Facebook videos glitching is a common frustration for many users of the social media platform. There are several potential causes for why a Facebook video may not play properly or freeze up. In this article, we’ll explore the technical reasons this can happen and provide some tips for troubleshooting glitchy Facebook videos.
Reasons Facebook Videos Glitch
There are a few key reasons Facebook videos may glitch or fail to play correctly:
Slow Internet Connection
One of the most common reasons for glitchy video playback is a slow or unstable internet connection. Streaming video requires a fair amount of bandwidth, so if your connection speed is low or inconsistent, the video may buffer slowly or freeze up. This could happen on either the viewer’s end or the uploader’s end – if either party has a weak connection, it can disrupt the video.
High Video Resolution
Facebook automatically processes and compresses videos uploaded to their servers to optimize them for streaming. However, very high resolution videos may still cause issues. The higher the resolution, the more bandwidth required to watch it smoothly. HD and 4K videos look great – when they work. But they are more prone to glitches, especially for mobile users.
Long Video Length
Similarly, longer videos require more sustained bandwidth and processing power than short clips. A 10 minute video in HD has much more data than a 30 second video. The longer the video, the more likely it is to encounter playback issues.
Browser Compatibility Issues
Certain web browsers may have compatibility issues with Facebook’s video player. Some browsers may not fully support all codecs and video formats. Issues are most common on older browsers. Using an outdated browser can lead to choppy, broken video even on fast connections.
Facebook Server Issues
As with any large web platform, Facebook’s servers can sometimes encounter problems on their end. Heavy traffic or technical difficulties can cause site-wide glitches. If videos aren’t playing properly for many users, the issue may be temporary server trouble at Facebook, not your personal device or connection.
Corrupted Video File
In some cases, glitches may occur because the video file itself is corrupted or damaged. This could happen if there was an issue with the upload process or video compression. Transcoding a video file incorrectly can result in artifacts, freezing, or other playback problems.
Buggy Mobile App
The Facebook mobile app is notorious for having bugs that cause videos to glitch or crash. App updates sometimes introduce new issues with video. Reinstalling the app or trying a previous version can help rule out mobile app bugs.
How to Troubleshoot Facebook Video Glitches
If you’re experiencing problems with stuttering, endless buffering, or other video issues on Facebook, here are some troubleshooting steps to try:
Restart Devices
If a video isn’t loading, the first step is to restart your computer, phone, tablet, or other device you’re watching it on. Close all apps and reboot your device. This will clear any memory issues or software glitches.
Check Your Internet Connection
Run a speed test on your internet connection to confirm your upload and download speeds are strong and consistent enough to handle video streaming. Ideal speeds for HD video are 10+ Mbps down and 2+ Mbps up. If your connection is slow, speak to your ISP.
Update Your Browser
Make sure your web browser is fully updated. Old browsers like Internet Explorer are likely to have playback issues. Use a modern browser like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge for best results.
Try Another Device
See if the video plays properly on another phone, computer, or tablet. If it works fine there, the problem lies with your first device. But if it’s glitchy across all devices, it’s an account, connectivity, or site issue.
Lower Video Quality
Manually lower the video resolution if possible. SD and 720p use less bandwidth than full HD or 4K. Lower resolution requires less processing power and may avoid glitches.
Clean Browser Cache
Clear your browser cache and cookies to eliminate any corrupted data. Cached video files could get “stuck”, failing to load properly.
Update Facebook App
If using the mobile app, check the Play Store or App Store for any Facebook app updates. Install the latest version, which may have fixed video bugs.
Report Video Issues to Facebook
Use the “Report” link by the video to notify Facebook of any recurring technical issues. If it’s a widespread problem, reporting it will help them investigate and fix it faster.
Best Practices to Avoid Facebook Video Glitches
Here are some tips to help avoid playback issues when uploading and watching Facebook videos:
- Compress files before uploading using Handbrake or other video optimizer
- Trim longer videos into smaller segments
- Upload and view over fast WiFi or wired connections
- Use HD or SD quality for most videos
- Update devices and apps frequently
- Don’t multitask while playing videos
- If on mobile, close other apps running in background
- Report ongoing technical issues to Facebook
Conclusion
Glitchy, stuttering video can ruin the Facebook experience. Playback issues typically stem from bandwidth limitations, software bugs, codec mismatches, or conflicts between the numerous devices and browsers people use to access Facebook. While frustrating, there are steps both users and Facebook itself can take to identify and address the root causes. Optimizing connectivity, keeping systems updated, compressing large files, and reporting bugs are key to smooth video streaming.
| Common Facebook Video Glitches | Potential Causes |
|---|---|
| Video freezes and buffers continuously | Slow internet connection or high resolution video requiring more bandwidth than available |
| Video stutters and skips | Unstable connection with latency spikes and jitter |
| No video, only audio plays | Codec or compatibility issue between browser and video file |
| Video crashes app or browser | Buggy mobile app or outdated browser unable to handle video properly |
| Video distorted, blocky, or pixelated | Compression artifact from transcoding high-res video to lower resolutions |
| Video shows error message | Corrupted video file or temporary server issue at Facebook |