If your Facebook Messenger app is acting up or not working properly, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try to get it back to normal. Messenger is used by over 1 billion people worldwide, so issues do come up from time to time. The good news is that most Messenger problems can be fixed with some simple troubleshooting.
Quick Fixes
Here are some quick things to try if Messenger is not working properly:
- Force quit and relaunch the Messenger app
- Update to the latest version of the Messenger app
- Update your phone software to the latest OS version
- Check for any Messenger updates on App Store/Google Play Store
- Disable battery saver/power saving mode on your device
- Switch your phone to airplane mode for 30 seconds, then switch back
- Log out then log back into your Facebook account
- Uninstall and reinstall the Messenger app
- Restart your phone
Often a simple restart or reinstall of the app can fix minor issues that cause Messenger to act up. Make sure you are always running the latest version of the app as well.
Investigate Further
If basic troubleshooting does not resolve your Messenger issues, you’ll want to investigate further:
- Check Messenger service status: See if Messenger is down for everyone, or if it’s just you. Visit facebook.com/messenger and look for service notifications.
- Update Facebook app: Issues in the Facebook app can sometimes carry over to Messenger. Update to the latest Facebook app version.
- Toggle Messenger settings: Go into your Messenger settings and toggle some options OFF and back ON, like read receipts, group chats, calls, etc.
- Clear cache and data: From your device settings, clear the cache and data for Messenger app to fully reset it.
- Remove Messenger as default app: Go into your device settings and remove Messenger as the default messaging app, then toggle it back on.
- Check account security: Log into Facebook and check for any unusual security alerts or compromised access.
- Contact Facebook support: If all else fails, reach out to Facebook support for additional troubleshooting.
Taking time to investigate further and rule out device issues, account issues, or network problems can help identify the root cause if general troubleshooting does not work.
Common Messenger Problems
Here are some of the most common Messenger problems that users run into, along with fixes for each issue:
Can’t log in to Messenger
- Double check your Facebook username and password are correct
- Clear the app cache and data then try logging in again
- Make sure you have a strong internet connection
- If device account permissions were changed, re-allow Messenger
- Try logging in on mobile browser instead of the app
Can’t send or receive messages
- Force quit and relaunch the Messenger app
- Check your internet connection and try toggling airplane mode
- Restart your device
- Update Messenger to the latest version
- Clear the app cache and data
Messenger keeps crashing
- Update Messenger app to the latest version
- Update your device OS if available
- Disable battery saver mode for Messenger app
- Reset app preferences
- Uninstall and reinstall the app
- Try deleting old Messenger conversations
Can’t see messages from one person/group
- Open conversation and tap “Turn On Notifications”
- Check if you muted conversation notifications
- Open Messenger settings and turn off then on for that thread
- Remove that person/group chat and then add back
- Create a new 1-on-1 chat or group chat with person
Messenger notifications not working
- Check notification settings for Messenger
- Toggle notifications off and back on in Messenger
- Force quit and restart Messenger to refresh
- Update Messenger to latest version
- Check device Do Not Disturb settings
- Disable battery saver mode for Messenger
- Uninstall and reinstall Messenger
Preventing Messenger Issues
Here are some tips to help prevent Messenger problems in the future:
- Keep Messenger updated to latest version
- Reboot your device regularly
- Free up storage space on your device
- Connect to stable high-speed WiFi when possible
- Disable auto-updates for apps on metered data
- Limit notifications from very active group chats
- Report Messenger bugs and issues to Facebook
Following general device maintenance best practices will help minimize the issues you encounter with Messenger. Quickly troubleshooting problems when they arise can also limit disruption.
When to Uninstall/Reinstall Messenger
If you are experiencing persistent issues with Messenger that standard troubleshooting does not resolve, uninstalling and reinstalling the app may be the next step:
- Frequent crashing issues
- Errors sending/receiving messages
- Problems loading conversations
- General performance problems
- Weird visual glitches
- Notifications not working properly
- Other unresolved bugs
Before reinstalling Messenger:
- Back up your conversations (export chat history)
- Log out of all Facebook accounts on device
- Force quit the Messenger app
- Go into device Settings > Apps > Messenger and tap Uninstall
Then to reinstall:
- Open the App Store / Google Play Store
- Search for and install Messenger
- Open Messenger and log in to your Facebook account
- Check if issues are resolved
Reinstalling can essentially reset Messenger and clear out any corrupted files or cached data causing problems. This is often the most reliable way to eliminate pesky issues once and for all.
When to Try a Different Device
In rare cases, Messenger issues may be isolated to a particular device. If you are experiencing problems only on one of your devices:
- Try logging out then back into Messenger
- Force quit and restart the app
- Clear the cache and data for the app
- Try uninstalling and reinstalling Messenger
If you still see issues on only one device after troubleshooting, try these steps:
- Update your device OS, apps, and settings
- Reset your device to factory default settings
- Test Messenger on a different, updated device
- Borrow a friend’s device to test Messenger
Using Messenger on another fully updated device with no issues will help determine if the problems are isolated to your original device. At that point you may need to service, replace, or upgrade the problematic device hardware.
When to Contact Facebook Support
If you have tried all other troubleshooting without success, it may be time to contact Facebook Support:
- Can’t login to Messenger at all
- Are locked out of your Facebook account
- See a “temporary error” message
- App crashes immediately on launch
- Suspicious account security issues
- Persistent crashes, bugs, or glitches
- Problems across multiple devices
To get help from Facebook Support:
- Open facebook.com and click Help in the footer
- Click Contact Us and select Messenger
- Select the issue category relevant to your problem
- Complete the form to describe your problem
- Provide any screenshots or details requested
- Submit the form and a support agent will assist you
Facebook has dedicated teams to help troubleshoot and resolve Messenger issues directly. They may be able to fix certain account, app or network problems that standard troubleshooting cannot.
Conclusion
Hopefully with these troubleshooting tips you can get Messenger working properly again. The most common issues can usually be resolved by restarting, updating, reinstalling or resetting the app. For ongoing or complex issues, Facebook support can provide specialized assistance tailored to your specific problem. With over 1 billion users, bugs and glitches do happen – but there are many ways to get Messenger back on track so you never miss a message.