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Scrimba Troubleshooting

Quick answer: Most platform issues come from one of four things: an old browser tab, a problem extension, an infinite loop in your own code, or a sync delay on progress. Use a recent Chrome or Firefox on a desktop or laptop, refresh the page, clear cache, or open the lesson in an incognito window with extensions off. If your code froze the tab, close it and click reset when you reopen. For anything that persists after those steps, email [email protected]. Scrimba is a web-only platform; there is no native mobile app and no offline mode.

Last reviewed: March 2026. Steps below mirror official Scrimba help-centre articles.

Who this page is for​

You hit a wall. The lesson does not play, the editor will not save, your progress did not bump, or something else is in the way. This page covers the practical steps that resolve most issues without involving support, and tells you when to escalate.

Triage in order​

  1. Refresh the tab. A surprising amount of editor weirdness clears with a single reload.
  2. Hard-reload to bypass cache (Ctrl+Shift+R or Cmd+Shift+R).
  3. Open the lesson in an incognito window with no extensions. If the problem disappears, an extension or stale cookie is the cause.
  4. Switch browsers. Chrome is the most consistent. Firefox is fine. Safari sometimes lags on the interactive editor.
  5. Check your connection. Scrimba requires an internet connection at all times; the editor talks to the server constantly.
  6. Update your browser. If you are more than a few versions behind, update first before assuming Scrimba is the problem.

If none of that fixes it, email [email protected] with the lesson URL, the browser and version, and a screenshot or short video. Specifics shorten the support cycle.

Next step: Bookmark the Scrimba Help Centre so you can search the article catalog directly next time.

Device and browser support​

  • Desktop or laptop, recent Chrome or Firefox is the recommended setup. The interactive editor needs a keyboard and a screen big enough to show the lesson and the editor side by side.
  • Mobile and tablet support is limited. The site loads on mobile browsers; the interactive coding experience is not really usable. There is no native iOS or Android app.
  • No offline mode. The editor needs the server. You cannot download lessons for plane rides.

References: Mobile and tablet compatibility · Can I watch courses offline?

When the editor will not play or load​

  1. Refresh; if that fails, hard-reload.
  2. Disable browser extensions, especially ad blockers and privacy extensions that intercept third-party requests.
  3. Open the lesson in incognito with no extensions to confirm the cause.
  4. Try Chrome if you are on something else.
  5. If it still fails on a clean profile, email support with the lesson URL.

Reference: The editor is not working correctly

When your code freezes the browser tab​

The classic cause is an infinite loop you wrote in JavaScript (while (true), a forgotten recursion base case, a runaway interval). When the tab is unresponsive:

  1. Close the tab.
  2. Reopen the lesson.
  3. Click the reset button to restore the original code.
  4. Edit again, more carefully, with a sensible break condition.

If a specific lesson reliably freezes even with the original code, that is a content bug; email support with the lesson URL.

Reference: My code crashes or freezes the browser

When progress does not update​

Progress tracking occasionally lags after a quick session, especially if your network dropped briefly mid-lesson, or if you have multiple tabs open on the same account.

  1. Wait a few minutes and refresh.
  2. Make sure you completed the lesson (some lessons require a final action, not just watching).
  3. Reset progress is available per-course from your dashboard if you want a clean run, but it cannot be undone.
  4. If progress is wrong and stays wrong, email [email protected] with the course name and which lesson is wrong.

References: My progress is not correct, how do I fix it? · How do I reset my progress?

Sign-in trouble​

Sign in supports email and password, Google, and GitHub. If you signed up with one method and now log in with another, you may end up in a second account that has no progress. Use the same login method you signed up with. If you cannot remember, search your inbox for emails from Scrimba and check the email address they were sent to.

Reference: How to sign in / sign up

Captions and language​

  • Captions and subtitles are available on some lessons, not all. Support varies by course.
  • Scrimba's instruction language is English only. There is no multi-language audio or translated lessons.

References: Do your lessons have captions? · Can I change the language of the lesson?

Account deletion​

Email [email protected] and ask for account deletion. Cancel any active subscription first so you do not get billed during the deletion window.

Reference: How do I delete my account?

Sources​

Device and access

Lessons and progress

Account and content

Once it is working, go finish the path

Interactive coding in the browser, no setup. When the platform behaves, the format is the point.

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