Troubleshooting Guide¶

Solutions to common MessWala issues.

🔑 Login & Authentication¶

"Invalid Credentials"¶

Problem: Can't login with email/password

Solutions: 1. ✓ Double-check email address (typo?) 2. ✓ Verify password is correct (caps lock on?) 3. ✓ Try "Forgot Password" to reset 4. ✓ Try Google Sign-In instead 5. ✓ Clear browser cookies/cache 6. ✓ Try different browser

Still not working? - Account may not exist - May not be approved yet - Check with admin

"User Not Approved"¶

Problem: Registration pending approval

Solutions: 1. ✓ Ask admin to check pending registrations 2. ✓ Approval usually within 24 hours 3. ✓ Check email for approval notification 4. ✓ Verify registration was submitted successfully

Check status: - Admin can see pending users in User Management - They can approve immediately in dashboard

"Google Sign-In Not Working"¶

Problem: Google OAuth login fails

Solutions: 1. ✓ Verify Google account works (test on another site) 2. ✓ Check Google cookies are enabled 3. ✓ Try different Google account 4. ✓ Clear browser cache 5. ✓ Try incognito/private mode 6. ✓ Disable browser extensions (AdBlock, etc.)

Admin check: - Ensure Google Client ID is configured - Check environment variable: VITE_GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID

Token Expired / Logged Out¶

Problem: Getting logged out randomly

Solutions: 1. ✓ Token valid for 7 days after login 2. ✓ Login again (new token issued) 3. ✓ Check if session timeout is active 4. ✓ Clear cache to remove old token

Note: Automatic refresh not yet implemented (future feature)

📊 Dashboard & Data Issues¶

"No Data Showing" / "Loading Forever"¶

Problem: Dashboard empty or loading stuck

Solutions: 1. ✓ Check internet connection 2. ✓ Refresh page (F5 or Ctrl+R) 3. ✓ Hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R / Cmd+Shift+R) 4. ✓ Clear cache: Settings → Cache → Clear 5. ✓ Try incognito/private mode 6. ✓ Try different browser 7. ✓ Check if backend is up (visit /api/health)

Check backend:

curl https://messwala-6jvj.onrender.com/api/health
# Should return: {"status":"ok","dbState":1}

"Changes Not Saving"¶

Problem: Submit form but changes don't appear

Solutions: 1. ✓ Check for error message on page 2. ✓ Verify message says "Saved successfully" 3. ✓ Refresh page to confirm change 4. ✓ Wait 5 seconds and try again 5. ✓ Check internet connection 6. ✓ Verify you have permission for that action

Debug: - Open browser dev tools (F12) - Go to Network tab - Submit form - Check response is 200/201 (not 400/500)

"Outdated Data / Not Syncing"¶

Problem: Data seems outdated

Solutions: 1. ✓ Hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R) 2. ✓ Close and reopen app 3. ✓ Logout and login 4. ✓ Check another device (is data there?) 5. ✓ Check backend is responsive

Database check: - Contact admin to verify database is working

💰 Expenses Issues¶

"Can't Add Expense"¶

Problem: Add Expense button not working or form won't submit

Solutions: 1. ✓ Verify you're a Manager (Student can't add) 2. ✓ Check all required fields filled 3. ✓ Verify amount is valid number (not text) 4. ✓ Check category is selected 5. ✓ Try different browser 6. ✓ Check internet connection

Debug: - Open browser console (F12) - Look for error messages - Check if form validation error shows

"Expense Missing/Deleted"¶

Problem: Expense disappeared or not showing

Solutions: 1. ✓ Refresh page 2. ✓ Check date filter (might be filtered out) 3. ✓ Scroll to find (might be out of view) 4. ✓ Check category filter 5. ✓ Only original recorder can delete (not you?) 6. ✓ Check different month filter

Can't undo delete: - Currently no undo feature - Contact admin to restore from backup

"Fair Share Calculation Wrong"¶

Problem: Fair share amount seems incorrect

Solutions: 1. ✓ Verify all expenses recorded correctly 2. ✓ Check your attendance marked for that month 3. ✓ Formula: (Total ÷ Active) × Your attendance 4. ✓ "Active" = attended ≥1 meal in month 5. ✓ Refresh page to recalculate 6. ✓ Contact manager to verify expenses

Example calculation:

Total expenses: ₹3000
Active members: 10
Your meals: 25 eaten, 30 total possible
Your share = (₹3000 ÷ 10) × (25/30) = ₹2500

✋ Attendance Issues¶

"Can't Mark Attendance"¶

Problem: Mark Present button not responding

Solutions: 1. ✓ Check date (can only mark today and past 30 days) 2. ✓ Verify internet connection 3. ✓ Try clicking again 4. ✓ Refresh page 5. ✓ Logout and login 6. ✓ Try incognito mode

Expected behavior: - Mark instantly with checkmark - Shows "Marked" confirmation - Can undo by clicking again

"Attendance Not Saving"¶

Problem: Mark present but doesn't stay marked

Solutions: 1. ✓ Check for error notification 2. ✓ Verify action completed with checkmark 3. ✓ Refresh page to persist 4. ✓ Wait 2-3 seconds before refreshing 5. ✓ Check internet connection active

🍽️ Menu & Feedback Issues¶

"Can't See Menu"¶

Problem: Menu page shows empty or loading

Solutions: 1. ✓ Refresh page 2. ✓ Menu might not be planned yet (ask manager) 3. ✓ Check correct date/week selected 4. ✓ Hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R)

Admin check: - Manager can create menu in Menu page - Might need to plan upcoming weeks

"Can't Add Feedback"¶

Problem: Feedback form won't submit

Solutions: 1. ✓ Verify all required fields (meal, rating) 2. ✓ Check rating is selected (1-5 stars) 3. ✓ Check date is valid 4. ✓ Verified internet connection 5. ✓ Try different browser

"Feedback Not Showing"¶

Problem: Submitted feedback missing

Solutions: 1. ✓ Refresh page 2. ✓ Check correct meal type filter 3. ✓ Check correct date range 4. ✓ Check correct meal type selected 5. ✓ Verify not deleted (can you edit?) 6. ✓ Look in another time period

📈 Analytics Issues¶

"Analytics Page Blank"¶

Problem: Analytics section not loading data

Solutions: 1. ✓ Only managers can view (are you manager?) 2. ✓ Might be no data yet (check month) 3. ✓ Refresh page 4. ✓ Select different month 5. ✓ Try hard refresh 6. ✓ Check backend /api/health

"Charts/Graphs Not Loading"¶

Problem: Analytics shows but charts are empty

Solutions: 1. ✓ Data might be loading (wait 5 seconds) 2. ✓ Refresh page 3. ✓ Check if data exists for period 4. ✓ Try different month 5. ✓ Try different browser

Debug: - Check browser console for errors (F12) - Look for specific error messages

🔐 Admin-Specific Issues¶

"Can't Approve Users"¶

Problem: Approve button not working

Solutions: 1. ✓ Verify you're admin (other roles can't) 2. ✓ Verify user status is "Pending" 3. ✓ Refresh User Management page 4. ✓ Try different user 5. ✓ Try logout/login

"Can't Change User Role"¶

Problem: Role change button missing or not working

Solutions: 1. ✓ Only admins can change roles 2. ✓ Try refreshing page 3. ✓ Try logout/login 4. ✓ Try different user 5. ✓ Try different browser

"Setup Wizard Not Loading"¶

Problem: Admin setup page blank on first login

Solutions: 1. ✓ Clear browser cache 2. ✓ Try private/incognito mode 3. ✓ Refresh page (F5) 4. ✓ Try different browser 5. ✓ Try different device 6. ✓ Hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R)

Alternative: - Contact super-admin - Manually access setup at /admin/setup

🔗 Connectivity Issues¶

"CORS Error in Console"¶

Problem: Browser shows CORS error

Solutions: 1. ✓ Backend API URL might be wrong 2. ✓ Check environment variable: VITE_API_URL 3. ✓ Verify backend domain matches 4. ✓ Try redeploying frontend 5. ✓ Wait 5 minutes for changes to propagate 6. ✓ Clear cache

Example correct URLs:

Frontend: https://mess-walah.vercel.app
Backend: https://messwala-6jvj.onrender.com/api

"Network Error / 502 Bad Gateway"¶

Problem: Network error from backend

Solutions: 1. ✓ Backend might be down (check status) 2. ✓ Backend restarting (wait 30 seconds) 3. ✓ Try refresh page 4. ✓ Check internet connection 5. ✓ Try different network (WiFi vs Mobile)

Check backend:

Visit: https://messwala-6jvj.onrender.com/api/health
Should return: {"status":"ok","dbState":1}

If backend down: - Try refreshing page (auto-restart after few min) - Or contact admin

🆘 Getting Help¶

Gather Debug Information¶

When reporting an issue:

1. Screenshot of the error
2. Browser name & version (Chrome 120, Firefox 121, etc.)
3. Operating system (Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android)
4. Steps to reproduce the issue
5. Console errors (F12 → Console tab)
6. Network errors (F12 → Network tab)

Where to Report¶

Bug Reports: - GitHub Issues: https://github.com/soumyadeepsarkar-2004/MessWala/issues

Quick Help: - Contact your mess admin - Check this troubleshooting guide

Still stuck? - Try different device/browser first - Clear all cache and cookies - Logout and login fresh

📱 Mobile-Specific Issues¶

"App Not Working on Phone"¶

Solutions: 1. ✓ Check internet connection 2. ✓ Try mobile browser (Chrome, Safari) 3. ✓ Refresh page 4. ✓ Close and reopen browser 5. ✓ Try desktop version (compare) 6. ✓ Clear browser data (settings)

"Slow on Mobile"¶

Solutions: 1. ✓ Check 4G/WiFi signal strength 2. ✓ Close other apps 3. ✓ Try WiFi instead of mobile data 4. ✓ Refresh and wait for load

🔄 Performance Issues¶

"Page Loading Slow"¶

Solutions: 1. ✓ Check internet speed 2. ✓ Close other browser tabs 3. ✓ Disable browser extensions 4. ✓ Clear browser cache 5. ✓ Try different browser 6. ✓ Try different network

📋 Common Error Codes¶

Last Updated: March 17, 2026
Version: 2.0
Still need help? Check Getting Started or contact your admin.