# COCOA - COVID-19 Contact App — user reviews > 32 indexed App Store user reviews of COCOA by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare - Japan, rated 1.91/5 from 96 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cocoa-covid-19-contact-app/id1516764458/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cocoa-covid-19-contact-app/id1516764458.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 15 · 4★ 4 · 3★ 4 · 2★ 7 · 1★ 66 ## Newest reviews (13 of 32) ### 1/5 — Network Connection Error *2021-09-11, version 1.2.6* Due to travel restrictions because of Covid, you are required to download and use this app but you can even pass & agree to the “Term of Use” - “Network Connection Error”. Nothing is wrong with the connection. Everyone seems to have the same problem… ### 1/5 — Can’t use won’t work *2021-08-11, version 1.2.5* It says my network connection is unavailable when trying to agree to the terms of service ### 1/5 — 日本に帰れない *2021-08-03, version 1.2.5* 空港でこのアプリがないと日本に入れないと言われたが、チケットをもらう前にこのアプリがフリーズして飛行機に乗れなかった。今まだ日本に帰れないし次のチケットは一ヶ月後、学校の初めを見逃さないといけない。 ### 1/5 — Won’t Accept Terms of Use *2021-07-30, version 1.2.5* We loaded this on both our iPhones, but it won’t accept the Terms of Use. It keeps saying that there’s a “Network connection error”. I promise you that our network connection is fine. We get the same response on both phones. ### 1/5 — No real instructions *2021-07-21, version 1.2.5* I’ve had this app since arriving in Japan 2 days now. I don’t see a change in the days of use or how to download the other apps for my quarantine status. Hello please ### 1/5 — Recently emerged on the news that this app didn’t even work until recently *2021-05-22, version 1.2.2* What a joke ### 1/5 — It doesn’t even ask for location information *2021-05-16, version 1.2.2* How is it supposed to trace when it doesn’t even ask for information…more does it list how many checks it’s made. It could have been promising but like most things covid related in japan this is an absolute failure. ### 1/5 — Drew’s not work *2021-03-17, version 1.2.2* I can’t get past Terms of Use screen. When I press accept it tells me that there is a network error. Not sure if it’s looking for a specific network and will only work in Japan? ### 1/5 — Worst app ever, keep on resetting *2021-02-18, version 1.2.2* Let’s face it, Japan is not an IT oriented country. Great at manufacturing goods, horrible in the software department... ### 1/5 — Need to be improved *2021-02-07, version 1.2.1* The stored data are accidentally reset. I experienced it at least three times. It is the critical issue and the app is never reliable. No one wants to run out of battery for useless app. ### 1/5 — App restarts and loses data *2021-01-04, version 1.2.1* I have had this app 2.5 months. I’ve noticed 3 times now that when I periodically enter the app, it acts like I have never used it before. This causes my contract tracing to begin again, as shown by the day counter. This app is completely unreliable. I don’t recall the day counter ever reaching a suitable number like 13 or 14 days, because it asks me to accept the terms again. This app is glitchy software and completely defeats the intended purpose. ### 1/5 — Useless *2020-12-31, version 1.2.1* Nobody uses this. It’s not mandated nor even its use encouraged. Without people using it, it’s pointless. The app also erases all data from time to time and you have to re-register. Testing is discouraged here anyway so most positive cases aren’t even logged. Forget the app, use a mask and avoid going out when possible. ### 1/5 — Maybe it’s because I’m located in the US *2020-10-28, version 1.1.4* I can not get past the “network connection error” part when it’s time for me to agree to the terms and conditions. I know I don’t have a problem with my connection. Suspicious. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — ダウンロードさえ出来れば入国できる？ *2022-05-16, version 2.0.0* 米国でアプリを開くとNetwork Connection Errorがでる。調べると、日本のネットワークにつながればエラーがなくなるらしい？　だったらなぜそう書かない？　これでどんだけの人間が不便を被ると思ってる？　ユーザー目線ゼロの役立たずのアプリ。 ### 1/5 — Network error outside Japan *2022-04-12, version 2.0.0* The Japanese government is so incompetent with a lot of things but especially with anything IT. This app is one of those examples. This app's network error message needs to let people know that this happens when they try to use it outside Japan. ### 1/5 — Just a annoyance *2022-01-19, version 1.4.1* You are forced to download this app when you enter Japan and won’t do anything afterward. ### 1/5 — Network Error *2022-01-06, version 1.4.1* When I try to register it says network error ### 1/5 — Nobody checked if this app was installed before entering Japan *2021-12-24, version 1.4.1* I just came back to Japan, and the government webpage asked everyone to install this app. I had the same issue with network connection, and a bit worried if it would affect going through the immigration process. However, at the airport they did not check if this app was installed. They checked another app, MySOS, but didn’t care about COCOA. I guess they know this app is full of problems and useless. ### 1/5 — Ridiculous. *2021-12-16, version 1.4.1* Just make HCQ or Ivermectin available already at the pharmacy or kiosks as over the counter drug. This kind of waste should not have existed. ### 1/5 — 論外 *2021-12-14, version 1.4.1* 登録以前に、アプリが開きません。 ### 1/5 — It doesn’t work *2021-12-03, version 1.4.1* It keeps telling me that there is network issue when there isn’t … it doesn’t even start. ### 1/5 — Does not work *2021-10-16, version 1.2.6* Network error even when in Japan. ### 1/5 — Can only access within Japan *2021-09-19, version 1.2.6* Yes, I tried from US but same Network error message showed up as many of reviewers. When I checked the Japanese site, it said 本アプリは日本国内での利用を想定しています。(my broken translation: This app assumes usage within Japan. So, even though Japanese government would like us to prepare/register ahead of our arrivals, it’s impossible to do so from outside of Japan. I’m hoping this situation will be resolved quickly. ## Most praised reviews (9 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Error for registration *2021-10-22, version 1.2.6* Mine cleared up the next day and I was able to get everything working prior to departure. Make sure that your device is running the latest firmware update. ### 4/5 — Version 1.4.0 Crashes When Run <— Fixed! *2021-11-26, version 1.4.1* They did a good job delivering a fix in one day. ### 4/5 — Good start *2020-06-20, version 1.0.0* The app is very easy to use and has great English explanations. However, the screen grabs they use for examples are all in Japanese. It may be beneficial to change these to English and Chinese, whichever preferred language is selected. As of now, this is a good start for a contact tracing app and hope the government of Japan works on improving it with time. ### 3/5 — Hard to tell if it’s working *2020-12-16, version 1.2.1* It appears that every time an app update is pushed, it erases all data (now tells me “0 days in use”, which... would seem to limit its usefulness). ### 3/5 — Needs verification *2020-08-22, version 1.1.2* Thank you for providing the app. A major limitation is the lack of any feedback that the app is functioning properly and recording close contacts. It is like having a smoke detection without a test button. I believe showing a count of recent contacts over a period of time does not raise any privacy concerns while at the same time adding a bit of confirmation. ### 3/5 — Not enough *2020-06-19, version 1.0.0* I wish this app was paired with more functionality. Contact teaching is okay, but unless use of this app is mandated for those people who have tested positive, it will just give us a false sense of security. How about a map showing where all infected people have been? How about real time updated stats showing infection numbers and trends? This seems to be a bare minimum effort towards placation. ### 2/5 — Network Connection Error *2022-05-14, version 2.0.0* If you want to (or must) use the Exposure Notification system on iOS in Japan, you must use this app. If you attempt to register in the app before you arrive, you will get an unhelpful “Network Connection Error”. The app will not let you proceed unless you are connected via a Japanese network. Note that international roaming on a foreign cellular network will not work. You must connect via a WiFi network in Japan or via a Japanese cellular network. ### 2/5 — Network connection error issue resolved *2021-09-01, version 1.2.5* A lot of people in reviews comments they have network connection error after accepting terms of use. The Japanese Ministry of health website said you cannot use it if you are not in Japan. I assume you will be able to use it once you landed in Japan. I hope this helps many of you having this issue. ### 2/5 — Network Connection Error *2021-07-27, version 1.2.5* It’s required for my return to Japan, but it won’t allow me to agree to the terms of use due to a network connection error. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*