If you're entering your credentials, getting redirected to a browser, and then landing back at the app's sign-in screen without being logged in, you're experiencing a redirect loop. This is different from the "Oops! Something went wrong" error — that error appears before credentials are accepted, while the redirect loop happens after your credentials have already been entered correctly.
What the loop looks like
You open the app and tap Sign In.
The app opens a browser window or tab to complete authentication.
You enter your credentials and they're accepted.
Instead of returning to the app as a logged-in user, you're redirected back to the app's sign-in screen.
The loop repeats if you try again.
Why this is different from the "Oops! Something went wrong" error
The "Oops! Something went wrong" error is typically a cookie or session issue that appears before your credentials are accepted. The sign-in loop is a separate problem: your credentials are correct and accepted, but the app and browser fail to hand the authenticated session back to the app successfully. The two issues have different causes and different fixes.
If you're being sent back to the login screen after entering a verification code, that's a separate MFA issue — not this loop. This article is specifically about the browser redirect loop that happens after your primary credentials (email/password, Google, or Apple) are accepted. For verification code problems, we can help reset your MFA.
Steps to fix on Android
Work through these steps in order. After each one, try signing in again before moving to the next.
Check your default browser setting. Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps > Browser app and confirm a standard browser (such as Chrome) is set as the default. Some third-party browsers handle app-to-browser redirects differently and can break the return handoff.
Clear the app's cache (not your browser cache). Go to Settings > Apps > NerdWallet > Storage > Clear cache. This removes temporary data that can interfere with the authentication handoff — it does not delete your account or personal data.
Check for a VPN or ad blocker. If you're using a VPN, ad blocker, or DNS filter, temporarily disable it and try signing in again. These tools can intercept or block the redirect URL that returns you to the app.
Force-stop the app and reopen it. Go to Settings > Apps > NerdWallet > Force stop, then reopen the app and try signing in.
Reinstall the app. Uninstall the app completely, reinstall it from the Play Store, and try signing in fresh.
Restart your phone. After completing all the steps above, restart your phone before attempting to sign in again. A full restart clears network state and background processes that can persist across app reinstalls and has resolved this issue when other steps did not.
Steps to fix on iOS
Work through these steps in order. After each one, try signing in again before moving to the next.
Check for a VPN or content blocker. If you're using a VPN, ad blocker, or DNS filter (including one configured in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management), temporarily disable it and try signing in.
Clear the app's cache or offload the app. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > NerdWallet and tap Offload App. This frees up storage and clears cached data without deleting your account information. Reinstall the app afterward.
Force-quit the app and reopen it. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-press the Home button) to open the app switcher, swipe the app away, then reopen it.
Reinstall the app. Delete the app and reinstall it from the App Store.
Restart your phone. After completing the steps above, restart your iPhone before trying to sign in again.
When to contact support
If you've worked through all the steps above — including restarting your phone — and the sign-in loop continues, please contact our support team. To help us investigate, let us know:
Your device model and operating system version
Whether you're using a VPN, ad blocker, or custom DNS
Which steps you've already tried
Approximately when the issue started