Overleaf is a popular online platform for collaborative LaTeX editing, enabling researchers, students, and professionals to work on academic papers and documents seamlessly.
However, like any web service, Overleaf is not immune to occasional server errors.
One common error message users may encounter is “Sorry, Something Went Wrong and your project could not be compiled. Please try again in a few moments“.
In this article, we will explore the possible causes behind this error and provide potential solutions to resolve it.
What Causes Overleaf Server Error Sorry Something Went Wrong?
The Something Went Wrong error on Overleaf can occur due to several reasons. Let’s explore some of the common causes:
1. Issues With Your Network Connectivity
A stable and reliable internet connection is crucial for uninterrupted access to Overleaf.
If your network connection is unstable or experiencing intermittent outages, it can disrupt the communication between your computer and Overleaf’s servers, triggering the server error. Ensure a stable network connection to avoid this issue.
2. Corrupted Browser Cache And Cookies
Browser cache and cookies can sometimes become corrupted or outdated, leading to conflicts with Overleaf.
Clearing your browser’s cache and cookies, specifically those related to Overleaf, can resolve potential issues and help restore normal functionality.
3. Browser Extensions Or Plugins
Certain browser extensions or plugins, such as ad-blockers, download managers, or firewalls/proxies, may interfere with Overleaf’s operation.
Temporarily disabling these extensions or trying an Incognito/Private browsing mode can help determine if they are the cause of the server error.
4. Outdated Or Unsupported Browser
Using an outdated or unsupported browser version can result in compatibility issues with Overleaf.
Ensure that your browser is up-to-date and supported by Overleaf.
If possible, try accessing Overleaf using a different browser to troubleshoot the issue.
5. Invalid Domain Access
Overleaf’s editor requires full access to the “compiles.overleaf.com” domain.
If your network or system configurations restrict access to this domain, it can lead to server errors.
Verify that you have unrestricted access to the required domain to avoid such issues.
How To Fix Overleaf Server Error Sorry Something Went Wrong?
Now that we have identified the possible causes of the “Sorry, Something Went Wrong” error on Overleaf, let’s explore some potential fixes to resolve the issue:
1. Refresh The Page
A simple page refresh can sometimes resolve temporary server glitches.
Click the refresh button on your browser or press F5 to reload the page and check if the error persists.
2. Clear Browser Cache And Cookies
Clearing your browser’s cache and cookies can help eliminate any corrupted or outdated data that may be causing conflicts.
Refer to your browser’s settings or preferences to find the option to clear cache and cookies, and ensure to specifically target Overleaf-related data.
Here are general steps to clear cache and cookies in popular browsers:
Steps Clearing Browser Cache And Cookies For Google Chrome:
- Open Chrome and click on the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner.
- Select “More tools” and then click on “Clear browsing data.”
- In the popup window, select the “Basic” tab.
- Choose a time range or select “All time” to clear all cache and cookies.
- Check the boxes next to “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.”
- Click on the “Clear data” button.
Steps Clearing Browser Cache And Cookies For Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Firefox and click on the three-line menu icon in the top right corner.
- Select “Options” and go to the “Privacy & Security” tab.
- Under the “Cookies and Site Data” section, click on the “Clear Data” button.
- In the popup window, check the boxes next to “Cookies” and “Cached Web Content.”
- Click on the “Clear” button.
Steps Clearing Browser Cache And Cookies For Microsoft Edge:
- Open Edge and click on the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner.
- Select “Settings” and go to the “Privacy, search, and Services” tab.
- Under the “Clear browsing data” section, click on the “Choose what to clear” button.
- Check the boxes next to “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.”
- Click on the “Clear” button.
Steps For Safari:
- Open Safari and click on “Safari” in the top menu bar.
- Select “Preferences” and go to the “Privacy” tab.
- Click on the “Manage Website Data” button.
- In the popup window, click on the “Remove All” button.
- Confirm the action by clicking on “Remove Now.”
3. Use Incognito/Private Mode
Open a new Incognito/Private browsing window in your browser and access Overleaf from there.
This mode disables most browser extensions and plugins by default, allowing you to verify if they are causing the server error.
- To use Incognito/Private Mode, simply open a new window or tab in your browser and select the option from the menu or use the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Shift+N for Google Chrome, Ctrl+Shift+P for Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge).
4. Disable Browser Extensions Or Plugins
Temporarily disable any browser extensions or plugins, especially ad-blockers, download managers, or firewalls/proxies, that might be interfering with Overleaf.
You can typically manage your extensions through your browser’s settings or extensions menu.
Here are the general steps to temporarily disable extensions in popular browsers:
Steps For Google Chrome:
- Click the three-dot menu icon > More tools > Extensions.
- Toggle off the switch next to the extension to disable it.
Steps For Mozilla Firefox:
- Click the three-line menu icon > Add-ons.
- In the Extensions tab, click on the three-dot menu icon next to the extension and choose “Disable.”
Steps For Microsoft Edge:
- Click the three-dot menu icon > Extensions.
- Toggle off the switch next to the extension to disable it.
Steps For Safari:
- Go to Safari menu > Preferences > Extensions.
- Uncheck the box next to the extension to disable it.
5. Update Or Change Your Browser
Ensure that your browser is up-to-date with the latest version and is supported by Overleaf.
If you continue to encounter the server error, try accessing Overleaf using a different browser to determine if the issue is browser-specific.
Here are the steps to update popular browsers:
Steps For Google Chrome:
- Click the three-dot menu icon > Help > About Google Chrome.
- Chrome will automatically check for updates and install them if available.
- Relaunch Chrome to apply the updates
Steps For Microsoft Edge:
- Click the three-dot menu icon > Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge.
- Edge will automatically check for updates and install them if available.
- Relaunch Edge to apply the updates.
Steps For Safari:
- Click the Apple menu > System Preferences.
- Select “Software Update” to check for macOS updates, which may include Safari updates.
- Install any available updates as prompted.
6. Try To Access Your Overleaf Account Via A Different Computer/device
Sometimes, the issue may be specific to your computer or device. By accessing Overleaf from a different computer or device, you can determine if the problem is isolated to your setup.
7. Connect Using A Different Network
Network-related issues, such as firewall restrictions or network congestion, can contribute to server errors.
Switching to a different network, such as your home Wi-Fi, your work network, or even using your mobile data, can help determine if the issue is network-dependent.
8. Switch To A Different DNS
DNS resolution failures can occur if the default DNS servers provided by your internet service provider or private network is experiencing issues or are outdated.
By switching to a more reliable DNS service, such as Google’s public DNS servers (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4), you can potentially resolve DNS-related problems and improve access to Overleaf.
Here are the steps to switch DNS servers
Steps To Switch DNS Servers For On macOS:
- Click on the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and select “System Preferences.”
- In the System Preferences window, click on “Network.”
- Select your active network connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) from the left-hand sidebar.
- Click on the “Advanced” button in the bottom right corner.
- Go to the “DNS” tab.
- In the DNS Servers section, click on the “+” button to add a new DNS server.
- Enter “8.8.8.8” as the primary DNS server and “8.8.4.4” as the secondary DNS server (Google’s public DNS servers).
- Click “OK” and then “Apply” to save the changes.
Steps To Switch DNS Servers For On Windows:
- Open the Control Panel. You can access it by searching for “Control Panel” in the Start menu or right-clicking on the Start button and selecting “Control Panel.”
- In the Control Panel, select “Network and Internet” and then click on “Network and Sharing Center.”
- In the Network and Sharing Center, click on “Change adapter settings” in the left-hand sidebar.
- Right-click on your active network connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and select “Properties.”
- In the Properties window, scroll down and double-click on “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).”
- In the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) properties, select the option to “Use the following DNS server addresses.”
- Enter “8.8.8.8” as the preferred DNS server and “8.8.4.4” as the alternate DNS server (Google’s public DNS servers).
- Click “OK” to save the changes.
9. Check Domain Access
Review your network or system configurations to confirm no restrictions on accessing the “compiles.overleaf.com” domain.
Adjust any necessary settings to allow full access to Overleaf’s required domain.