Quick Answers
There are a few common reasons why you may see the “Something went wrong. Try again” error message when using Facebook:
- Temporary server or network issues
- Software bugs or glitches
- Your account is temporarily restricted
- Your browser has an issue
The error is quite generic and can occur for many different reasons. The good news is that it’s usually temporary and can be fixed by trying again after some time or troubleshooting the potential causes.
In-Depth Explanation
Facebook is a massive platform with billions of users, so errors are bound to occur regularly. Here are some of the most common reasons why you may see the “something went wrong” error and steps to fix them:
Temporary Server or Network Issues
With such a huge userbase, Facebook’s servers have to handle an enormous amount of traffic and requests. Despite Facebook’s complex infrastructure, their servers can still become overloaded or experience downtime. Network issues can also cause disruptions.
If the “something went wrong” error is caused by a temporary glitch or network problem, it will usually be resolved within a few minutes or hours. All you need to do is wait a little while and try again later. The Facebook developers are usually quick to get things up and running smoothly again.
Software Bugs and Glitches
Facebook is constantly updating its app and introducing new features. Sometimes bugs or glitches can slip through testing. A bug could be causing the “something went wrong” error for some users. Facebook is generally quick to identify and squash these bugs with patches and updates.
Updating to the latest version of the Facebook app or trying from a desktop browser may help if it’s a known bug that has already been fixed. Clearing your browser cookies/cache and app data can also help troubleshoot software glitches.
Account Restrictions
In some cases, the error message may indicate your account has been temporarily restricted or blocked. This can happen if Facebook detects suspicious activity or potential policy violations from your account.
Some common reasons for temporary account restrictions include:
- Suspicious login attempts from unknown locations
- Sharing spam or prohibited content repeatedly
- Sending excessive friend requests or messages
- Violating Facebook’s terms of service policies in some way
The restriction is meant to protect your account. You will need to check the details of the restriction in your account settings or notification to resolve it. This may involve removing any offending posts/content, securing your account, or verifying your identity.
Browser Issues
There could also be a compatibility issue with your specific web browser that is interfering with Facebook’s functionality. Trying to access Facebook in a very old or outdated browser can sometimes trigger errors.
Make sure you have updated your browser to the latest version. If the problem persists, try accessing Facebook from a different browser like Chrome or Firefox to see if that fixes it. Clearing your browser cache/cookies can also help resolve browser conflicts.
You may need to uninstall then reinstall the Facebook mobile app if having issues with it specifically. Rebooting your phone can also potentially help by clearing out any glitches.
When Does the Error Occur?
Paying attention to exactly when the “something went wrong” error pops up can provide clues as to the cause:
- While loading Facebook initially – Likely a general network or server issue.
- When clicking on a specific page or profile – Could indicate a bug or issue with that particular page.
- After interacting with a post – May be a restriction based on your activity.
- When updating your profile – Could be a bug or restriction triggered by changes.
- Only on mobile or only on desktop – Suggests a platform-specific bug or compatibility issue.
If the error started happening suddenly, that implies something changed with your account, the app/site, or your device around the same time.
Troubleshooting Steps
Here are some general troubleshooting steps to resolve the “something went wrong” error:
- Wait a while – Temporary outages will resolve on their own.
- Update the app – Install the latest Facebook app version.
- Update your browser – Make sure you have the newest browser version.
- Try another browser – Attempt to access Facebook in different browsers.
- Clear cache/cookies – Wipe your browser and Facebook app data.
- Check account restrictions – Review settings for any active restrictions.
- Restart devices – Power cycle phones, modems, routers.
- Check service status – Look for any service outage announcements.
- Contact Facebook support – Report persistent errors for troubleshooting help.
Following these steps can help identify and isolate the cause so that you can get back to using Facebook normally again.
Preventing Future Errors
While sporadic errors are hard to avoid completely, there are some things you can do to help prevent frequent “something went wrong” errors in the future:
- Keep your apps, operating systems, and browsers updated
- Be cautious about third-party apps and links to avoid malware
- Don’t violate Facebook’s terms of service or community standards
- Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication
- Beware of using restricted third-party VPNs or proxies
- Don’t make excessive automated requests to Facebook
Following best practices for using and securing your account helps minimize risks. Paying attention to any email warnings from Facebook about your account activity can also help you avoid restrictions.
When to Seek Further Help
If you have tried all the basic troubleshooting tips and are still getting the error, it’s time to reach out for additional help:
- Ask Facebook support to investigate if the error persists for over 24 hours.
- Check Facebook’s technical help documentation for updated fixes.
- Post in Facebook help forums describing your exact issue for advice.
- Contact your cell phone carrier if you think it could be a network issue.
- Call your ISP to check if they have service outages or interruptions.
- Consider seeking help from a technical support service if other options fail.
Continuing to get the generic “something went wrong” message for more than a day or two warrants contacting the relevant companies for assistance or to report the problem.
Error Message Meaning
The “something went wrong” error message is intended to be a generic, catch-all notification from Facebook. The vagueness helps encompass the many different specific issues that could be causing the problem.
Some key points about the meaning of the message:
- It means there is some type of temporary technical problem interfering with the normal functioning of Facebook.
- The exact cause is unknown and could be one of many possibilities.
- It’s not necessarily an indication of any problem with your specific account.
- The issue is likely on Facebook’s side rather than your device or network.
- Trying again later will probably resolve the error once Facebook fixes the problem.
- It’s meant as a general notification, not detailed diagnostics.
So in summary, the message simply indicates a generic malfunction has occurred, prompting you to try again later once it has been corrected on Facebook’s end.
Historical Problems with Facebook
While rare, there have been some notable major outages and issues with Facebook historically:
October 2021 Shutdown
On October 4, 2021, a faulty configuration change caused Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp to completely go offline globally for nearly six hours. It was one of the largest outages ever experienced by such major internet platforms.
March 2019 Outage
In March 2019, Facebook experienced a partial outage lasting over 24 hours that prevented many users from accessing the site fully. The cause was a server configuration issue.
September 2018 Security Breach
In September 2018, Facebook disclosed a security breach affecting 50 million accounts that allowed hackers to access private account data. They had to force password resets and take measures to prevent future breaches.
July 2017 Bug
In July 2017, a bug caused many Facebook users to see random posts from strangers on their newsfeed rather than from their connections. It took Facebook hours to rollback the faulty update.
November 2014 Outage
In November 2014, a technical issue with Facebook’s site configuration caused the platform to go down for approximately 40 minutes. Most users were unable to access Facebook during this time.
So while major platform-wide issues are rare, Facebook has certainly experienced its share of notable bugs, outages, and glitches over the years that required quick response from its engineering teams.
User Frustrations
The “something went wrong” error triggers several common frustrations for users:
- Confusion about what exactly is wrong
- Lack of transparency into the issue
- Prevents access Facebook’s features
- Disrupts social connections and communication
- No estimated timeline for resolution
- Feeling powerless to fix it themselves
- Concerns over potential data loss if posting content
Facebook could improve the user experience by:
- Providing more specific error messages when possible
- Communicating proactively about service problems
- Implementing improved failover and redundancy measures
- Offering estimated resolution times
- Suggesting immediate troubleshooting steps
More transparency and reactive support would help minimize user frustrations.
Business Impacts
Major Facebook outages and issues can significantly impact many businesses that rely on its services:
- Lose ability to communicate with customers
- Miss out on sales and website traffic driven through Facebook
- Disrupt marketing campaigns and paid advertising
- Inability to provide customer service via Facebook
- Damage brand reputation if unable to respond to comments/messages
- Reduce workplace productivity from employees accessing Facebook
Facebook outages demonstrate the risks of relying solely on one platform. Businesses should have contingency plans in place to continue operations through disruptions.
Example Business Impacts
| Business Type | Potential Impacts |
|---|---|
| Retail company | Lost sales from Facebook ads and shopping features being unavailable |
| News outlet | Big drop in web traffic and inability to post new articles |
| Non-profit organization | Fundraising campaigns interrupted and events promotion hampered |
| Digital marketing agency | Planned Facebook campaigns disrupted and managing client expectations |
| Small business | Missed customer inquiries, appointments, and orders |
Conclusion
The “something went wrong” error generally indicates a temporary technical issue occurring on Facebook’s end. While frustrating, it typically resolves on its own within a few hours. Periodic service problems are inevitable for a platform of Facebook’s massive scale. Users can try various troubleshooting tips to attempt to resolve the error faster. Businesses should aim to minimize reliance on Facebook alone to avoid significant impacts from potential outages. With over 3 billion active users, keeping Facebook consistently up and running is an incredibly challenging task.