UnbreakMyApp / Fix guides

"Fixed it… and it broke again": escaping the Lovable fix loop

When every AI fix breaks something else and burns credits, here is how to stop the loop and get back to a working app.

Why it happens

The AI changes code based on what it can see and what you ask. Vague prompts like "fix the app" or "it still doesn't work" invite broad rewrites, and each rewrite can quietly break a feature that used to work.

Repeating the same request rarely helps. The AI keeps guessing at the same layer (often loading spinners or styling) instead of the real root cause, such as auth, a database rule, or a missing secret.

Lovable's own guidance: if an error keeps coming back, stop retrying the same prompt, revert to a known good version, and re-prompt more clearly or use Chat/Plan mode to investigate first.

How to fix it, step by step

  1. Stop prompting. Open Show history and find the last version where the app worked. Use Revert to this version. Note: reverting restores code (and redeploys edge functions), but does not undo database data changes or migrations.
  2. Switch to Chat mode (or Plan mode) so Lovable investigates without changing code. Ask it to explain what is happening and what it has already tried.
  3. Collect real evidence: the exact error from the browser console (F12), the network request that fails, or the Supabase / edge function logs. Paste that, not "it's broken".
  4. Ask for one small change at a time, naming the file or component, and say what must NOT change.
  5. After each change, test the affected feature and one feature that used to work before moving on.
  6. If the same error appears 2–3 times, it is usually a root cause outside the screen you are looking at (auth listener, RLS policy, missing secret). See our other guides, or get a free diagnosis.

Paste-ready prompt for Lovable

Do not change any code yet. Use chat/plan mode only.
1. Explain, in plain English, what this error means and the most likely root cause: [paste the exact console error / failing network request / log line].
2. List the files involved and what you have changed in them in the last few edits.
3. Propose ONE minimal fix, touching as few files as possible, and list what must not change (existing features: [list them]).
4. Wait for my approval before applying it.

FAQ

Will reverting delete my data?

No. Lovable's revert restores code only. It also does not undo database changes, so if a migration caused the problem you may need to fix the data separately.

Why does it burn so many credits?

Each retry is a new build request. Investigating first in Chat/Plan mode and asking for one small change avoids wasted rebuilds.

Still broken?

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