Why does it keep saying Facebook isn't responding?

There are a few common reasons why you may see the message “Facebook isn’t responding” when trying to use the Facebook app or website:

Your Internet Connection

One of the most common reasons for the “Facebook isn’t responding” message is an issue with your internet connection. Here are some things to check:

Check if you have an internet connection at all. Make sure your wifi or cellular data is turned on and connected.

Restart your router and modem. This can help resolve any temporary connection issues.
Check for internet outages in your area. Your provider could be experiencing a temporary outage.
Try switching wifi networks or use cellular data instead. This can determine if the issue is with your specific connection.

Test your connection speed. Slow speeds can prevent Facebook from loading properly. Ideal speeds for using Facebook are at least 5-10 Mbps download and 1-2 Mbps upload.

If your internet connection seems slow or unstable, this is likely the reason Facebook is not responding. Trying the steps above to troubleshoot your connection should resolve the issue.

Facebook Server Issues

The “Facebook isn’t responding” message can also appear when Facebook’s servers are down or experiencing issues. Some signs this is the cause include:

You cannot access Facebook on any device or internet connection.
Friends and family are also reporting issues with Facebook access.
Facebook has reported an outage on their social media accounts or status site.

Unfortunately, there is not much you can do to resolve this other than waiting until Facebook resolves the server issues on their end. Follow Facebook’s status accounts like Facebook and Facebook Twitter for updates.

App and Browser Issues

Problems with the Facebook app or your web browser can also sometimes cause connectivity issues:

Force quit and restart the Facebook app if on mobile. This can clear any app crashes or bugs.

Update to the latest version of the Facebook app. Older versions may have bugs.
Clear your browser cache and cookies. Cache buildup can prevent Facebook from loading.
Try accessing Facebook in a different web browser. This can determine if the issue is browser-specific.

Check for any extensions or ad blockers that may be interfering with Facebook. Try disabling them temporarily.
Update your web browser to the latest version. Old browsers may not work well with newer Facebook features.

Taking troubleshooting steps within your app or browser often resolves any software-specific causes of Facebook connectivity issues.

Account and Login Issues

If you cannot log into Facebook at all, it could stem from a problem with your account:

Reset your Facebook password if you cannot log in. This can fix any issues with an incorrect password.
Check for a Facebook email notice that your account has been disabled. Accounts sometimes get mistakenly flagged.

Submit an appeal if your account has been temporarily or permanently disabled. Provide any requested info to get it reactivated.
Make sure your account has not been hacked. Scan for any suspicious recent activity.
Log out then log back into Facebook on all devices. This can resolve any improper sessions.

Dealing with account access issues directly with Facebook Support is often needed in these cases where you cannot log in at all.

Facebook Site Problems

In some cases, only parts of Facebook may not be working properly:

Check Downdetector to see if specific Facebook site issues are reported.

Try using Facebook through different means. For example, Facebook desktop site vs mobile app vs Messenger app.
See if particular Facebook features work but others do not. That can indicate an isolated issue.
Temporary site glitches can cause certain images, videos, or sections to fail loading.

Site-specific problems with certain Facebook features may require waiting for Facebook to resolve them. Check Downdetector for updates on any isolated issues.

Facebook Status History

To give context on how often Facebook experiences outages, here is a history of major Facebook service disruptions over the past few years:

Date	Duration	Impact
October 4, 2021	6 hours	Global outage of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp
March 19, 2021	45 minutes	Partial global outage of Facebook and Messenger
August 7, 2020	8 hours	Facebook and Instagram crashes on iOS devices
July 2, 2020	8 hours	Image loading issues on Facebook and Instagram
November 12, 2019	24 hours	Partial outage of Facebook services worldwide

As you can see from the history, Facebook has experienced its share of multi-hour outages and service disruptions over time. The most global and prolonged issue occurred on October 4, 2021 when Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp were down for over 6 hours. More often, glitches impact certain geographies or site features for a shorter period before getting resolved by Facebook engineers.

Ways to Check Facebook Status

Whenever Facebook goes down for everyone, it quickly becomes major news. However, you can also check Facebook’s current status through a few methods:

Facebook status page – The official Facebook status page lists any ongoing issues they are aware of.
Facebook app – The mobile Facebook app shows a banner message whenever the service is experiencing downtime.

Twitter – Check the official @Facebook and @facebookapp Twitter feeds for service updates.
Third-party sites – Sources like Downdetector provide real-time outage maps and status reports.

Monitoring these sites can give you an idea if any issues you are seeing are widespread or limited to you. When Facebook has identified the problem, they will provide updates on restoration time.

Steps to Fix Facebook Loading Issues

Based on the possible causes above, here are some troubleshooting steps to resolve Facebook loading issues when you get the “isn’t responding” message:

Check your internet connection and restart your router.
Try force quitting and reopening the Facebook app on mobile.

Clear your browser cache and cookies for the site.
Test if Facebook works properly on a different device or network.
Look for any Facebook Service Status updates and outage reports.

Disable browser extensions and logout then back into Facebook.
Reset your Facebook password if your account access is blocked.
Update to the latest version of the Facebook app and browser.

Submit a request to Facebook Support if issues persist.

Following these troubleshooting steps can help identify and resolve the most common underlying issues. If Facebook is indeed experiencing global downtime, unfortunately the only solution is to wait for their services to come back online.

Preventing Facebook Connection Issues

While Facebook outages are usually outside of your control, there are some tips that can help minimize connectivity problems on your end:

Maintain a fast, stable internet connection with at least 10 Mbps speed.
Keep your Facebook app and browser updated to the latest versions.
Beware of browser extensions that may interfere with Facebook.

Clear your browser cache and Facebook app data periodically.
Use Facebook tools like content subscriptions to get updates during downtime.
Connect Facebook to your social accounts to stay updated on its status.

Troubleshooting preventatively by checking for Facebook Service Status issues can also reduce downtime frustration. Consider setting up browser alerts to notify you whenever Facebook reports an outage.

Alternative Social Media Apps

When Facebook is down for an extended period, you may want to use alternative social media sites temporarily:

Twitter – Get news and updates from people and brands.

Instagram – Share photos and videos visually.
Snapchat – Send disappearing messages and stories.
YouTube – Watch and share videos.

TikTok – View and upload short-form videos.
Reddit – Read, post and engage with online communities.
Pinterest – Discover and save creative and visual ideas.

Discord – Chat via text, voice, and video.

Each platform has its own features and communities. But in a pinch, they can fill the social networking void when you cannot access Facebook temporarily.

Contacting Facebook Support

If you continue experiencing Facebook issues that you cannot resolve through troubleshooting steps, you can contact Facebook directly for support:

Facebook Help Center – Consult FAQs or submit account help requests.
Facebook Help Community – Get help from Facebook staff and other users.
Facebook Support Inbox – Message Facebook Support in your Facebook account.

Twitter – Tweet issues to @FacebookSupport for help.
User Reports – File bug reports if you find Facebook site issues.

Be detailed when describing the Facebook problems you are encountering. Providing screenshots, specific dates and times, and steps to reproduce the issues can help Facebook Support address them faster.

Contact Facebook By Phone

Facebook does not provide direct phone support. However, you can call the following Facebook phone numbers for help with specific issues:

1-650-308-7300 – Facebook Sales and Partnerships
1-855-896-7367 – Facebook Payments Support

1-650-543-4800 – Facebook Headquarters

Calling these numbers can sometimes reach live assistance for certain account and payment issues. But Facebook generally recommends seeking support through their online Help Center.

Conclusion

The “Facebook isn’t responding” message is never fun to see, but the issue can often be resolved through troubleshooting steps on your device, browser, app, or internet connection. Server outages and downtime that affect everyone globally may simply require waiting for Facebook to get things back up and running.

Checking the Facebook Status page, Twitter, and sites like Downdetector can confirm if problems are on Facebook’s end. Staying updated on their services and contacting Facebook Support when issues persist gives you the best chance of regaining access when Facebook stops responding.