If you tried ordering your morning latte or checking your Starbucks Rewards balance today but the app isn’t loading — you’re definitely not alone. Across the U.S., users are reporting that the Starbucks app is down, with mobile ordering, payment, and login functions all affected.
Here’s the latest on what’s happening, why it’s occurring, and when you can expect the Starbucks app to be fixed.
🔍 Current Situation
As of October 20, 2025, thousands of users are experiencing issues with the Starbucks mobile app. The problems range from:
- Mobile orders not going through
- App freezing at checkout
- Reward points not loading or updating
- Login and payment errors
- “Check your connection” messages even on stable Wi-Fi
While the Starbucks website is still functional for some customers, the app — especially its Order Ahead & Pay feature — is showing widespread outages.
The company has not released a detailed statement yet, but technical monitoring shows that the disruption is linked to a major Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage, which is currently affecting numerous apps and online platforms across the U.S.
⚠️ The Root Cause: AWS Outage
The AWS (Amazon Web Services) cloud network, which powers much of Starbucks’ mobile app infrastructure, has been experiencing significant disruptions throughout the day.
The AWS US-East-1 (Northern Virginia) region — one of Amazon’s largest and most critical data centers — went down earlier this morning, causing ripple effects across several industries.
Since Starbucks relies on AWS for key functions like:
- Payment and order processing
- Account authentication
- Real-time syncing of loyalty points
- Store locator and order routing
…the app can’t fully function until AWS restores its services.
This is the same cloud issue that also impacted other major platforms today — including Snapchat, Ring, and NYT Games — meaning it’s not an isolated Starbucks problem.
🧠 Why This Affects Starbucks Customers
The Starbucks app isn’t just a digital menu — it’s deeply tied into real-time data systems that connect:
- Your phone
- Starbucks’ in-store order management system
- Rewards and payment servers (all hosted on the cloud)
When AWS goes down, it prevents the app from syncing with Starbucks’ servers. That’s why you might see features like:
- “Order not available” messages
- Empty menu screens
- Reward stars disappearing temporarily
- Inability to load saved cards or payments
It’s not that your account is gone — it’s just temporarily inaccessible due to the backend outage.
🛠 What You Can Do Right Now
While Starbucks’ engineers (and AWS teams) are actively working to resolve the issue, here are a few things you can try in the meantime:
- Use in-store or drive-thru ordering – Baristas are still accepting payments manually in most locations.
- Try restarting the app – Force close and reopen to refresh the connection once AWS begins recovery.
- Switch networks – Move between Wi-Fi and mobile data to rule out local connectivity issues.
- Avoid multiple login attempts – Too many retries can cause your account to temporarily lock out.
- Wait for system recovery – Once AWS restores stability, your rewards and payment balance will reappear automatically.
If you’re worried about lost stars or payments, don’t panic — Starbucks automatically re-syncs all transaction data once systems are back online.
🕒 When Will the Starbucks App Be Fixed?
Based on previous incidents involving AWS outages, recovery typically occurs within a few hours, though performance can remain spotty for a bit longer.
Here’s what you can expect today:
- Early recovery (next 2–3 hours): Some users regain app access and can view menus or rewards.
- Midday stabilization: Payment and ordering functions begin working again in select regions.
- Full restoration (by evening): Most users should have complete app functionality restored, including Order Ahead, Rewards, and gift card payments.
If the outage extends beyond that, Starbucks will likely issue an official update acknowledging the delay and assuring users that transactions and rewards will be preserved.
🌎 Who’s Affected
Reports show that the outage is most concentrated in:
- The United States and Canada
- Select regions in the U.K. and Asia-Pacific (where Starbucks uses the same AWS backend)
Both iOS and Android versions of the app are affected, indicating that the problem is server-side, not device-related.
💬 Final Thoughts
So, is the Starbucks app down today?
Yes — and the cause isn’t your phone, your Wi-Fi, or even the app itself. The problem stems from a large-scale AWS cloud outage disrupting Starbucks’ ordering and payment systems nationwide.
The good news? It’s temporary. Engineers at both Starbucks and Amazon are already working to restore full functionality, and most users should be able to use the app again later today.
Until then, if you’re craving your daily coffee fix, your best bet is to head into your local store and order in person. Your rewards and account data will safely return once systems are back online.