Running into app lag, an error message, or a sluggish device? This guide covers the most common issues teachers experience with Playground and their devices, and the fastest ways to fix them.
Common Device Issues & Their Causes
Your device's performance directly affects how smoothly you can use Playground throughout the day. Here are the three most common issues and what causes them:
Devices slow down or freeze
Cause: Devices left powered on all the time can overheat and experience software lag, leading to slow response times and increased wear.
Battery drains quickly or the device shuts off unexpectedly
Cause: Leaving devices plugged in and fully charged for long periods degrades battery health over time, leading to shorter battery life and unexpected shutoffs.
App feels slow, features seem outdated, or pages take longer to load
Cause: Staying logged into the Playground app or web dashboard without logging out regularly. Playground usually pushes updates in the evening, so logging out ensures you load the latest version the next time you sign in.
Common In-Product Errors
Errors can happen from time to time. Here is how to handle the two most common ones:
Not Authorized
If you see a "Not Authorized" error when trying to complete an action, follow these steps:
Log out of your account, then log back in and refresh your browser.
Make sure you only have one Playground tab open at a time. Multiple tabs logged into different accounts can trigger this error.
Close your browser completely and reopen it.
Firebase: Error
Firebase errors are usually caused by a network interruption or firewall restriction and show up when trying to sign in.
Switch to a different Wi-Fi network if one is available.
Turn off Wi-Fi on your mobile device and try signing in using cellular data. If sign-in works on cellular, the issue is with your Wi-Fi network.
If none of these steps resolve the issue, contact Playground support.
Quick Troubleshooting Solutions
Power down your device regularly: Power off your device, wait 2 minutes, and turn it back on. If possible, schedule a weekly shutdown during off-peak hours, like over the weekend. This clears memory, prevents overheating, and lets the system refresh.
Establish good charging habits: Unplug your device once it is fully charged. Occasionally letting the battery drain before recharging extends battery life and prevents unexpected shutoffs during the day.
Log out of Playground regularly: Log out of the Playground app and website at the end of each day. It is also helpful to do a hard refresh in your browser by pressing Control + Shift + R (Windows) or Command + Shift + R (Mac). This prevents outdated data from building up in the cache and ensures you always have the latest version of Playground when you sign back in.
Delete & Reinstall the App
If other troubleshooting steps have not resolved the issue, deleting the app, force restarting your device, and reinstalling it can clear any corrupted data and give you a fresh start.
On iPhone or iPad
Press and hold the Playground app icon until a menu appears.
Tap Remove App, then tap Delete App to confirm.
Force restart your device:
If your iPhone does not have a Home button (iPhone X and later): Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, then quickly press and release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
If your iPhone has a Home button: Press and hold both the Home button and the Side or Top button (for older models) at the same time until the Apple logo appears.
After the device restarts, open the App Store, search for Playground, and tap the download icon to reinstall.
On Android
Press and hold the Playground app icon, then tap Uninstall. Tap OK to confirm.
Force restart your device: press and hold the Power button for 8 to 10 seconds until the screen goes black and the device restarts on its own.
After the device restarts, open the Google Play Store, search for Playground, and tap Install to reinstall.
FAQs
Why does Playground feel slow or laggy?
Why does Playground feel slow or laggy?
The most likely cause is an active session that has not been refreshed in a while. Log out of the app or website and log back in. On the web, also do a hard refresh: Control + Shift + R on Windows, Command + Shift + R on Mac. If your device has been on for a long time without a restart, powering it off and back on can also help.
How often should I log out of Playground?
How often should I log out of Playground?
Daily is best. Playground updates the platform every evening, and logging out means you will always load the latest version when you sign back in the next morning.
What does a "Not Authorized" error mean?
What does a "Not Authorized" error mean?
It usually means your session has expired or there are multiple Playground windows open at the same time. Log out, close any duplicate tabs, and log back in.
What causes a Firebase error at sign-in?
What causes a Firebase error at sign-in?
Firebase errors are almost always network-related. Try switching to a different Wi-Fi network, or turn off Wi-Fi and sign in using cellular data. If signing in on cellular works, your Wi-Fi network has a firewall or restriction blocking Playground.
When should I reach out to Playground support?
When should I reach out to Playground support?
If you have tried logging out and back in, refreshing your browser, and checking your network connection, and the issue is still happening, reach out through live chat or email. The more detail you can share about what happened, the faster the team can help.