Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The app won't load, even though my internet is working
The usual cause is a network that blocks one or more of the addresses the app needs. This comes up most often on school, workplace and government devices, where a content filter or firewall sits between the device and the internet. Web browsing still works, so the internet looks fine — but the app can't reach the server it downloads the dictionary from, and shows an error instead of opening.
The app keeps its own copy of the dictionary on your device so it can work offline. It only needs to download that copy when it doesn't already have one: the first time you ever open the app, and again if you reinstall it or clear its data. That is why a device can work perfectly well for months and then stop after a reinstall — the block was always there, but until then the app had a local copy and never needed to go and fetch one.
Some things to try:
- Open the app once on a different connection. A home wi-fi network or a personal phone hotspot is ideal. Once the dictionary has downloaded, it's stored on the device, and the app should work on the restricted network again afterwards.
- Wait for the error screen. Current versions of the app show a download progress screen on first launch, and if the download can't get through they give up within a minute and show an error screen with a Try again button and more help. If you're on an older version the app may instead sit frozen on its logo for a while before an error appears — updating the app fixes that.
- If your network uses a proxy, as many managed networks do, turn on Use system HTTP proxy and try again. On current versions the switch is right on the error screen and takes effect when you press Try again; it's also in Settings → Network inside the app, where changing it needs an app restart. The app doesn't use the device's proxy settings unless you ask it to.
- Ask whoever manages the network to allow the addresses below. This is the real fix on a managed device. The list is written so you can forward it straight to an IT department.
Which domains does the app need to reach?
If you administer a network or a fleet of managed devices, these are the domains SLSL Dictionary connects to, all over HTTPS on port 443. The first one is required for the app to work at all.
Required
cdn.srilankansignlanguage.org |
The dictionary data and all of the sign videos. This is the only host the app can get them from, so if it's blocked the app cannot start on a device that hasn't already downloaded the dictionary, and no videos will play. |
|---|
Optional — the app works without these
raw.githubusercontent.com |
In-app announcements, and the check for whether your version is too old to keep using |
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api.srilankansignlanguage.org |
Signing in and shared word lists |
share.srilankansignlanguage.org |
Opening a shared list link someone sends you |
analytics.auslandictionary.org |
Anonymous usage statistics (see the Privacy Policy). This is an auslandictionary.org address because the same self-hosted analytics server serves both of our sign language apps. |
Note that raw.githubusercontent.com is commonly blocked on school networks, since filters tend to treat all of GitHub as a code-sharing site. The app copes with that — it just means you won't see in-app announcements.
Does the app work offline?
Mostly, yes. Once the dictionary has downloaded, searching and browsing work with no internet connection at all.
The sign videos are streamed, so playing a sign you haven't watched before does need a connection. Videos you have watched recently are kept on the device for 21 days, so revisiting a sign usually works offline too. You can turn this caching off, or clear it, in Settings.
Can I use the app in Sinhala or Tamil?
Yes. Every entry carries its English, Sinhala and Tamil words, and the app itself is translated into all three. Use the language selector in Settings to switch. On first launch the app tries to match your device's language.
Is the app free?
Yes — completely free, with no ads, no subscriptions and no in-app purchases. The app's code is open source and on GitHub.
Where do the signs come from?
The Sri Lankan Sign Language data in the app — the videos, images and definitions — is provided by Nishani Shamila McCluskey and team, and is licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0. The app is a way to browse and revise that dictionary; new and updated entries flow through to it automatically.
A sign is missing, or looks wrong
Please tell us — corrections and additions are welcome. Open an issue on GitHub, or email daniel@dport.me if you'd rather. The same goes for a definition that seems inaccurate, or a word that's missing in one of the three languages.
Something else is broken. How do I report it?
For anything that's a problem with the app itself — a feature that doesn't work, a crash, something that looks wrong — either open an issue on GitHub or email daniel@dport.me.
Two things make a report much easier to act on: a screenshot of what you're seeing, and the app's background logs (Settings → Background logs), which record what the app was doing at the time. Mentioning your device and whether you're on a home, school or work network helps too.