An Unexpected Error Has Occurred: Top Fixes for Instagram, Fortnite & More

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Common causes for error messages and how to fix them
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Are you running into a "An Unexpected Error Has Occurred" error message? This message can pop up in various places like Instagram, Windows 10/11, Apple sites and services, Microsoft sites and services, and Fortnite. Apps like Instagram and Fortnite might run into this error if they have a full cache; software like Apple and Microsoft can show this error message if the network adapter is faulty.

Common Causes for "An Unexpected Error Has Occurred."

The causes behind this message change depending on what you're doing when you see it. If you're online, this message generally means something's wrong with the internet connection. Their servers might be down, or your app might have a temporary glitch.

Section 1 of 6:

Top Fixes for Mobile Apps

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  1. An outdated app won't work properly and can cause the "An Unexpected Error Has Occurred" message.
    • Update your app using the Google Play Store for Android or the App Store for iPhone/iPad .
    • Use this section if you're encountering the "An Unexpected Error Has Occurred" message while you're using an app on your phone or tablet. This includes mobile apps like Instagram, Facebook, and Fortnite.
  2. Only Android users have this ability, so skip this step if you're using an iPhone or iPad. On Android, go to Settings > Apps/Apps & Notifications and select the app that you're having issues with. Tap Storage > Clear cache .
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  3. If clearing the cache on Android didn't work, you can move on to this step. This step not only clears the cache automatically on iPhones and iPads, but it also allows your phone or tablet to reinstall a fresh version of the app.
    • Press and hold the icon on your Home screen, then tap X , Remove , or Delete to uninstall the app for Android, iPhone, and iPad.
  4. If the updated version isn't working for you, you might be able to install an APK of the reliable older version.
    • Make sure that you disable automatic updates for installed apps so all your work isn't undone.
    • To turn off auto-updates, find your app on the Google Play Store (you can also open the Google Play Store app, tap your profile picture, select Manage apps & device > Manage , and tap the name of an app), tap â‹® > Enable auto update . [1]
  5. If the app isn't working, try using the browser on your phone or tablet. After you're able to sign in and use the browser for a while, try using the app again.
    • If you're still unable to use the service online, their servers might be down. Search online or go to https://downdetector.com to see if the service, like Facebook or Instagram, is offline or experiencing congestion issues.
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Section 2 of 6:

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  1. You don't necessarily need to log in with a different account. Chances are high that you'll be able to log into your original account with the "use different account" method. [2]
  2. Some issues with Outlook are related to how you set up your computer. In that case, a different computer will work to let you log into your Outlook account.
  3. This step includes deleting your personal files, so you should back them up before continuing.
    • Go to drive:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook and delete all the files there.
    • Open Outlook and set up your profile again.
  4. This is only necessary if you have an Azure-ID that contains at least one unicode character.
    • Go to Control Panel > Change time, date, or number formats > Change system locale > Beta: Use Unicode UTF-8 for worldwide language support > OK .
    • Once that box closes, open Outlook again and it'll load without the error message.
    • Go back to the "Region Settings" menu in Control Panel and uncheck the Beta box to avoid compatibility issues with other apps on your computer. [3]
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Section 3 of 6:

Top Fixes for Network Driver Errors on Windows 10/11

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  1. With Windows 10 and 11, drivers update automatically when you update your computer. Press Win + I to open Settings, then go to Settings > Update & Security (Windows 10 only) > Windows Update .
    • If you want to update your drivers manually, open Device Manager and right-click the driver. Select Update and use the updated driver from the manufacturer to make sure you have an up-to-date version of your driver.
  2. This just means that your current driver installation can be corrupted if you still experience the "An Unexpected Error" message after following the other two steps. Go to Device Manager and right-click the faulty network adapter driver. Select Uninstall and then reinstall the driver either manually or using Windows Update.
  3. That's the latest internet protocol, but not every connection uses it. In that case, you'll frequently get an "Unexpected Error" message. To do this, open PowerShell as an administrator and type this code and press Enter : Get-NetAdapterBinding -ComponentID ms_tcpip6 .
    • You'll see the list of adapters on your computer. Take note of the name of the network adapter.
    • Type this code and press Enter : Disable-NetAdapterBinding -Name "XXNAMEXX" -ComponentID ms_tcpip6 . Replace XXNAMEXX with the name of your network adapter.
    • Restart your computer to see if disabling IPv6 worked.
  4. This file is responsible for helping your computer interact with networks, so if it isn't working, you'll see the "An Unexpected Error" message. To do so, open Command Prompt as an administrator, then enter this code: regsvr32 netshell.dll .
    • That's it! Restart your computer to see if that helped!
  5. This program lets you easily diagnose and fix issues with your network adapter when you run out of common troubleshooting steps.
    • On Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Network Adapter .
    • On Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional Troubleshooters > Network Adapter .
    • Use this method if you're just trying to go online whether in a browser or in a game and get the "An Unexpected Error Has Occurred" message.
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Section 4 of 6:

Top Fixes for Mac Drives

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  1. Simply turning it off and turning it back on again can clear out temporary glitches that can cause this error.
    • Use this method if you're getting the "An Unexpected Error Has Occurred" message whenever you try to access or use a disk on Mac.
  2. If you're trying to do something on your Mac and get the "Unexpected Error" message, then something with your drives might be causing an issue. First Aid will diagnose and attempt to fix any inconsistencies.
    • Run First Aid by going to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility , selecting the drive, and then clicking First Aid . [4]
  3. If you're getting the error specifically on a certain drive, you can reformat it so it behaves like a new drive. Doing this will erase all your data and files on the drive, so make sure you have a backup before doing this!
    • In Disk Utility, click the drive you want to reformat, then select Erase . When you're setting up the drive again, make sure you select "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" for the format and "GUID Partition Map" for the scheme. [5]
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Section 5 of 6:

Top Fixes for Desktop Programs

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  1. Many service providers and companies will post publicly if their servers are congested, slow, or offline. This is the first thing you want to check if your online games or services aren't working, including Epic and Ubisoft games.
  2. If the problem isn't due to an outage or congested servers, this will solve your "An Unexpected Error" message.
    • For Mac, simply drag and drop the program's icon to the Trash and empty it.
    • For Windows, open "Installed apps" in Settings or "Add/Remove Programs" in Control panel and click the app or the three-dots next to the app to uninstall it. ]
    • Reinstall the app once it's done uninstalling and you'll get a fresh version of the program that will automatically install updates. [6]
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Section 6 of 6:

Top Fixes for Fortnite on Console

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  1. For all consoles, you want to change the DNS setting from "Automatic" to manual. Sometimes the "Automatic" setting doesn't work, so you'll need to set up a numeric DNS to use.
    • In "Network Settings," find the DNS settings (which might be hidden behind "Advanced"), and enter 8.8.8.8 for the primary and 8.8.4.4 for the secondary DNS. This is the public DNS from Google that you should use if the "Automatic" setting doesn't work. [7]
  2. If you can't sign into Fortnite on your console, your IP address might be stale or stuck. To reset this, disconnect any wired connections to your console, like an ethernet cable, then go to Settings > Network Settings > Advanced > Alternate MAC Address > Clear .
    • Restart your console without an internet connection, then reconnect the internet connection after the system reboots.
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      • The "An Unexpected Error Has Occurred" message usually indicates a network issue, but there is usually a code following the message that explains exactly what is wrong. You can search this code online for more specific tips to solve your problem.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/googleplay/thread/247447427/i-want-to-disable-all-auto-updates?hl=en
      2. ↑ https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/unexpected-error-has-occured/69e90583-3306-4aa8-aa50-74ffa0a7ac97
      3. ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/troubleshoot/profiles-and-accounts/outlook-displays-error-message-on-first-start
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/disk-utility/repair-a-storage-device-dskutl1040/mac
      5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/disk-utility/erase-and-reformat-a-storage-device-dskutl14079/22..6/mac/14.0
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Agxkd9V3Qk
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev9SEXdsh7U

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