The spinning circle or loading indicator on Facebook usually means that the page is taking longer than expected to load. Here are some tips to help stop the spinning circle and speed up page loading on Facebook:
Check Your Internet Connection
The most common reason for the spinning circle is a slow or unstable internet connection. Try these troubleshooting steps:
- Restart your wifi router and modem – This can help clear any temporary connection issues
- Switch from wifi to wired ethernet – Wired connections are more reliable than wireless
- Test your internet speeds – Go to speedtest.net to check your download and upload speeds
- Contact your ISP if speeds are consistently slow – There could be an issue with your service
If speeds are normal but Facebook is still loading slow, move on to the next steps.
Update the Facebook App
An outdated version of the Facebook app can cause performance issues. Follow these steps to update:
- On your iPhone or Android phone, open the App Store or Google Play Store
- Search for Facebook and check if there are any updates available
- Tap Update next to the Facebook app
- Let the newest version install, then reopen Facebook
The app should run faster after updating to the latest version. If not, try the next solution.
Clear the App Cache and Data
Large cached data and corrupted app files can slow down the Facebook app. To clear the cache and data:
- Go to your phone Settings > Apps > Facebook
- Tap Storage or Storage & Cache
- Tap Clear Cache and Clear Data
- Restart the Facebook app
This forces the app to reload fresh files which may resolve any corruptions causing lag.
Close Background Apps
Too many apps running in the background can drain resources needed to run Facebook properly. Try closing all other apps before launching Facebook:
- Double tap the Home button on your iPhone or tap the Recents button on Android to view open apps
- Swipe up on each app preview to close it
- Once all other apps are closed, open only the Facebook app
This prevents other apps from interfering with Facebook’s performance.
Reinstall the Facebook App
If no other troubleshooting steps have worked, uninstalling and reinstalling the Facebook app may resolve stubborn loading issues:
- Delete the Facebook app from your phone
- Restart your phone
- Re-download the Facebook app from the app store
- Log in to Facebook as normal
A clean reinstallation can eliminate any corrupted files or cached data causing problems.
Disable Unnecessary Plug-ins
Browser extensions and plug-ins can sometimes affect page loading speeds. Try disabling any unnecessary add-ons:
- Open Facebook in your Chrome, Firefox or Safari browser
- Click the puzzle icon in Chrome or the extensions icon in Firefox
- Disable any inactive or unnecessary extensions
- Reload the Facebook website
Use the browser version without add-ons for the fastest loading experience.
Update Your Browser
An outdated browser can struggle to load modern websites like Facebook efficiently. Keep your browser up-to-date:
- Open Chrome, Firefox or Safari
- Click the three dot menu > Help > About
- If an update is available, click update
- Reload Facebook once updated
The latest browser versions contain performance improvements that can speed up page loading.
Refresh the Page
If the Facebook page gets stuck loading, the simplest solution is to refresh the page to restart it. Here’s how:
- Click the reload icon in your browser toolbar
- Or press Ctrl + R on a Windows PC or Command + R on a Mac
- The page will restart and load fresh content
Refreshing can clear out any glitches or temporary bugs affecting that particular page.
Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
Large cached data can cause sluggish browser performance. To clear it:
- Open Chrome or Firefox settings
- Go to Privacy & Security > Clear Browsing Data
- Check the boxes for Cookies, Cache and Site Data
- Click Clear Data
Emptying the browser cache forces cached Facebook content to reload fresh. Make sure to reset your login cookies if you get logged out.
Check for Facebook Outages
Sometimes loading issues can be on Facebook’s end rather than your device. Check Facebook’s system status here: https://www.facebook.com/help/930396167085762
If there are current widespread outages, the only option is to wait for Facebook engineers to resolve the problem. The issue should be fixed soon.
Conclusion
In summary, troubleshoot your internet connectivity, update the Facebook app, clear cached data, close background apps, reinstall Facebook, disable browser extensions, keep your browser updated, refresh the page, clear your browser cache, and check for outages. With some patience and investigating, you should be able to stop the spinning wheel and get Facebook loading properly again.
| Cause | Solution |
|---|---|
| Slow internet connection | Check speeds, restart modem and router, use wired connection |
| Outdated app | Update Facebook app in app store |
| Corrupted app files | Clear app cache and data |
| Too many background apps | Force close all other apps |
| Buggy app installation | Uninstall and reinstall Facebook app |
| Too many browser extensions | Disable unnecessary add-ons |
| Old browser version | Update browser to latest version |
| Temporary page glitch | Refresh or restart the page |
| Excessive cached data | Clear browser cookies, cache and site data |
| Facebook server outage | Check system status page, wait for fix |
Related Questions
Why is Facebook slow to load?
Common reasons Facebook is slow to load include: slow internet speeds, outdated app or browser, too many resource-heavy extensions, corrupted cache/cookies, server outages, and bugs. Troubleshoot your internet connection, update software, limit extensions, and clear cached data to speed up load times.
How can I speed up my Facebook news feed?
To speed up your Facebook news feed: update the Facebook app, restart your phone, clear the app cache/data, disable background app refresh on iOS, limit notifications, uninstall heavy apps, disable auto-playing videos, and limit extensions/add-ons in your browser.
What does the spinning loader mean on Facebook?
The spinning loader or circle icon on Facebook means content is taking longer than expected to load. It usually indicates a slow network connection, but can also be caused by outages, glitches, old apps/browsers, or too much cached data/background processes slowing things down.
Why is Facebook not responding?
If Facebook is not responding, it could be due to server outages, internet connectivity issues on your end, corrupted app cache/data, using too much memory/RAM, or bugs/glitches preventing pages from loading properly. Try restarting your device/router, reinstalling the app, and waiting for any outages to resolve.
How can I troubleshoot Facebook loading problems?
To troubleshoot Facebook loading issues: check internet speeds, restart your modem/router, close background apps, update the Facebook app and browser, clear cached data/cookies, disable unnecessary extensions, reinstall the Facebook app, try a different browser, and see if Facebook has reported any server outages.
Summary
In conclusion, getting stuck on the Facebook loading screen can be frustrating, but is normally fixable with a few targeted troubleshooting steps. Check your internet connectivity, limit background resource usage, keep apps and software updated, refresh stuck pages, and clear out cached data to resolve most loading problems. With some diligent investigation and maintenance, you can stop the spinning wheel and get back to seamlessly using Facebook.