Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms, with millions of users worldwide relying on its mobile apps to stay connected. However, many iPhone users have experienced issues with the Facebook app at some point, finding themselves unable to open or use it properly.
Common Reasons the Facebook App Won’t Open
There are a few common reasons why you may be unable to open the Facebook app on your iPhone:
The App is Frozen or Crashing
One of the most common reasons the Facebook app won’t open is because it has become frozen or is crashing repeatedly. Apps can sometimes enter a non-responsive state where they fail to launch or run properly. There are a couple of ways to troubleshoot a frozen Facebook app:
- Force close the app – Double click the Home button and swipe up on the Facebook app preview to force close it.
- Restart your iPhone – Press and hold the Power button, slide to turn off, and then turn your phone back on after 30 seconds.
- Update iOS – Frozen apps are sometimes caused by iOS bugs, so make sure you have the latest iOS version installed.
- Reinstall Facebook – Deleting and reinstalling the app can clear out bugs or glitches.
If force closing, restarting, updating iOS, and reinstalling don’t get the Facebook app working again, there is likely a deeper issue.
Outdated App Version
Using an outdated version of the Facebook app that has compatibility issues or bugs can prevent the app from opening. Check that you have the latest version of the Facebook app installed:
- Go to the App Store.
- Tap your profile icon in the top right.
- Scroll to see if any updates are available for the Facebook app.
- If an update is available, tap Update.
Updating to the latest version of the app can often resolve launch and freezing issues.
Corrupt App Data or Preferences
Corrupted data or preferences for the Facebook app stored on your iPhone can stop the app from working properly. To troubleshoot this:
- Try deleting and reinstalling the Facebook app – This wipes the app data and starts fresh.
- Reset all settings – Go to Settings > General > Reset and tap Reset All Settings. This maintains data but resets system preferences.
Resetting the Facebook app’s data/preferences or your iPhone settings can clear out any corrupt files or issues that are preventing the app from opening.
Jailbroken iPhone
Jailbreaking an iPhone modifies key system files and settings, which can sometimes make apps unstable or cause freezing issues. The Facebook app may not work properly or open on a jailbroken device. You may need to restore your iPhone to factory settings to get Facebook working again if your device is jailbroken.
Storage Space Issues
If your iPhone is low on storage space, some apps may fail to open or function properly. Check your available storage in Settings > General > iPhone Storage. If storage is nearly full, you’ll need to free up space for apps like Facebook to work correctly:
- Offload unused apps
- Delete large files like photos/videos
- Turn on iCloud Photo Library
- Stream music/media rather than store it locally
- Remove unused downloads, cached or temporary files
Clearing at least 1-2 GB of available storage is recommended so apps can run smoothly.
iOS or Facebook Server Issues
Temporary iOS or Facebook server and backend issues can also prevent the Facebook app from opening properly at times. If a lot of users are reporting problems opening Facebook, this points to a larger outage. Check Apple’s System Status page and Facebook’s Platform Status page to see if any known issues with iOS or Facebook are occurring.
Unfortunately during broad outages, there is not much you can do besides wait for Apple or Facebook to resolve any server-side bugs and restore proper service.
Troubleshooting When Facebook App Won’t Open
If the Facebook app is failing to open on your iPhone, here are some key troubleshooting steps to take:
- Force Close the App – Double tap the Home button and swipe up on the Facebook preview to force close the frozen app.
- Restart the iPhone – Turn your phone fully off and back on to clear any memory issues.
- Check for App Updates – Ensure you have the latest version of the Facebook app from the App Store.
- Reinstall the App – Delete and reinstall Facebook to clear out any corrupted files or data.
- Reset App Preferences – Reset all settings or delete/reinstall the app to wipe preferences.
- Check Storage Usage – Free up space if your phone storage is nearly full.
- Wait During Outages – Be patient during any server outages or known iOS issues.
- Contact App Support – Reach out to Facebook or Apple support if issues persist.
Following these troubleshooting steps will help identify and resolve the most common reasons the Facebook app is not opening properly on your iPhone.
Fixing Facebook App Launch and Freezing Issues
Here is a summary of the key solutions for getting the Facebook app up and running if it is crashing, freezing or failing to launch on your iPhone:
Force Close and Reopen the App
If the app is frozen, use the App Switcher to force close Facebook, then try reopening it. This will terminate any stalled processes.
Restart the iPhone
Rebooting your phone will clear out memory issues and refresh all running processes. Turn your phone fully off, wait 30 seconds, then power it back on.
Update to the Latest Version
Make sure you have the most up-to-date version of the Facebook app by checking the App Store for any available updates.
Reinstall the Facebook App
Deleting and reinstalling the app will wipe all data and settings and can resolve many launch problems caused by corrupt files or preferences.
Reset App Preferences
Resetting your iPhone settings or deleting/reinstalling the Facebook app will clear out any troublesome app preferences that could be preventing launch.
Free Up Storage Space
Check Settings to see available storage and delete unused apps, photos, videos or downloads to free up space. Apps need free space to function.
Check for iOS and Facebook Outages
If Facebook is down due to server issues, all you can do is wait for service to be restored. Check Apple’s System Status and Facebook’s Platform Status sites.
Contact Support if Needed
Get in touch with Facebook or Apple Support if you are still experiencing Facebook app crashes and freezing even after trying these troubleshooting tips.
Preventing Facebook App Problems
Here are some tips to help avoid Facebook app crashes and freezing in the future:
Update the App and iOS Regularly
Always keep the Facebook app and iOS version on your device updated to the latest releases to ensure maximum compatibility and performance.
Close Unused Apps and Tabs
Don’t leave apps and browser tabs open unnecessarily in the background. Keeping too many processes running can drain resources.
Avoid Almost Full Storage
Check iPhone storage regularly and be sure to keep at least 1-2GB free at all times. Low space can cause apps to crash.
Reboot Your iPhone Periodically
Power your iPhone off and back on once a week or so to clear memory, refresh system processes and prevent freezing issues.
Delete and Reinstall Problem Apps
If an app like Facebook is consistently buggy, deleting and reinstalling it can wipe corrupt data preventing crashes.
Avoid Jailbreaking
Jailbreaking patches system files, which can lead to app stability issues. Non-jailbroken iPhones have the fewest app problems.
Proactively managing your iPhone’s memory, storage, apps, iOS version and other factors can help minimize the chances of Facebook or other apps becoming unresponsive or failing to launch.
When to Contact Support for Facebook App Issues
In most cases, you can resolve Facebook app crashing and freezing issues using the troubleshooting tips provided. However, you may need to contact Apple or Facebook support if you continue experiencing problems even after trying all recommended fixes, including:
- Force closing and reopening the app
- Restarting your iPhone
- Updating iOS and the Facebook app
- Reinstalling the Facebook app
- Resetting iPhone settings and Facebook app preferences
- Freeing up storage space on your device
If the Facebook app still fails to launch or run after trying these steps, reach out to support for further help:
Contact Apple Support If
- The issues started after an iOS update
- Other apps besides Facebook are also freezing or crashing
- Reinstalling or resetting Facebook did not help
- Your iPhone is still under warranty or AppleCare coverage
Apple can run diagnostics, suggest tailored troubleshooting steps for your device, potentially offer a replacement phone if hardware issues are found, or point you to a Genius Bar appointment if needed.
Contact Facebook Support If
- The Facebook app crashes immediately on launch
- The issues are isolated to only the Facebook app
- Deleting and reinstalling Facebook did not help
- You have the latest iOS and Facebook app versions
Facebook support can further troubleshoot based on any error messages you may be seeing, investigate any potential account-related issues, and determine if any fixes or patches are needed from Facebook’s side to get the app working properly again.
With some time and patience, following troubleshooting steps and contacting Apple or Facebook support when required, you should be able to resolve any Facebook app crashes or launch problems on your iPhone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about why the Facebook app may not be opening correctly on iPhones:
Why does the Facebook app keep crashing?
Common reasons for Facebook app crashes include corrupted data/files, outdated app versions, insufficient storage space, iOS or Facebook server issues, or the app freezing and becoming unresponsive. Trying force closing, updating the app, freeing up storage, or deleting and reinstalling Facebook can typically fix crashing problems.
Why does Facebook crash when I open it?
If Facebook crashes right when you open it, this is likely caused by corrupted app data or preferences. Try reinstalling Facebook to wipe data, or reset your iPhone which clears out system-wide preferences. An outdated Facebook version can also cause launch crashing.
Why does Facebook freeze on my iPhone?
Facebook freezing is most often caused by a rogue process or memory issue preventing the app from responding. Force close Facebook and restart your iPhone to clear any freezing issues. If problems persist, check for app updates, reinstall Facebook, or reset your device.
How do I fix Facebook app has stopped working?
When Facebook stops working or crashes with an error, first close and reopen the app. Update iOS and the Facebook app in case outdated versions are to blame. Delete and reinstall Facebook to wipe corrupt files. Resetting your iPhone can also help by clearing out bad preferences.
How can I get the Facebook app to open again?
If Facebook won’t open, force close it and try again. Restart your iPhone and update or reinstall the Facebook app if needed. Reset the app preferences by wiping the app data or resetting your device settings. Check for iOS and Facebook service outages as well. Contact Apple or Facebook support if issues persist.
Why is Facebook app not working even after update?
In some cases, even updating the Facebook app may not resolve crashing and freezing problems. Additional steps like force closing the app, resetting your device, reinstalling Facebook, freeing up storage space and contacting support may be needed to get Facebook working again after updating.
Conclusion
Having trouble getting the Facebook app to open on your iPhone can certainly be frustrating. However, there are a number of troubleshooting techniques you can try to get Facebook back up and running.
Start by force closing the app, rebooting your iPhone, updating iOS and the Facebook app itself, and checking for any known outages. If issues continue, deleting and reinstalling the Facebook app, resetting iPhone settings, freeing up storage space, and contacting Apple or Facebook support are the next steps.
While app crashes and freezing can occur, being proactive about updating the app and your device, managing storage, and periodically resetting your phone can go a long way towards preventing Facebook app problems. With a combination of troubleshooting, preventative care, and reaching out for support when needed, you should be able to overcome any issues with opening the Facebook app on your iPhone.