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Troubleshooting

Having issues? Here are solutions to common problems.

Connection Issues​

"Can't connect to relay"​

Symptoms: Error messages about relay connections, posts not loading.

Solutions:

  1. Check internet connection - Try loading other websites
  2. Wait and retry - Relays sometimes have temporary issues
  3. Remove problematic relay - In settings, remove the failing relay
  4. Check relay URL - Make sure it starts with wss://

"Relay refused connection"​

Possible causes:

  • Relay is down for maintenance
  • You're rate-limited (too many requests)
  • Relay requires authentication or payment

Solutions:

  1. Wait and try again later
  2. Try a different relay
  3. Check if relay requires signup

App is very slow​

Solutions:

  1. Reduce relays - Too many relays slow things down
  2. Clear cache - Look in app settings
  3. Check internet speed - Test your connection
  4. Try different client - Some are faster than others
  5. Disable media auto-load - If available in settings

Account Issues​

Can't log in with private key​

Check:

  1. Using nsec (not npub) - must start with nsec1
  2. No extra spaces before/after
  3. Complete key (63 characters after nsec1)
  4. Correct app (is it a real Nostr app?)

Profile not loading​

Solutions:

  1. Wait for relay sync (can take a minute)
  2. Refresh or pull-to-refresh
  3. Check relay connections
  4. Verify using correct key

Lost my private key​

Unfortunately: There's no recovery. You'll need to create a new account.

For next time: Back up immediately after creating account. → See Backup Your Keys

Profile shows on some apps but not others​

Cause: Different apps may use different relays.

Solution:

  1. Ensure both apps are connected to common relays
  2. Re-publish your profile (edit and save in working app)
  3. Wait for sync

Content Issues​

Posts not appearing​

After posting:

  1. Wait a moment (not instant)
  2. Pull to refresh
  3. Check relay connections
  4. Try posting from different client

Your posts invisible to others:

  1. Check you're connected to public relays
  2. Verify posts are actually being sent (check relay logs if technical)
  3. Ask someone to check specific relays

Can't see someone's posts​

Solutions:

  1. Check relay overlap - You need common relays
  2. Add their relays - Look at their profile for relay hints
  3. Search by npub - Directly search for their public key
  4. They may have blocked you - Check with mutual friends

Missing direct messages​

Possible causes:

  • DMs take time to sync
  • On different relays
  • Client-specific issues

Solutions:

  1. Wait for sync
  2. Check DM inbox (not filtered/requests)
  3. Ensure connected to common relays
  4. Try different client

Old posts disappeared​

Possible causes:

  • Relay deleted old data
  • Relay went offline
  • Client cache cleared

Notes: This is normal in a decentralized system. Important posts should be on multiple relays.

Zap Issues​

Can't send zaps​

Check:

  1. Wallet connected? - Check app settings
  2. Balance? - Ensure you have sats
  3. Lightning address valid? - Check recipient's profile
  4. Invoice expired? - Try again quickly

Not receiving zaps​

Check:

  1. Lightning address in profile? - Must be set
  2. Address working? - Test by sending to yourself
  3. Wallet active? - Some require app open

Zaps showing as failed​

Common causes:

  • Network timeout
  • Recipient's node offline
  • Route not found

Solutions:

  1. Try again
  2. Try smaller amount
  3. Check if recipient's wallet is active

Media Issues​

Can't upload images​

Solutions:

  1. Check file size - Most have limits (1-5MB typical)
  2. Try different format - JPG usually works
  3. Use external host - nostr.build
  4. Check permissions - App may need camera/gallery access

Images not loading​

Solutions:

  1. Check internet connection
  2. Image host may be down
  3. Enable image loading in settings
  4. Try different client

Profile picture not updating​

Solutions:

  1. Clear cache
  2. Wait for propagation
  3. Re-save profile
  4. Try different image host

Verification Issues​

NIP-05 not showing​

Check:

  1. Correct format: name@domain.com
  2. JSON file accessible
  3. CORS headers configured
  4. Public key matches

Test: Visit https://yourdomain.com/.well-known/nostr.json?name=yourname

NIP-05 says invalid​

Common issues:

  1. JSON syntax error
  2. Wrong public key format (should be hex, not npub)
  3. Server not responding
  4. CORS blocking requests

Client-Specific Issues​

Damus (iOS)​

IssueSolution
Notifications not workingCheck Settings → Notifications → Damus
Posts duplicatingClear cache, update app
Crash on openReinstall, restore from nsec

Amethyst (Android)​

IssueSolution
Battery drainReduce relays, disable background refresh
Slow loadingClear cache in settings
No notificationsCheck Android notification settings

Primal (Web)​

IssueSolution
Doesn't loadTry different browser, clear cache
Extension not workingReinstall extension, check permissions
SlowTry at different time, cache warming

When All Else Fails​

General Reset Steps​

  1. Clear app cache (if option exists)
  2. Force close and reopen app
  3. Log out and log back in (with your nsec!)
  4. Try a different client to isolate the issue
  5. Check relay status at nostr.watch

Get Help​

  1. #asknostr hashtag - Community support
  2. App's GitHub - File an issue
  3. Nostr communities - Many helpful groups

Reporting Bugs​

When reporting issues, include:

  • Client name and version
  • Device and OS
  • Steps to reproduce
  • Error messages (if any)
  • What you expected vs what happened

Prevention Tips​

Avoid Future Issues​

  1. Back up your keys - Can't stress this enough
  2. Use reputable clients - Stick to well-known apps
  3. Keep apps updated - Bugs get fixed
  4. Use moderate relay count - 5-10 is usually good
  5. Don't ignore errors - They often indicate real problems

Next Steps​