Facebook not working? Here are the most common issues and how to fix them

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Facebook has become the world’s social network of choice. It’s, by far, the most popular, with over 2.91 billion active users as of March 2022. We’re sure many of you are using Facebook to communicate with just about everyone. This is why running across unexpected bugs and issues may prove to be more than an annoyance. We’ve compiled a list of solutions for Facebook not working. Let’s get your Facebook up and running ASAP!

Editor’s note: All instructions were generated using a Pixel 4a with 5G running Android 12, a custom PC running Windows 11, and the Chrome browser running version 100.0.4896.127. Some of the steps below might be a bit different on your end, depending on your device.

Check if Facebook is down

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

You might not be the only one having problems with Facebook! If the social network isn’t working for you, maybe it’s a site-wide issue. You could try to use Facebook using another browser or device, and see if it’s working elsewhere. Otherwise, you can check on a website like Down Detector, which will let you know if there’s a problem with Facebook. If there is, there’s nothing you can do but wait it out.

Close and reopen the app

Is Facebook not working only for you? Then you have to start looking at possible local issues. Sometimes apps can go out of whack, and something as simple as closing the app or website, and reopening it, might fix the problem. It may also help to log out and log back in. This should resync everything and move the cogs back into place.

Check for app updates

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Sometimes having an older version of an application may cause issues. If problems persist, you want to make sure you’re running the latest version of the app. Head over to the Google Play Store (or any app store you use) and check for any available updates. Get the latest version and check if Facebook is working.

Read also: How to update apps on the Google Play Store

Restart the device

Oh, the good ol’ restart solution. Doing this fixes about 90% of all my tech problems. Try restarting the device when Facebook isn’t working. This often gets things back up and running.

Check your internet connection

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Another reason for Facebook not working might be that your internet is down. Go into any other app or website and see if it’s working. If it isn’t, chances are you’re having internet issues. Those operating over Wi-Fi or LAN can check the router and see if it’s connected to the internet. You should probably try restarting the router too.

If you’re using cellular data, you might want to see if your data connection is on:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go into Network & internet.
3. Tap on SIMs.
4. Toggle Mobile data on.
5. If you’re outside your country or network coverage, also toggle Roaming on (this may incur extra charges).

More: What to do if your phone won’t connect to Wi-Fi

Check the app’s network permissions

If you have a strong internet connection and everything else seems OK, Facebook not working might be due to permission issues. Make sure you’re allowing the social network to access all it needs to from your phone to function correctly.

1. Open the Facebook app.
2. Go into the three-line menu button.
3. Hit Settings & Privacy.
4. Select Settings.
5. Scroll down to the Permissions section.
6. Go through each option and make sure Facebook has access to everything.

Clear the cache

Cache is usually good. This data stays available locally for quicker access, instead of downloading it each time you see it. It’s also true data can be corrupted and create issues. It doesn’t hurt to clear it now and then, especially when Facebook is down. We’ve added instructions for doing this both on Android and Chrome.

Clear Chrome cache:

1. Open your Chrome browser.
2. Click on the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner.
3. Select Settings.
4. Go into Privacy and security.
5. Hit Clear browsing data.
6. You can delete only the cache, but we would advise you also to clear the cookies and history.
7. Select All time and hit Clear data.

Clear cache on Android:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go into Apps.
3. Find the Facebook app under See all apps.
4. Tap on Storage & cache.
5. Hit Clear Cache.
6. You can also select Clear storage for a clean start.

Next: Force stop and clear cache explained

Can’t play Facebook videos?

Facebook videos are known for having issues, depending on the device or browser you’re using. For example, Windows 7, Vista, XP, and earlier versions of the OS may require you to switch to another browser. Try using something like Chrome or Firefox, if you haven’t yet.

Other common solutions include restarting the computer or closing and reopening the browser. Also, try checking your internet connection.

Not able to upload photos

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Facebook is all about sharing important moments in life, and we know this is often done through images. If you have image uploads on Facebook not working, you can do a few things to remedy the problem.

The first fix is to ensure you have the latest version of the Facebook app or browser in use. Also, turn any ad blocking software off or make sure Facebook is included as an exception. If this doesn’t work, it may be a format issue caused by photo editing. Try uploading the original photo and see if that works. If it does, go back to your editing software and export the image in a supported format. These include JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF, and RIFF files. Large image files can also cause hiccups. Always try to keep Facebook photos under 15MB.

Another common issue is that Facebook often temporarily blocks people from uploading photos if they upload anything considered abusive content. Check your Support Inbox and see if you may have missed any alerts.

More: How to recover your Facebook account

Can’t upload videos

It’s a very similar case with uploading videos on Facebook not working. When you can’t upload a clip, first make sure it’s in a supported format. Facebook has a preference for MP4 and MOV files. You may also have a video that’s longer than the allowed length. The maximum length is 240 minutes, and the file size should be no bigger than 4GB.

Of course, don’t forget to check you’re using the latest version of the app/browser, and make sure your internet connection is working.

If you’ve tried all these methods and Facebook is down, you might want to take things up a notch. You can check out Facebook’s Help Center for more aid. Alternatively, you can file a report. Access your Facebook account and click on the arrow-down button in the top-right corner. Then go to Help & support > Report a problem > Something went wrong.