Why has my Facebook stopped working?

There are a few common reasons why Facebook may stop working properly. The most likely culprits are internet connectivity issues, software bugs, account issues, or Facebook platform outages.

Internet Connectivity Issues

The most common reason Facebook stops working is due to problems with your internet connection. Here are some things to check:

Make sure you are connected to the internet. Check that your WiFi or cellular data is enabled.

Restart your router and modem. This refreshes the connection.
Check for outages with your internet service provider. There could be an outage in your area.
Try accessing Facebook on different devices on the same network. If it doesn’t work on multiple devices, it’s likely a network issue.

Switch networks by using cellular data instead of WiFi or vice versa. See if Facebook loads normally on the alternate connection.
Test your internet speed at speedtest.net. Slow speeds can prevent Facebook from working properly.
Update your network drivers and reboot your computer if Facebook is not loading on a laptop or desktop computer.

If you can confirm the problem is with your network connection, contact your internet service provider or try troubleshooting your home network setup.

Facebook App and Software Issues

Problems with the Facebook app or software can also cause malfunctions:

Update the Facebook app on your mobile device. Bug fixes and optimizations in new versions can resolve errors.

Reinstall the Facebook app if updating does not help. This gives you a clean slate.
Clear the app cache and data for the Facebook app and try again.
Try accessing Facebook through the browser instead of the app.

Use a different browser if Facebook is still not working.
Clear your browser cookies, cache and history. Facebook uses cookies to log you in.
Try enabling browser add-ons like AdBlock or Privacy Badger if pages won’t finish loading.

Update your browser or computer operating system to eliminate any software conflicts.
Disable browser extensions one by one to see if an add-on is causing Facebook issues.

App and browser troubleshooting steps may fix Facebook problems isolated to a particular device or software conflict.

Facebook Account Problems

Make sure you are logged into the right account. Log out completely then log back in.
Reset your Facebook password in case it was changed without your knowledge.

Recover your account if it was hacked. Use Facebook’s account recovery steps.
Verify that two-factor authentication is set up correctly.
Check for disabled accounts. Facebook may have disabled your account due to suspicious activity.

Request a review if you think Facebook disabled your account by mistake.

Fixing account problems requires logging into Facebook via the browser and accessing settings.

Facebook Platform Outages

Facebook experiences occasional platform-wide outages that prevent access for all users globally. Here is what you can do:

Check facebook.com/platformstatus to see if Facebook is experiencing an outage.
See if friends and family are having issues accessing Facebook. Widespread outages will affect others too.
Monitor Facebook’s technical support Twitter at @facebook for updates.

Wait for Facebook engineers to resolve the outage. Full functionality will return soon.

While frustrating, try to be patient in the event of a major Facebook outage. These usually last an hour or two at most.

Web Browser Issues

Problems with your web browser software can prevent Facebook from loading properly:

Make sure your web browser is up to date. Install the latest updates.
Try alternate web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge to see if one works better than another.
Reset browser settings to default if Facebook stops working after a browser update.

Reinstall your browser completely if needed.
Update browser plug-ins like Java, Flash, or Shockwave which may be out of date.
Disable browser extensions one by one to see if they are interfering.

Switching browsers or resetting browser software often resolves Facebook problems caused by glitchy software.

Cookie Settings

Facebook uses cookies to maintain your logged in session. Cookie issues can cause login problems:

Ensure browser cookies are enabled for Facebook.com.

Add Facebook.com to cookie whitelist settings if available.
Clear cookies for Facebook.com and try logging in again.
Try enabling third-party cookies.

Disable cookie blocking extensions or add-ons like ad blockers.

Adjusting cookie settings is one way to troubleshoot Facebook login and browsing problems.

Proxy or VPN in Use

Connecting through a proxy, VPN, or virtualization software can disrupt access to Facebook:

Disable any proxy or VPN connections and access Facebook directly.
Try a different proxy server if adjusting VPN settings does not help.
Clear your browser cache and history after changing proxy or VPN settings.

Some proxy connections are blacklisted by Facebook. You may need a different proxy service.
Virtualization software like VMware can cause connectivity issues. Use Facebook in your normal operating system.

Proxies and VPNs route your traffic in complex ways that can break Facebook functionality.

Temporary Network Block

Too many failed login attempts can cause Facebook to temporarily block your network:

Carefully re-enter your username and password. Triple check that caps lock is not enabled.
If your account was hacked, use Facebook’s recovery steps to regain access.

Change your password to something secure that you have not used on other websites.
Enable two-factor authentication for increased security.
Wait a few hours for the network block to expire before trying to login again.

Repeated failed logins trigger a temporary block, but your access will normally be restored shortly.

Corrupt Browser Cache

Corrupted browser caching can affect page loading:

Clear your browser cache and delete temporary internet files.

Restart your browser after deleting the cache.
Disable the browser cache temporarily to see if that fixes Facebook issues.
Reset your browser to default settings to refresh cache behavior.

Cache problems tend to resolve once the browser data is cleared or the browser itself is reset.

Ad Blocking Extensions

Some ad blockers and Facebook privacy extensions can block too much:

Temporarily disable any ad blocker browser extensions.

Whitelist Facebook.com in your ad blocker tool if possible.
Try a different ad blocking extension like uBlock Origin or Adguard.
Delete and reinstall the ad blocker extension after adjusting settings.

Tweaking ad blocker configuration is often enough to fix Facebook problems caused by overzealous tools.

Pop-up Blockers

Built-in browser pop-up blockers can interfere with Facebook login:

Disable your browser’s built-in pop-up blocker.

Add Facebook.com as an allowed website for pop-ups.
Use custom browser settings to manage pop-up blocking instead of turning it completely off.

Pop-up blockers sometimes prevent Facebook login or chatting pop-ups from loading.

Antivirus and Firewall Software

Security programs may block Facebook:

Add Facebook.com to your antivirus allowed list.
Adjust firewall settings to allow Facebook network access.

Temporarily disable your antivirus or firewall to see if it is the cause.
Scan your computer for malware just in case viruses are responsible.
Update your security software to the latest definitions.

Antivirus and firewall tools can mistakenly detect Facebook activity as suspicious and block communications.

Date and Time Settings

Incorrect date and time values can create issues with site encryption:

Make sure your operating system date and time are set correctly.

Enable “Set time automatically” in your system settings if available.
Adjust time zone settings if they are incorrect.
Reset the Network Time Protocol service if your computer clock keeps drifting.

Facebook relies on accurate time values for security protocols. Being off by even a few minutes can prevent access.

Domain Name Service (DNS) Issues

DNS problems can prevent connecting to Facebook domains:

Flush your DNS cache in browser or system settings.

Use Google Public DNS servers like 8.8.8.8 instead of your ISP’s servers.
Try alternate DNS servers until you find ones that resolve Facebook’s IP addresses.
Restart your router and modem to refresh DNS lookups.

Facebook uses multiple domain names that all need to resolve correctly via DNS for the site to work.

Corrupted System Files

Damaged system files can cause browser and software crashes:

Scan for corrupted Windows files using sfc /scannow.

Verify game files in Steam or scan with repair tools.
Reinstall damaged applications like web browsers.
Update graphics card drivers if there are display issues.

Restore Windows system files from backup if needed.

While not a common culprit, corrupted system files can lead to the browser crashes that prevent Facebook from loading.

Overheating Computers

Overheating can cause temporary computer and browser failures:

Check for clogged vents and clean out excess dust.
Aim a fan at your computer to improve airflow.
Replace old thermal paste between CPU and heatsink.

Upgrade cooling system with more powerful fans or liquid cooling.
Lower resource usage to reduce computer workload.

Excessive heat builds up over time and forces random crashes that disrupt Facebook access until the computer cools down.

Failing Hardware

Malfunctioning hardware like memory or drives can crash software:

Run hardware diagnostics to pinpoint faulty components.
Update firmware for components like SSDs, motherboard, etc.

Test individual RAM sticks by swapping them in and out.
Replace defective hardware like bad RAM or hard drives.

When hardware starts to fail, it exhibits random symptoms like being unable to maintain Facebook sessions.

Mobile Hardware Defects

Problematic mobile device hardware affects Facebook app performance:

Check for recalls, known defects, or eligibility for free repair.
Update device firmware and OS to latest available version.

Factory reset the mobile device to eliminate software issues.
Replace the device battery if it is swelling or damaged.
Replace screen if it is cracked, glitchy, or unresponsive.

Mobile hardware faults like bad batteries cause freezing, crashes, and phone-wide problems.

Jailbroken or Rooted Devices

Jailbroken iOS or rooted Android phones are not fully supported:

Disable problematic jailbreak tweaks and mods.

Perform a clean restore to remove jailbreak and return to stock iOS.
Unroot Android and re-lock bootloader if feasible.

The modified operating systems on jailbroken or rooted phones are prone to malfunctions.

Slow Page Loading

If Facebook loads slowly but doesn’t show an error, try these tips:

Disable browser extensions to eliminate conflicts.
Clear cookies and website data related to Facebook.

Force refresh the page instead of just reloading.
Update your network adapter drivers.
Switch browsers or reset your browser.

Strange slowdowns can be a precursor to Facebook no longer working at all in some cases.

Specific Component Failures

Particular Facebook features may fail while the rest of the site works:

News feed – Refresh feed, update app, clear cookies

Messages – Reboot device, ensure app is updated
Notifications – Check notification settings, restart app
Ads – Disable ad blockers, clear cookies and cache

Search – Try different browsers, disable extensions
Pages – Switch to desktop site on mobile, update app

Isolating what specific functionality has stopped working can provide clues to the exact cause.

Conclusion

There are many potential reasons for Facebook malfunctions ranging from network issues to software bugs to outright outages. A systematic troubleshooting approach can methodically eliminate causes until the specific problem is pinpointed:

Confirm internet connectivity and test with alternate devices.
Update, reinstall and reset apps and software.

Check account access and security.
Monitor Facebook status pages during widespread outages.
Toggle browser extensions, cookies, caching and security tools.

Update operating systems and hardware drivers.
Reset browser and software to default settings.

While frustrating, most Facebook problems can be resolved with patience and persistence. And if all else fails, take a break and come back to troubleshoot further when in a better state of mind.