If you’ve ever opened X (formerly Twitter) to scroll through your timeline only to be blocked by the message “Something went wrong. Try reloading,” you know how annoying it can be. This error often appears when the browser gets confused by old data or when an extension interferes with the site. The good news is that this glitch is rarely permanent and is usually easy to fix with a few practical steps.
Why Does This Happen?
Before jumping into the repairs, it helps to understand what triggers this message. In most cases, it boils down to three main culprits:
- Corrupted Browser Data: Old cache files or cookies clash with the current version of the site (especially common after the rebrand to X).
- Extensions & Ad Blockers: Privacy tools or ad blockers sometimes mistakenly identify X’s necessary scripts as threats and block them.
- Network or Server Issues: Sometimes your internet connection blips, or X’s servers are actually down.
Preliminary Checks
Before you start clearing data or changing settings, try these quick fixes to rule out simple issues.
1. Check X’s Server Status
Sometimes the problem isn’t on your end at all. If X is down for maintenance or having an outage, no amount of troubleshooting on your device will fix it.
- Visit a site like DownDetector to see if other users are reporting problems.
- If you see a massive spike in reports, simply wait it out. The engineers are likely already working on it.
2. The “Hard” Refresh
A standard reload might not be enough if your browser is clinging to a broken version of the page.
- Windows: Press Ctrl + F5.
- Mac: Press Cmd + Shift + R.
- Mobile: Close the app entirely (swipe it away) and reopen it.
Fixes You Can Try (Desktop & Browser)
If the servers are up and a refresh didn’t work, the issue is likely stored data or an extension on your computer. Follow these steps in order.
1. Clear Cache and Cookies (Most Common Fix)
Because the platform shifted domains (from twitter.com to x.com), browsers often hold onto conflicting data. Clearing this gives you a fresh start.
For Google Chrome:
- Click the three dots (top right) → Settings.
- Go to Privacy and security → Delete browsing data.
- Select Cached images and files and Cookies and other site data.
- Click Delete data and restart Chrome.
For Firefox:
- Click the menu lines → Settings → Privacy & Security.
- Scroll to Cookies and Site Data and click Clear Data.
For Microsoft Edge:
- Click the three dots → Settings → Privacy, search, and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, click Choose what to clear and select your cache and cookies.
2. Disable Extensions or Ad Blockers
Privacy extensions (like Ghostery, Privacy Badger, or UBlock Origin) can sometimes be too aggressive, blocking the scripts X needs to load tweets.
- Test it first: Open an Incognito or Private window (Ctrl + Shift + N on Chrome). Log in to X. If it works here, one of your extensions is the problem.
- The Fix: Go back to your normal browser and turn off your extensions one by one to find the culprit. You don’t usually need to uninstall them—just add x.com and twitter.com to the extension’s “Allow” or “Whitelist” list.
3. Adjust Tracking Protection (Firefox & Edge)
Firefox and Edge have built-in “Strict” tracking protection that hates it when sites redirect (like Twitter redirecting to X). This frequently breaks the site.
- Firefox: Click the Shield icon to the left of the address bar. Toggle the switch to OFF for this site.
- Edge: Click the Lock icon in the address bar → Tracking prevention → switch to Off for this site.
Fixes for Mobile Users (Android & iOS)
If you are seeing “Something went wrong” on the app, the steps are slightly different.
Android
- Go to Settings → Apps → X.
- Tap Storage & cache.
- Tap Clear Cache. (Avoid “Clear Data” unless necessary, as this logs you out and resets all app settings).
iPhone (iOS)
iOS doesn’t allow you to clear the app cache from the system settings easily.
- Open the X app.
- Tap your profile icon → Settings and Privacy.
- Go to Accessibility, display, and languages → Data usage.
- Tap Web storage and select Clear web page storage.
Advanced Troubleshooting
If you’re still stuck after trying the above, the issue might be network-related.
1. Flush DNS Cache
Your computer keeps a phonebook of website addresses (DNS). If X moved servers and your computer is looking at the old address, it won’t load.
- Press Win + R on your keyboard.
- Type
cmdand press Enter. - In the black box that appears, type
ipconfig /flushdnsand hit Enter. - You should see a message saying the resolver cache was successfully flushed.
2. Check VPN and Time Settings
- Disable VPN: X sometimes blocks IP addresses associated with VPNs. Turn off your VPN temporarily to see if the site loads.
- Check Time: If your computer’s clock is wrong (wrong date or time), the security certificate for X will fail. Ensure your device is set to Set time automatically.
What NOT to Do
- Don’t delete your account: This error is almost never a reason to delete your account. It is a technical display issue, not a ban (unless you see a specific suspension message).
- Don’t pay for “support” services: Scammers often target users complaining about this error on social media. Only trust the official X Help Center.
Conclusion
The “Something went wrong” error is frustrating, but it’s rarely serious. Most of the time, simply clearing your browser cache or disabling a strict ad blocker will get your timeline moving again immediately. If the problem persists for more than 24 hours and you’ve tried everything here, reach out to X Support directly.