Uploading photos and videos to Facebook is a great way to share memories and moments with friends and family. However, sometimes the upload process doesn’t go as smoothly as we’d like. If your upload gets stuck at a certain percentage or never fully completes, it can be super frustrating!
Don’t worry – in most cases, you can get your stuck Facebook upload moving again. Here, we’ll walk through the top troubleshooting tips to try when your Facebook upload won’t complete.
What Causes Facebook Uploads to Get Stuck?
There are a few common culprits behind stuck Facebook uploads:
- A poor internet connection. Uploads require bandwidth to transfer data – if your connection is slow or unstable, an upload may hang.
- Large file sizes. Videos and high-res photos take longer to upload. Lengthy uploads are more likely to stall out.
- The Facebook app or website glitching. Like any software, the Facebook platform can have bugs that interrupt uploads.
- Your device having performance issues. If your phone or computer is low on storage, memory, or processing power, uploads may struggle.
- Problems on Facebook’s end. Heavy traffic or server issues at Facebook can also prevent uploads from completing.
If you run into a stuck upload, don’t panic. There are several troubleshooting steps you can take to get it back on track.
Refresh the Page or App
The simplest fix is to refresh Facebook in your browser or app. This reloads the page or application and essentially gives things a fresh start. To refresh:
- On the web, press F5 to refresh the page.
- In the Facebook app, drag down from the top of the screen to refresh your feed.
Hopefully after refreshing, the upload will resume normally. If it’s still stuck, move on to close and re-open the Facebook app or tab.
Check Your Internet Connection
Uploads require a stable internet connection. Check that your Wi-Fi or mobile data signal is strong. Try these tips:
- Run a speed test to confirm your available bandwidth.
- If on Wi-Fi, move closer to your router or access point.
- If on mobile data, try toggling Airplane mode on and off to reset the connection.
- Connect your device to a different Wi-Fi network or switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data.
- Avoid bulk uploads on public Wi-Fi which may have bandwidth restrictions.
Switching networks or connections can help if your current one is shaky or slow. With a stronger signal, your upload should be able to complete.
Check the File Size
Large files take much longer to upload. Facebook’s upload limit for photos is 4K resolution. For videos, the limit is 1 GB for mobile and 4 GB on desktop.
If you’re trying to upload files at or near those size limits, a stall is very possible. Check your file sizes and consider trimming or compressing if they are very large.
You can also split up the upload into multiple smaller batches which may have better luck completing.
Restart Your Device
Performance issues with your device can prevent uploads from finishing properly. Try fully powering your device off and back on. This clears any memory issues and resets things for a clean slate.
Make sure to close all other apps and browser tabs first too. Your device will have more resources available for Facebook if fewer programs are running.
Update the Facebook App
The Facebook app regularly receives bug fixes and performance updates. However, the updates only install if you manually update the app via your device’s app store.
Check if you have the latest version of the Facebook app. If not, update and try your upload again. The newest updates may address any upload bugs.
Try Again Later
In rare cases, the issue may be on Facebook’s end if their servers are overloaded or having downtime. Heavy traffic and technical difficulties can temporarily disrupt uploads sitting in Facebook’s queue.
If all else fails, take a break and try the upload again in a few hours. Allow time for any problems on Facebook’s side to sort themselves out.
Clear the App Cache
The Facebook app cache stores data from your uploads and feed. A corrupted cache could prevent uploads from going through. Here’s how to clear it:
- iOS: Go to Settings > Facebook > Clear Cache
- Android: Go to device Settings > Apps > Facebook > Clear Cache
Emptying the cache forces the app to rebuild that data from scratch. Make sure to clear the cache before trying your upload again.
Use Facebook’s Upload Status Tool
Facebook actually has a dedicated tool for diagnosing upload problems. Visit the Upload Status page and it will check for any issues.
The tool scans your recent uploads and highlights any that had trouble completing. It provides specific next steps to address the identified problems.
Use the Upload Status tool to pinpoint exactly why your upload got stuck and recommended fixes.
Upload from a Computer Instead
Uploading on your phone’s Facebook app makes it easy to share photos and videos anywhere. But the mobile upload process does have more potential points of failure.
Try uploading the stuck file from a computer instead. Use the Facebook website and make sure your computer is connected via ethernet if possible.
The wired connection and Facebook website combine for the most reliable upload setup. The computer may have an easier time completing the upload.
Compress the File Size
If all else fails, reduce the size of the file you want to upload. Use an image editor or video converter to make the file smaller before uploading.
Compressing images and videos reduces the amount of data, making it easier on Facebook’s servers and your internet connection. Your upload should have no issues completing at a smaller file size.
Contact Facebook Support
For help troubleshooting beyond these tips, you can contact Facebook directly. Visit Facebook’s Help Center and select the option to speak with a support representative.
Explain your stuck upload issues and what troubleshooting you’ve tried. The Facebook team may have additional suggestions or be able to identify any problems on Facebook’s end.
Conclusion
Stuck Facebook uploads can be really annoying. But in most cases, you can get them back up and running with some simple troubleshooting:
- Refreshing the page or app
- Checking your internet connection
- Restarting your device
- Updating the Facebook app
- Trying again later
- Clearing the app cache
- Using Facebook’s upload tool
- Uploading from a computer
- Compressing the file size
- Contacting Facebook support
With persistence and systematically trying these fixes, you should be able to overcome most stuck upload issues. Just take it one step at a time until Facebook successfully receives your photos and videos.