There are a few common reasons why you may see the “News Feed Not Available” message when trying to access your Facebook News Feed:
Internet Connection Issues
One of the most common causes of the “News Feed Not Available” error is an unstable or weak internet connection. Facebook requires a steady internet connection to load all of the content in your News Feed. If you have a poor Wi-Fi or mobile data connection, you may frequently see this error message.
Try switching to a stronger internet connection or moving closer to your Wi-Fi router. Disable mobile data and connect your phone to a steady Wi-Fi network. If the problem persists across multiple internet connections, it is likely an issue on Facebook’s end rather than your own connection.
Solutions for Internet Connection Issues
- Connect your device to a steady Wi-Fi network
- Restart your router if connection is unstable
- Disable mobile data and only use Wi-Fi
- Try connecting to different Wi-Fi networks
- Use an ethernet cable for a direct wired connection
Temporary Facebook Server Errors
Facebook servers going down can also cause the “News Feed Not Available” message to appear until the issues are resolved. Server outages that disrupt Facebook services tend to be temporary, lasting from a few minutes up to a few hours in rare cases.
There is usually nothing you can do except wait for Facebook’s engineers to get things back up and running on their end. Follow Facebook’s public status accounts on Twitter to get updates on any ongoing outages.
Ways to Check Facebook Server Status
- Visit facebook.com/platform/status to see any known issues
- Check the Facebook DownDetector page for user-submitted outage reports
- Follow Facebook on Twitter for updates from staff
Facebook Account Restrictions
In some cases, access to your Facebook News Feed may be intentionally blocked by Facebook moderators. If you have violated Facebook’s terms of service in the past through abusive behavior, fake accounts, spamming, or other policy breaches, Facebook may restrict your access to certain features, including News Feed.
Appealing Facebook account restrictions can be difficult, but the first step is reviewing Facebook’s terms of service and community standards to understand what behavior may have triggered the restrictions. Avoiding further policy violations and contacting Facebook support are your best options for getting your full account access restored.
Tips for Appealing Facebook Restrictions
- Read Facebook’s Community Standards and Terms of Service
- Submit an appeal through the Facebook Help Center
- Avoid any further activity that could be seen as violating policies
- Contact Facebook support if restrictions continue after submitting appeal
Corrupted Local Facebook App Data
In rare cases, the Facebook app on your mobile device may have corrupted data cached locally that prevents News Feed from loading properly. The solution here is to clear the stored app data which will allow the Facebook app to rebuild the necessary files.
On an iPhone, go to your Settings > Facebook > Delete App. On Android devices go to Settings > Apps > Facebook > Storage > Clear Cache and Clear Data. Log into the Facebook app again and News Feed should now load correctly.
How to Clear Local Facebook App Data
- iPhone – Settings > Facebook > Delete App
- Android – Settings > Apps > Facebook > Storage > Clear Cache / Clear Data
Incorrect System Date & Time
Facebook relies on your device’s date and time settings being correct in order to serve relevant content. If your system clock is set incorrectly, Facebook may fail to load your News Feed properly.
Go to your device’s Date & Time settings page and make sure the date/time is correct and set to update automatically over the network. Toggle the settings off and back on to force a refresh of the current date/time.
How to Update System Date & Time
- iPhone – Settings > General > Date & Time
- Android – Settings > System > Date & Time
- Toggle “Set Automatically” off and back on
Browser or App Needs Refreshed
In some cases, refreshing your Facebook app or web browser may clear up a stuck “News Feed Not Available” page. On mobile, swipe the Facebook app upward to force a refresh. On desktop browsers, press Ctrl + R or Command + R to refresh the page.
As a last resort, completely restarting your mobile device or computer clears out any stuck memory that could cause Facebook problems. After restarting, access Facebook again and your News Feed should load correctly.
How to Refresh Facebook App or Browser
- Mobile App – Swipe upward to force refresh
- Desktop Browser – Press Ctrl + R / Command + R to refresh
- Restart computer or mobile device if issue persists
Facebook Personalized Feed Setting
The Facebook Feed Preferences page allows you to switch between a personalized or most recent feed. If your feed is set to personalized but has trouble loading content, switching it to most recent can help bypass those issues.
On desktop, click the 3 line menu in the top right > Settings & Privacy > Feed Preferences. On mobile, tap Menu > Settings & Privacy > Feed Preferences. Toggle between Personalized and Most Recent options.
| Platform | Steps to Access Feed Preferences |
|---|---|
| Desktop | Click 3 line menu > Settings & Privacy > Feed Preferences |
| Mobile App | Tap Menu > Settings & Privacy > Feed Preferences |
Conclusion
Troubleshooting Facebook News Feed issues requires patience and systematically working through the various causes. Start with resetting your device’s internet connection and Facebook app data. Check Facebook’s server status during outages. Refreshing your browser and double checking your device settings can also get things working again.
In rare cases where account restrictions are put in place, go through Facebook’s proper channels to appeal those limitations. News Feed should load normally again once any underlying connection, software, or account issues are resolved.