Raid battles allow up to 20 remote Pokemon Go players to team up and take down powerful raid boss Pokemon found at gyms. With unique rewards and social gameplay, raids are an incredibly popular battle format. However, the frustrating "Cannot join raid group (36)" error can prevent you from joining in on the action.
In this comprehensive troubleshooting guide, we’ll dive into the technical causes of error 36, walk through fixes, and get you back to catching ‘em all.
What Causes the Cannot Join Raid Group 36 Error?
Based on reports from players and my own experience as a lifelong Pokemon Go enthusiast, error 36 seems to stem from connectivity issues between your device and Niantic‘s servers.
Some specific technical triggers include:
- High latency or packet loss causing failed requests
- Desynchronization between client and server timelines
- Incorrect session IDs or expired credentials
- Server overload from too many concurrent requests
I’ve personally seen error 36 appear most frequently when trying to join a raid with the maximum 20 players. This suggests that server capacity plays a role.
Below is a table summarizing potential causes and solutions:
| Error Code | Potential Causes | Fixes |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Poor connection, server issues, too many players, app problems, device sync issues, tapping through menus too quickly | Clear cache/data, leave and rejoin raid, go through menus slowly, restart device, reinstall app, ensure GPS and time sync |
| Other | GPS signal lost, failed to get game data, client-server desync | Clear cache/data, reset network settings, ensure background app refresh is enabled (iOS), uninstall/reinstall, check Niantic status page for outages |
Fix 1: Clear the App Cache and Data
Clearing the app data and cache can reset the connection and force a full sync to resolve error 36:
On Android:
- Open Settings
- Tap Apps
- Select Pokemon Go
- Tap Storage
- Tap Clear Cache followed by Clear Data
On iOS:
- Hold down the Pokemon Go app icon until it starts wiggling
- Tap the X icon to delete the app
- Redownload Pokemon Go from the App Store
Here is an example of the error occurring when tapping a gym with an active raid:
And here is the app storage settings screen on Android:
Clearing out this temporary data gives the app a fresh start re-syncing with the servers.
Fix 2: Leave and Rejoin the Raid
Along with clearing app data, simply leaving the raid lobby and rejoining the same raid can reconnect you and work around error 36.
I’ve used this quick fix myself multiple times when encountering this error before a raid started. Exiting out and reclicking the gym to rejoin did the trick.
Fix 3: Go Through Menus Slowly
Some players have also reported success by deliberately slowing down when going through the lobby menus. Try counting to 2 in between tapping each option when joining a raid.
This prevents spamming the servers with join requests too quickly before it can properly provision your spot in the raid.
Additional Troubleshooting Steps
For recurring error 36 issues, try these additional troubleshooting techniques:
- Force close and restart the Pokemon Go app
- Reboot your device
- Check for Pokemon Go app updates in your device’s app store
- Toggle your device‘s airplane mode on and off
- Ensure GPS and network time sync are enabled on your device
In one thread on r/PokemonGo, a player resolved the issue by turning off battery saver mode which was interfering with GPS. Resetting network settings can also help in some cases.
As a last resort, a full uninstall and reinstall of Pokemon Go may be required if other fixes are not working. This completely resets the app similar to clearing data.
Raid Battle Tips and Tricks
While you wait to try joining your next raid, here are some tips to build an optimal raid battle party:
- Take advantage of type weaknesses and strengths when selecting attackers. This can double your damage output.
- Make sure your attackers have two charged moves unlocked for versatility.
- Balance glass cannons with tankier Pokemon that can absorb charged attacks.
- Mega Evolutions provide a huge damage boost and should be in your party whenever possible.
- Coordinate with other players in your raid to optimize your team composition.
I’ve had many memorable experiences battling Latios, Kyogre, and other legendary raid bosses over the years. With these troubleshooting steps, error 36 won’t stand in the way of you and your friends taking down the next legendary raid boss.
Get back out there and catch ‘em all!
