Experiencing unexpected errors while using the Facebook app on your iPhone can be frustrating. However, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to try and resolve these issues.
What Are Some Common Facebook Error Messages on iPhone?
Some of the most common Facebook error messages that may appear on an iPhone include:
- “An unexpected error has occurred.”
- “Can’t Load Page.”
- “Login Error.”
- “Page Failed to Load.”
- “Page Not Found.”
These errors typically indicate a connectivity issue between your iPhone and the Facebook servers. However, the specific cause can vary.
Check Your Internet Connection
One of the first troubleshooting steps when dealing with Facebook errors on iPhone is to check that you have a stable internet connection. Follow these suggestions:
- Enable Wi-Fi on your iPhone and connect to your home or office Wi-Fi network.
- If using cellular data, check that you have sufficient signal strength (3G/4G/5G). Move closer to a window or step outside to improve connectivity.
- Disable and re-enable Wi-Fi on your iPhone to refresh the connection.
- Toggle Airplane mode on and off to reset all network connections.
- Restart your wireless router and modem if connection issues persist.
With a strong and reliable connection, many Facebook errors should be resolved as content properly loads. Continue troubleshooting if the errors persist.
Force Close and Relaunch the Facebook App
Sometimes glitches within the Facebook app itself can cause unexpected errors. Completely closing out of the Facebook app and relaunching it may fix the problem:
- Double click the Home button on your iPhone to bring up the app switcher.
- Locate the Facebook app preview and swipe up on it to force close the app.
- Open the Facebook app again from your Home screen to restart it.
Relaunching the app will clear any cached data that could be corrupted and causing errors. The Facebook app should then have a fresh start.
Update or Reinstall the Facebook App
If you are not running the latest version of the Facebook app, updating it can potentially resolve unexpected errors:
- Open the App Store on your iPhone.
- Tap your profile icon at the top right.
- Scroll down and tap Update next to the Facebook listing if an update is available.
- The latest Facebook app will download and install.
Alternatively, you can uninstall the Facebook app entirely and reinstall a fresh copy:
- Press and hold the Facebook icon until it jiggles.
- Tap the X to delete the app.
- Open the App Store and search for “Facebook.”
- Tap Get and then Install to download the app again.
Log Out of Facebook
Logging out and then back into your Facebook account on your iPhone can help clear up issues:
- Open the Facebook app and tap the Menu button (three horizontal lines).
- Scroll down and choose Log Out.
- Close the Facebook app from the app switcher after logging out.
- Reopen the Facebook app and log back into your account.
This forces your iPhone to reauthenticate your account credentials with Facebook’s servers, which may resolve errors.
Clear Website Data and Cookies
Clearing cached data and cookies for the Facebook website can help fix errors:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Safari.
- Scroll down and tap Clear History and Website Data.
- Choose Clear History and Data to confirm.
This will wipe the browser cache and cookies for Facebook and other websites. When you open Facebook in Safari again, your iPhone will reload fresh data from the site which may eliminate any corrupted files.
Check Facebook Server Status
In some cases, connectivity issues or outages on Facebook’s servers can prevent the Facebook app or website from working properly. Check the Facebook status page to see if there are any ongoing server disruptions.
If there is indeed an outage, you will have to wait until Facebook engineers are able to resolve the problem on their end before your iPhone’s Facebook app will return to normal functioning. Continuing to use the app during an outage will likely result in errors.
Update Your iPhone Software
Having outdated iOS system software can sometimes lead to glitches with apps like Facebook. It is a good idea to keep your iPhone software up to date:
- Open the Settings app and tap General.
- Tap Software Update to check for any available updates.
- Tap Download and Install if an update is available.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the update process.
Updating to the latest iOS version will ensure system compatibility issues are not causing Facebook to have problems running.
Restart Your iPhone
If all else fails, completely powering down and restarting your iPhone can serve as a blanket troubleshooting step for clearing up any Facebook errors:
- Press and hold the Power button on the side of the iPhone until the “Slide to Power Off” prompt appears.
- Drag the on-screen slider to power the phone completely off.
- After 30 seconds, press and hold the Power button again to turn the iPhone back on.
Allow a minute or two for the iPhone to fully load up before launching Facebook again to see if the unexpected errors have been resolved.
Factory Reset iPhone
For serious or persistent Facebook errors that standard troubleshooting has failed to fix, a factory reset of your iPhone may be necessary:
- Back up your iPhone data via iCloud or iTunes.
- Open Settings > General > Reset.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
- Enter your passcode if prompted.
- Tap Erase Now to confirm and wipe your device.
- Go through the setup process to restore your data once complete.
Factory resetting your iPhone will remove the corrupted data that is causing Facebook to malfunction. It should operate normally again once your device is set up anew.
Contact Facebook Support
If no amount of troubleshooting fixes the unexpected errors on Facebook, it may require intervention from the Facebook team:
- Open the Facebook app and visit the Settings & Privacy section.
- Scroll down and tap Help & Support.
- Tap the Message Us button to contact Facebook support.
- Explain the Facebook errors you are encountering on your iPhone.
The Facebook support team may be able to diagnose the problem and implement a solution on their end to get Facebook working again. Be sure to provide detailed information on the errors and troubleshooting steps you have tried.
Conclusion
Unexpected Facebook errors on your iPhone can certainly be annoying and prevent you from properly using the app. However, systematically working through connectivity issues, app resets, software updates, and contacting support should help identify and fix the underlying problem.
With some patience and diligence, you should be able to troubleshoot the Facebook issues on your iPhone and resume access to all of your friends and family again through the app. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Facebook team for assistance if all else fails.