Restarting the Facebook app on your phone or tablet is a quick and easy way to troubleshoot any issues you may be having with the app. A simple restart can often fix problems like the app freezing, crashing, or not loading properly. Here are the steps to restart the Facebook app on both iOS (Apple) and Android devices.
Force Close the Facebook App
The first step in restarting the Facebook app is to completely force close it. This ensures the app is fully shut down so it can be freshly restarted.
On an iPhone or iPad
To force close the Facebook app on an iOS device like an iPhone or iPad, follow these steps:
- Double click the Home button to bring up the app switcher view that shows all your recently used apps.
- Swipe up on the Facebook app preview to fully close the app and remove it from the background.
On an Android Phone or Tablet
To force stop the Facebook app on an Android device, do the following:
- Open the Settings app on your Android device.
- Tap on Apps or Application Manager (location varies by device).
- Tap on the Facebook app.
- Tap Force Stop to fully close the Facebook app.
Restart the Facebook App
Once you have fully force closed the Facebook app, the next step is to simply restart it as you normally would to open the app on your device.
On an iPhone or iPad
To restart the Facebook app on an iOS device:
- Find the Facebook app icon on your home screen.
- Tap on the Facebook icon to launch the app again.
On an Android Phone or Tablet
To restart the Facebook app on an Android device:
- Open your App Drawer where all your apps are located.
- Tap on the Facebook app icon to relaunch the app.
The Facebook app should now fully restart as if you just launched it for the first time. This restart clears out any temporary glitches or issues that may have been causing crashing or freezing.
Update or Reinstall the Facebook App
If fully restarting the Facebook app does not resolve your issues, the next troubleshooting step would be to update the app or uninstall and reinstall it. This ensures you are running the latest version of the app which may fix problems.
Update on an iPhone or iPad
To update the Facebook app on an iOS device:
- Open the App Store app.
- Tap on your profile icon in the top right.
- Scroll down to see pending app updates and tap Update next to Facebook if available.
Update on an Android Phone or Tablet
To update the Facebook app on an Android device:
- Open the Google Play Store app.
- Tap on the menu icon in the top left corner.
- Tap on My Apps & Games.
- Under Updates, tap Update next to Facebook if available.
Uninstall and Reinstall
If no update is available, you can uninstall and reinstall the Facebook app:
- Hold your finger down on the Facebook app icon until it starts wiggling.
- Tap the X icon displayed on the top corner of the app icon.
- Confirm that you want to delete the app.
- Open your device’s app store and search for Facebook.
- Tap Get or Install to download the Facebook app again.
Reinstalling will give you a fresh copy of the app which should resolve any deeper issues.
Log Out and Back In
Logging out and back into your Facebook account via the app is another troubleshooting step to try. This syncs your account data fresh which can fix problems.
Log Out on iPhone or iPad
To log out of the Facebook app on an iOS device:
- Open the Facebook app and tap the menu tab in the bottom right.
- Scroll down and select Log Out.
- Log back in with your email and password when prompted.
Log Out on Android
To log out of the Facebook app on Android:
- Open the Facebook app and tap the three-line menu icon.
- Tap Settings & Privacy > Settings.
- Tap Log Out at the bottom.
- Log back in with your account details.
This will sync a fresh copy of your account info which could resolve app issues you’re facing.
Clear App Cache and Data
Clearing the cache and app data for Facebook can help fix problems by removing any corrupted temporary files.
On an iPhone or iPad
To clear the cache and data for the Facebook app on iOS:
- Go to your iOS Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Tap on Facebook.
- Tap Offload App to clear cached files.
This will clear the cache while keeping the app installed.
On Android
To clear cache and data for Facebook on Android:
- Go to Settings > Apps.
- Tap Facebook.
- Tap Storage > Clear Cache and Clear Data.
This will wipe both the cache and app data entirely.
Update Your Phone Software
Having the latest firmware installed on your iPhone or Android can prevent bugs that cause apps like Facebook to freeze or crash. Ensure your device software is up to date.
Update an iPhone
To update an iPhone or iPad to the latest iOS version:
- Open Settings.
- Tap General > Software Update.
- Your device will check for an update. Follow the on-screen prompts to install if available.
Update an Android
To update an Android phone or tablet:
- Open your Settings app.
- Tap System > Advanced > System Update.
- Tap Check for Update and follow prompts.
Updating provides iOS and Android bug fixes and optimizations that can prevent app freezing and crashes.
Restart Your Phone
If you’ve tried all other troubleshooting steps, restarting your iPhone or Android completely may be necessary as a last resort. This will clear out any deeper issues.
Restart an iPhone
To restart an iPhone 8 or earlier, press and hold the Power and Home buttons together until the Apple logo appears.
For an iPhone X or later, press and hold the side button and either volume button until the slider appears. Slide to turn off.
After the phone is fully powered down, turn it back on to restart.
Restart an Android
The process to restart may vary slightly by device, but usually involves:
- Holding down the Power button for several seconds.
- Tap Restart when prompted.
Allow your phone to fully restart to finish the process.
Contact Facebook Support
If restarting the Facebook app, reinstalling, logging out, clearing data, software updates, and device restarts do not resolve your issues, you may need to contact Facebook for further support.
You can reach Facebook support through the following channels:
- In the Facebook app, go to Settings > Help & Support > Contact Us.
- On Facebook.com, click Help Center > Contact Us.
- @FacebookSupport on Twitter.
Describe your Facebook app issues in detail, including what troubleshooting steps you’ve tried. The Facebook support team may be able to provide specialized help getting the app working properly again.
Conclusion
Restarting the Facebook app is a quick first step to troubleshoot any freezing, crashing, or loading issues. Force closing the app and restarting provides a fresh launch. Updating, reinstalling, logging out, clearing data, software updates, and device restarts are other troubleshooting steps that may help get the Facebook app working again. Contact Facebook support if the problems persist after trying these solutions.