# WGN News - Chicago — user reviews > 111 indexed App Store user reviews of WGN News by Tribune Broadcasting Company, rated 4.60/5 from 3,245 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wgn-news-chicago/id586937701/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wgn-news-chicago/id586937701.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 2,566 · 4★ 404 · 3★ 72 · 2★ 48 · 1★ 155 ## What do users think of WGN News? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Entertaining and informative news team - 🚀 Convenient live streaming - 💡 Useful weather and breaking news alerts **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing issues - 🔍 Difficulty navigating and finding content - 📺 Live stream playback problems - 💤 Inability to multitask or use in background - 📢 Excessive and intrusive advertisements **Commonly reported bugs** - Audio/video desynchronization - Full-screen mode issues on iPad - Stuck on customization screen - Inability to access main content **Most requested features** - Improved notification management - Rewind/fast-forward functionality - Picture-in-picture mode - Severe weather alerts and push notifications - Smoother integration with Apple TV ## Newest reviews (20 of 111) ### 3/5 — This could be so much better *2026-09-01* I Like the app, I like having the access to the information, but I can’t take it on the go! If I want to listen to the broadcast while I walk my dog, there’s no way to minimize it because it just shuts off. Can you fix that? And also any little thing will cause it to crash or stop and then in order to get the stream back I have to close the app altogether swipe up and reload the entire app in order to get back to the video. Can you fix that? ### 2/5 — Sound goes out *2026-08-16, version 510.0.1* When listening to the app, the sound will just go out when they are talking. ### 2/5 — Nothing else to do *2026-07-20, version 509.0.0* Other news apps allow me to listen and minimize so I can check my email or do other stuff. This on shuts off completely, then have to listen to commercials again. Also, it does glitch for no reason. So I sent other news apps unless I have nothing else to do but watch news. ### 4/5 — Nextstar each time? *2026-06-24, version 508.0.0* Why do I have to keep signing up with Nextdoor EACH time to be able to watch it on my iPhone? It’s annoying!!! I LOVE WGN and want to take it with me wherever I travel. ### 3/5 — This could be so much better *2026-06-09* I Like the app, I like having the access to the information, but I can’t take it on the go! If I want to listen to the broadcast while I walk my dog, there’s no way to minimize it because it just shuts off. Can you fix that? And also any little thing will cause it to crash or stop and then in order to get the stream back I have to close the app altogether swipe up and reload the entire app in order to get back to the video. Can you fix that? ### 4/5 — random crashes *2026-03-13, version 505.0.0* Love that I can get local news, but the app can randomly crash after 1-2minutes. No idea why! ### 3/5 — Can’t stream anymore without signing up *2025-11-26, version 502.0.2* Come on WGN! Why did you have to take away a good thing? ### 2/5 — Not able to login *2025-10-30, version 502.0.0* The app now asks for you to login to watch content. But the login sends an email with a link to login. BUT the email link redirects you to the website. AND that doesn’t translate to logging into the app. Effectively making the app only able to watch 5 minutes of content. Please update the app soon and fix this login bug. ### 1/5 — New update *2025-10-30, version 502.0.0* Will not open ### 2/5 — Same as everyone *2025-10-29, version 502.0.0* Live streaming stops after 5-10 minutes and needs a reboot. I need my channel 9!!!!! ### 1/5 — WTH WGN?! *2025-10-28, version 502.0.0* So this morning, I wanted to watch WGN on the WGN app, but it’s asking me to sign in after a five minute free preview but then you can’t sign into the app and you only can watch it on a web browser. This is a very poor design in WGN lose a lot of viewers if they don’t fix this quickly! ### 1/5 — Online news viewing *2025-10-28, version 502.0.0* WTH WGN? First it was ICE ads on the tv, now you want us to “sign up” to watch the news online? Is everything just a cash grab to you? We can’t just watch the news we’ve watched go years? Now we have to give you our information to sell? Nah. Just delete this app. ### 1/5 — Full screen issues on iPad *2025-10-09, version 501.0.0* Full screen mode is cut off on the sides. Also, once going into full screen mode, there is no way to get out without completely shutting down the app. This wasn’t an issue in previous versions. ### 1/5 — The audio doesn’t work. *2025-10-05, version 501.0.0* Also the audio doesn’t work. When will this be fixed? ### 1/5 — Full screen broken on iPad *2025-09-17, version 501.0.0* When going into full screen mode on iPad. The image is cropped about an inch on each side and then you’re unable to get out of full screen without swiping closed the entire app because the exit full screen button is now cut off the screen. ### 3/5 — buggy *2025-08-20, version 500.9.0* freezes OFTEN. wish it worked better… not the app’s fault, but it plays the same 4-5 commercials. ### 3/5 — WGN VOIDS *2025-08-07, version 500.9.0* Hi long time listener. Recently the news gets wiped off screen or houses to a black screen that says Void playback but nothing happens. I have to delete the app from my phone and reinstall it. Please fix this😣 ### 3/5 — New update has issues *2025-08-04, version 500.9.0* Generally was fine with the app. But the new update has issues. Specifically When you go to watch live news and expand the screen n your iPhone. You used to be able to then move between other apps and have the news still playing. But now that is disabled. You also cannot fast forward or rewind in this update or close out of the expanded screen (there is no “X”). Also when you expand the screen it says advertisement across the top even though it is no longer an advertisement and is live news. ### 1/5 — Useless *2025-07-25, version 500.9.0* When you choose to go live with WGN, the app randomly crashes. Just takes you to your Home Screen and you have to go back in and select “LIVE” again. Watch the necessary ad then you get back in. This happens all the time. ### 2/5 — Shuts Down *2025-07-22, version 500.9.0* Use to like this app, now it cuts out every 5 to 10 minutes. Technically at its best. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Needs a lot of work *2026-06-10, version 508.0.0* I have no trouble signing up so I can watch live news while at work. But when I click on link in my email it takes me to a browser and the app never refreshes, so it still tells me to sign up. ### 1/5 — No stars should be given *2026-05-06, version 507.0.0* Fix the app! It either freezes or plays and the sound goes in and out! It’s very annoying. Whoever the developer is must hate Chicagoans. ### 1/5 — Awful *2026-04-09, version 505.0.0* Buggy app. Keeps asking for email sign up. Only get 5 min stream preview. Nextstar is lame. ### 1/5 — Terrible inconsistency *2026-03-23, version 505.0.0* News outlet app and web stream are terrible and inconsistent Useless ### 1/5 — Spoils Olympic events before you can watch them *2026-02-22, version 504.0.0* I just got a nice alert on my watch from WGN News that told me who won the USA v Canada gold medal hockey game airing in a few hours, right in the headline! Thanks, guys! ### 1/5 — Crash Crash *2025-12-19, version 503.0.1* This is the only app that requires you to sign up each use!!! Then crash in 4 minutes! Nexstar is a joke…ruined a great thing & they know it. ### 1/5 — Broken Signup Process *2025-12-02, version 502.0.2* This updated version of the app requires a signup process. An email is generated to the selected address, however, it does not appear to create an account. Attempting to stream stops at ~ 10 minutes. ### 1/5 — Bug *2025-11-26, version 502.0.2* Still has the bug :( ### 1/5 — Was good now is horrible!!!!!!!! *2025-11-11, version 502.0.2* I always watched the AM news while working out. Now you have to login your email, they send you a link so you have to go to your email to sign in, then it still works horrible!!!! I’m deleting this app and may not watch them in the morning any longer. Nexstar Media Group needs to change this as I’m happy to sign in and create an account but not to sign in EVERY TIME!!!! ### 1/5 — What? *2025-11-09, version 502.0.2* Streaming? Streaming what? ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Typically works great, latest update crashes *2025-07-22* I generally like the app and it works well but the latest update crashes after about 2-5 minutes. I have to completely close it and restart then it will crash again. Not sure if it’s the app because even the website the video will freeze around the same time amount. ### 5/5 — Update 2021 *2021-04-28, version 41.1.0* Wow! I forgot what app I was scrolling through when I realtor was WGN. So much more user friendly. Thanks for updating! ### 5/5 — WGN app *2020-10-07* I was born In Chicago and raised in the in the suburbs. Moved around with my husband in the USAF! I was ecstatic when we were able to get WGN America programs!! I could see the morning programs and Tom Skilling. I could see Linda pull the lottery numbers!!! I now live in Florida, due to health issue. I can no longer see my favorite PEEPS anymore😢😢😢?? That I don’t like!! I love having the app I can see what’s going what’s going on there! Much LOVE to my WGN-TV peeps!!💜💜💙💙🥰🥰 ### 5/5 — Always learning new stuff! *2020-05-11, version 6.7.0* I listen to other news sources throughout the day. I just love WGN, I’m always hearing about something for the first time on this news stations. Great way to keep in tough with local news!! ### 5/5 — Grandfather, Father, Husband, Brother,Uncle. *2020-04-16, version 6.5.3* As a Wheaton Il. resident, spending our winter in Palm Harbor Florida. It’s very comforting to turn on WGN on my I-phone or TV. There’s no place like home, there’s no place like WGN Radio, TV internet. Thanks for always ringing us our great city to us. ### 5/5 — Best News Reporting Ever! *2019-09-26, version 6.5.1* I continue to follow WGN news even when I no longer live in Illinois. WGN has always been a great source for the latest news in Chicago, its suburbs, and the nation. Super reliable weather forecast as long as I can remember. You guys are great!! ### 5/5 — Up to date reporting *2019-07-19, version 6.5.0* I love this app. It’s up to date with reporting what is going on. It covers a wide variety of news. I always read something I didn’t hear or read with other news media’s. ### 5/5 — I love WGN News *2019-01-29* Yes, I love GN news but do I really have to hear the Tile Outlet commercial every single time I watch the news live, on my app??? Also, good thing I’m not into sports since they can’t show any footage related to sports. But my morning is all about listening and watching this fun, entertaining and yet informative news. OMG, I almost forgot the Friday Dance segment! That right there is worth a 5 star rating! ❤️😘 ### 5/5 — Report from Southern Nevada *2019-01-19* One can always count on all of it's reports and if were not for WGN news team they always keep up with current breaking news. When returning back to Chicago and Michigan to be with our grandkids we always depend on Tom Skilling wether or not to bring our shorts or pack our Long Johns. Best of health each and every day to News Team and everyone of there family members. Wish you all the best Pat & Bob Las Vegas NV. ### 5/5 — FIRST NEWS *2018-09-17, version 6.0* I don’t start my day without watching WGN or checking there app, one or the other, but while I’m out away from home it’s definitely the WGN APP for all my up to the minute news! --- *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 2026-09-06.*