As you know, caches help Snapchat to enhance its performance. It downloads the data at once that needs to be downloaded multiple times, which increases the loading time on the app. However, these need to be cleared from time to time. If these are not cleared, they will get stored in large quantities and will get corrupted causing errors in the app. This will also reduce the loading time of the app. Therefore if you don’t want this error to occur, you need to clear caches from your device. If you want to know how you can clear caches on your device, you must read the next section.

How to clean caches on your device? (Android)

If you see the error message “No matching credentials found” and are trying to find a way to clear the cache to get rid of this error, read the instructions below.

Step 1

Open your Device’s settings.

Step 2

Locate the section ‘Apps’. Click on it

Step 3

A list of applications will now appear on the screen. Scroll down until you find Snapchat.

Step 4

Now that you have found Snapchat, you have to tap on it. 

Step 5

You will see an option on your screen which is ‘Storage and Caches’. Click on it. 

Step 6

Now, two options will appear on your screen i.e. Clear Storage and Clear Caches. Click on the Clear Caches option and the Snapchat Caches will be cleared.

Clearing Caches directly through the Snapchat app

Step 1

Open the Snapchat app on your Screen.

Step 2

You will be able to see your Profile in the top left corner of the screen. You have to click on it.

Step 3

Now, you have to click on the Gear option that is visible in the top right corner of the screen.

Step 4 

Scroll down until you locate the Account Action Section. Tap on it.

Step 5

Now you will be able to see the Clear Caches option. Click on it.

Step 6

Now click on the Continue option and confirm that you want to clear the Snapchat caches.

After you clear Snapchat caches, all the temporary data will be deleted that was associated with the app.

How to clean caches on your device? (iPhone)

If you are an iPhone user, and struggling to clear Snapchat caches, then you can follow the steps below. 

Step 1

Open Snapchat on your iPhone 

Step 2

Tap on your profile which is visible on your screen at the top left corner.

Step 3

Now, you will be able to see the gear icon at the top right corner of the screen.

Step 4

Now the Snapchat settings will appear. You have to scroll down the page until you see the Privacy Control Section.

Step 5

Now, you will be able to see the Clear Data option. Click on it.

Step 6

Before finishing the process, click on the ‘Clear All Caches’ option in the pop-up and the Snapchat caches will be cleared.

Steps to reset your Snapchat password

If you want to change your Snapchat password, the following steps are for you.

Step 1

Open Snapchat on your device.

Step 2

Make sure you are logged in by only one account. If you are logged in by more accounts, log out from all of them. If you want, you can save your login credentials for the next time. 

Step 3

Now you will be able to see the Snapchat login screen. Click on the Switch Account option visible on the bottom left corner of the screen.

Step 4

Another login screen will appear on your device. You should find the “Forgot your password?” option and click on it. You will be able to see this option below the Username and Password. Click.

Step 5

Now you will be able to see a prompt saying, “Please choose how you want to reset your password” followed by three options which are “Via Phone”, “Via Email”, and the “Cancel” option.

Choose whether you want to reset your Snapchat password using your Phone number or your Email, and select the relative option.

Step 6

Another screen will appear where you will be asked to enter your email address or the phone number that is associated with the account. If you chose phone number in the previous step, add the phone number, if you chose email, enter the email address.

Step 7

Click on the “Submit” option visible on the screen.

Step 8

Now, you will be able to see a message that is prompted on your screen asking you to check your inbox or your device for the reset link that has been sent by Snapchat.

Step 9

Now either check your device or your email and click on the link sent by Snapchat.

Step 10

Now that you have clicked the link, you will be able to see a new screen that will ask you for your new password. Type your password, and re-enter it to confirm the password.

Note: Your new Snapchat password must contain Uppercase letters, Lowercase letters, Special characters, and also a number. This way you are creating a strong password for your Snapchat Account. Also if you use the old password that has been used before, then Snapchat will not accept it and will show an error. Therefore to avoid it, you need to make sure that you are creating a new, unique, and strong password.

Step 11

After entering the password, you have to click on the “Save” option. 

Step 12

After doing all, the above steps, you will be able to see a prompt saying “Password Changed”

Some other fixes for the error

If you are done trying all the fixes above and none of them works for you, there are some other fixes that can help you.

Using another device

If you are encountering a problem while you log in to your Snapchat account, one effective fix for you is that you can use another device or your PC. If you use another phone or try to log in through your PC, then chances are that this error might vanish.

Snapchat Server

If you are trying to log in to your Snapchat account when the server is down, there are high chance that you will not be able to log in to your Snapchat account as many errors will occur. The only thing you can do is wait until the system is up again and try logging in after some time.

Reinstalling Snapchat

In many cases, users have noticed that after they install the latest version of the app, the problem still persists, then is something that is not related to the version of the app. If this is the case with you also, then you can simply uninstall Snapchat and reinstall it. After you reinstall the app, you can try logging in again.

Force Stopping the App.

Another fix for this problem is that you can use the force stop option. If you do not know how to force stop, then you can follow the steps below:

Step 1

Open your device’s settings

Step 2

Scroll down until you locate the “Application” section. Now tap on the Application option.

Step 3

Now you have to locate the Snapchat option in the list of all the applications.

Step 4

Click on Snapchat.

Step 5

Now you will be able to see the Force Stop option. Click on it, and the process is completed.

Restart your device

If you are still encountering the problem that your Snapchat Login Credentials are not found, then the easiest fix for this is to restart your device. This is the easiest and the most effective fix for your problem. You just have to simply restart your device and try logging in again and the error that is bothering you will get disappeared.

Snapchat Support Team

If any of the above fixes do not work for you and you do not know what to do next, you are still left with one option. You can contact the Snapchat Support Team. As soon as you contact them, they will assist you and also suggest some troubleshooting that you can follow and fix the problem.

Reasons Why Snapchat will Lock your Account

If you are among those Snapchat users who are encountering the error of Snapchat credentials not found, then there must be a reason behind it. Let’s discuss it briefly.

Snapchat will lock your account on the basis of many reasons. Therefore if you want to know, you should read the following points.

Inappropriate Content

Snapchat usually locks someone’s profile if they are posting content that violates the Community Guidelines. This type of content involves something that is related to bullying, illegal matters, self-harm, and adult content. This also involves matters that promote contradictions and hate among the community, and also spam content that is uncomfortable for the society. If you are up to such content, then you must stop posting it because Snapchat will detect your account and it does not allow anything that bothers its users. It will also not allow this kind of content on the platform.

Someone reported your account

If you are posting content that violates the community guidelines, chances are that someone will report your account and Snapchat will lock your account prohibiting you from accessing it. Therefore, you must not post such content on the app because once it gets locked, you will not be able to log back before proper verification from Snapchat.

Multiple attempts to log in

It happens with every one of us that sometimes we mistype or don’t remember our Snapchat password. If you are also one of those who have been through this, then we would suggest you not try to log in again and again. If you try to log in again and again, Snapchat will lock your account. Snapchat will lock the account that has multiple logins associated with it.

 Simultaneous Actions

There is another reason behind Snapchat locking your account is that it detects simultaneous activity on the app through your account. Let us explain this to you briefly. If multiple friend requests have been sent through your Snapchat account that too at the same time, Snapchat will detect something that is unusual. This also involves messaging multiple Snapchat friends at the same time or sending Snaps to multiple Snapchat friends at the same time. The actual reason behind Snapchat finding it unusual is that it thinks those activities have been performed by Internet Bots. So as to protect itself from automation, it will lock such accounts that perform simultaneous actions.

 Third-Party App.

Many users who violate Snapchat’s policy and use third-party apps, will be logged out of their accounts and also their accounts will be locked. Third-party apps will claim to provide you such features that Snapchat does not and you will be fascinated about it. Therefore, you will end up downloading third-party apps and using them. However, Snapchat does not want its users to be associated with any third-party apps as these apps are not authentic many times and raise the chances of fraud and hackers. These apps will ask you to enter your login credentials and as soon as you log in, it will have access to all your data on the app. As a result, there will be a high chance that your account will be at a higher risk of losing its privacy. 

Snapchat will warn you initially by logging you out of your account but if you will still continue to use the third-party app, it will lock your account and will not let you access it.

Suspicious device logging in

If a hacker or any fraud person has your login credentials, they will try to log in to your Snapchat account. Now that they have logged in, Snapchat will find out that your account has been logged in through another device which is at a different location. Snapchat will also notice that your account is still logged through the device. Therefore, it will not risk your security and privacy and hence will log your account out from every device and also lock your profile. You can unlock your profile after a small verification from Snapchat.

Steps to help you unlock your Snapchat Account

Has your Snapchat account also been locked? Are you also struggling to get back access to your Snapchat account? Then the following steps will help you. Below steps are efficient fixes for you if you want to access your Snapchat account again.

Patience

As we all have heard, “Patience is the key”, and the same applies in this situation. As your account is hacked, the only thing that you can do is wait until the ban on your Snapchat account is lifted. When a Snapchat account is banned, it usually takes about one day for the user to access the account again. After one day passes, if you try to log in to your Snapchat account, you will be able to access it and there will be no lock anymore. 

Using Forgot Password

If you are not able to log in to your Snapchat account as it has been locked, then you can use the Forget Password option. As soon as you tap the option, Forget Password, Snapchat will ask you to share your phone number or email ID that is associated with the Snapchat account. The option you chose will be a mediator for you and Snapchat to contact as Snapchat will send you a verification link. Now, as the link is sent, click on it, and on your screen, you will be asked to enter a new password. After you enter the password, you have to re-enter the same password and then hit the submit option. Now Snapchat will confirm that your password has been changed.

Snapchat Account Unlock 

Snapchat has another feature that helps users to log in to their locked accounts. Snapchat offers its users whose account has been locked a link that helps those users to log in back.

 This link will help you to have access to your Snapchat account faster and without any hustle.. However, you must log in to your Snapchat account first. Let us explain to you how this actually works. As soon as Snapchat sends you the link to unlock your Snapchat account, you will have to log in to your Snapchat account and will see a long notice from Snapchat on your screen with Locked Account written at the top and an Unlock option at the bottom of your Screen. That notice will mention all the reasons why your Snapchat account has been locked. You have to click the Unlock option and you will be able to have access to your Snapchat account.

How can you avoid your Snapchat Account being locked?

Now that you have regained your Snapchat account, you need to make sure that your account does not get locked again.

You can prevent your Snapchat account from getting hacked by following certain steps. These steps will help your account to stay protected from being locked again.

Enabling 2FA

If your Snapchat account faced some security and privacy issues in the past, you need to change your Snapchat password and enable 2FA. The steps to enable 2FA are discussed in the next section. While steps for resetting your Snapchat password have been already discussed above.

Maintaining Community Guidelines

If you posted inappropriate content on Snapchat in the past, then you should not post it now. The content associated with nudity, adult content, harassment, illegal matters, self-harm, and bullying, will violate the community guidelines and your account will get locked again. Therefore, if you don’t want that to happen again, you must be aware of what you are posting on the platform so that the community guidelines are maintained.

Your Account being Reported

If some irrelevant content was posted by you on Snapchat involving content that promotes nudity, harassment, violence, gore, self-harm, and illegal matters, then your Snapchat friends will find it very disturbing and they may also report your account. This will eventually get your account locked and you will not be able to have access to your Snapchat account. If you don’t want your account to get locked, don’t post such content that other Snapchat users find inappropriate and irrelevant. This way they will not report your Snapchat account and your account will not be locked.

Multiple Actions

If you don’t remember your Snapchat login credentials, and you try to log in, then Snapchat will show the error that “Could Not Find Matching Credentials”. This may make you restless and you will try to log in again and again. Trying to log in simultaneously will make Snapchat suspicious about it and it will lock your account. Therefore if you have mistyped your password, and you see Snapchat is not allowing you to log in to your account, make sure to re-check the login credentials rather than trying to log in multiple times at one go.

Stop using Third-Party Apps

If you previously used third-party apps to access features that Snapchat does not have, then your account must have been locked. If you don’t want your account to get locked, make sure you stop using third-party apps. Snapchat does not allow its users to access third-party apps as they are not authentic. These apps will ask you to enter your login details i.e. your username and your password and as soon as you enter the login details, it will access your Snapchat data and chances are that your account gets hacked. These apps will risk your privacy.

If Snapchat suspects you are using such apps, it will warn you by logging you out. But if you again start using these apps, it will lock your account and you will not be able to access your Snapchat account.

Avoiding Spam

If you send too many snaps and messages to your Snapchat friends and they find it disturbing, chances are they might report your account and as a result, Snapchat will lock your profile. Sending too many messages and snaps on Snapchat can disturb other users and can also provoke them to report you. As soon as they report you on Snapchat, within a few minutes you will lose access to your Snapchat account and will have to wait until you get back the access. If you don’t want your Snapchat friends to report you on the app, you must avoid such behavior.

How to enable 2FA – Two Factor Authentication

Adding two-factor authentication is very important for Snapchat users whether they exist or have recently joined the Snapchat. Just like every other social media platform, Snapchat also has a lot of personal data of its users just as their email, phone number, birthdays, and other confidential information. If this information gets accessed by some wrong users or hackers, their privacy will be disrupted. Therefore, Snapchat does its best to maintain the privacy and security of its users. Therefore Two Factor Authentication is required to protect your account and personal information from all the wrong users.

The two-factor authentication is nothing but an extra layer of security for your account. As Snapchat only requires only two credentials i.e. your username and your password, two-factor authentication will be another protective barrier for your account. 

When the Two Factor Authentication is enabled by the user for their account, every time they log in, a code will be sent to their devices via mobile number or email address, whichever is associated with their Snapchat account.

Therefore, if your username and password get into the wrong hands, and they try to log in to your Snapchat account, they will not be able to log in without the code sent to you via number or email. Therefore, your account will remain protected and no other person will be able to login to your Snapchat account.

If you also want an extra layer of protection for your account, you can follow the steps below.

Step 1

Open Snapchat on your mobile or desktop.

Step 2

You will be able to see your avatar, click on it. 

Step 3

Now at the top right corner, you will be able to see the Gear option. Click on it.

Step 4

Scroll down and find Two Factor Authentication.

Step 5

Click on it.

Step 6

Now, a new screen will appear where you will be able to see the Continue option at the bottom of the screen. Click on it.

Step 7

Now, you have to select a way to receive your verification code i.e. via SMS or an authentication app. After selecting the preferable option, the two-way authentication of your account has been completed.

Now that the Two Way Authentication has been completed, your account is completely safe and you will receive a verification code every time you log in to your Snapchat account.

Another beneficial thing here is that whenever you receive a verification code on your device, and it is not you who was logging in to your Snapchat account, you can immediately interpret that it is done by someone else. Therefore, you can quickly change your Snapchat password and make your account secure.

Conclusion

Snapchat has been a vital part of our lives these days. No one could pass their day without texting their Snapchat friends or sending them snaps on Snapchat. What will happen if you don’t get to log in to your Snapchat account and encounter the error that “Could Not Find Matching Credentials”? How frustrating it can be to not be able to log in to your Snapchat account. The meaning of this error is that your credentials i.e. your username and your password are either incorrect or you have forgotten them which is why Snapchat is not able to find them.

 While there can be many underlying reasons that Snapchat is showing you such an error, you need to find it so that you can fix it. There can be many reasons behind it including poor and unstable internet connection, an outdated version of the app, bugs and glitches, suspicious activity on your account, multiple login attempts, use of VPN, and most importantly, wrong login credentials. If you want to fix this error, you need to fix the above reasons first. In the above guide, you will be able to know more about the reasons and you can resolve the problem with the help of the fixes mentioned above. 

Another major reason for this problem is the long-stored caches on your device. These can be harmful to your device and also the app. If not cleared from time to time, it can show you such errors. Therefore you must clear the caches. In the above guide, we have mentioned the steps to clear the caches from both Android and iPhone. We have also mentioned above the steps with which you can change your Snapchat password to secure your account. Above are some other beneficial fixes that will help you if the previous fixes do not.

Talking about Another important and major reason that will trigger Snapchat to show you this problem is that your account is being locked by Snapchat. While this sounds very usual to you, there are many underlying reasons for the same. You can read the information above to learn about them all and also learn some powerful fixes for the problem. If you follow them, you will be able to log into your account by unlocking it. There is another way to make your account safe and protect your privacy is by adding Two Way Authentication to your Snapchat account. Two Way Authentication is nothing but an additional layer of protection for your Snapchat account so that your account remains safe. By enabling this, you will be able to get a code by Snapchat which will be another protective credential for your account. Though the username and password could be in the wrong hands, the authentication code cannot. If you still get confused in the future, you can come back anytime and access the information.

FAQs