‘Pokémon Go’ 0.51 Update Still Not Opening, Lagging & Causing Gym Issues As Holiday Event Ends

Niantic updated Pokémon Go at the end of December to version 0.51 (or 1.21.2 on iOS), and the patch is still causing problems as the game’s holiday event comes to a close. On certain devices the app can’t open, it lags or gym battles are basically broken.

International Business Times reported on these issues shortly after the patch went live and they have not subsided since. A list of troubled devices was compiled, and there are even some fixes too. Regardless of the workarounds, however, many still haven’t been able to get the most from their mobile monster-catching experience. Take a look at this reddit thread for the evidence. In just 24 hours, nearly 200 disappointed comments were left backing up the claims.

For those with some technical savvy, the situation wouldn’t be so frustrating if Niantic hadn’t started forcing the 0.51 update on players last week. In the midst of the game’s holiday event, with higher Gen 2 hatch rates, increased Kanto starter spawns and more potent lures, many weren’t able to get in on the fun. In the past this could be remedied by downgrading to an earlier APK version, but, because Niantic restricted that, the bugs became more prevalent.

There’s a long list of issues across several Android and iOS devices, but the most common problems include load failures, poor performance and an issue where the dodge mechanic causes a fainting loop in gyms. The latter glitch was specifically ironed out in November but has since reemerged.

Beyond their impact to the holiday event, it’s also worth noting how long these bugs have been known. Version 0.51 first went live on Dec. 22, and Niantic has offered no resolution, or even a hint of one in that time. With the new year ahead of us, we’d expect the app’s first 2017 patch to address these shortcomings.

If you’d still like to get the full details on Pokémon Go’s Holiday Event, check out our source article. We also have a full listing of end times and a wish list for the months ahead. Stability is certainly in demand considering the app’s shoddy performance since launch.

Have you had any issues with Pokémon Go’s 0.51 update? Do you know of any fixes to smooth out these bugs? Tell us in the comments section!