There are a few common reasons why Facebook may not be loading properly on your computer:
Your internet connection is slow or unstable
The most likely culprit is an issue with your internet connection. Facebook requires a relatively fast and stable internet connection to load properly. If you are experiencing frequent buffering, long load times, or timeout errors on Facebook, it’s likely your internet is too slow. Try testing your internet speed to see if it meets the minimum requirements for smoothly running Facebook:
- Minimum download speed: 3 Mbps (but 5+ Mbps is recommended for HD video)
- Minimum upload speed: 1 Mbps
- Stable, low-latency connection
If your internet is too slow, try upgrading your internet plan, resetting your router, connecting your computer directly to the modem with an Ethernet cable, or moving closer to your WiFi router.
Temporary network congestion or server issues
Facebook servers could be experiencing downtime or congestion, which can prevent Facebook from loading properly. This tends to resolve itself within a few hours. Check Downdetector to see if others are reporting problems with Facebook.
Browser cache needs to be cleared
Over time, your browser cache can get overloaded with old data and cause pages like Facebook to not load properly. Try clearing your browser cache and cookies to see if that fixes the issue:
- Chrome: Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data > Clear data
- Firefox: Menu > Options > Privacy & Security > Clear Data
- Safari: Develop > Empty Caches
- Edge: Settings and more > Privacy and services > Choose what to clear
Facebook third party cookies are blocked
Many browsers now block third-party cookies by default, which can prevent parts of Facebook from loading properly. Make sure to allow cookies from facebook.com:
- Chrome: Click lock icon > Site Settings > Cookies and site data > Allow
- Firefox: Preferences > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Allow
- Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data > Allow from facebook.com
- Edge: Settings and more > Cookies and site permissions > Allow cookies from facebook.com
Browser extensions are interfering
Some browser extensions like ad blockers, Facebook blockers, privacy extensions, VPNs, etc can partially block Facebook from loading properly. Try disabling your extensions one-by-one to identify if one is causing issues.
Facebook is down
In rare cases, Facebook itself experiences widespread technical issues or outages that prevent the site from loading for anyone. This usually resolves in a few hours. Check Downdetector to confirm if Facebook is down.
Your firewall or security software is blocking Facebook
Third-party firewall, antivirus, or security suite software can sometimes block access to Facebook. Try temporarily disabling your security software to see if that resolves the problem.
Your computer or account is infected with malware
In worst case scenarios, your computer or Facebook account may be infected with malware that is preventing Facebook from loading properly. Malware or hacked accounts can do things like redirect your browser, serve up malicious ads, change DNS settings, etc. Run a malware scan on your computer. If the problem persists, you may need to secure and reset your Facebook account password.
Facebook needs to be reinstalled
If none of the above fixes resolve your issues loading Facebook, try reinstalling the Facebook app:
On iPhone/iPad:
- Delete the Facebook app
- Power off your device and turn it back on
- Reinstall Facebook from the App Store
On Android:
- Force stop the Facebook app
- Clear cache and data for the Facebook app
- Uninstall updates for the app
- Reboot your phone
- Reinstall the latest version of Facebook from Google Play Store
This will clear out any corrupted files or cached data that could be preventing Facebook from working.
Update your operating system and browser
Make sure your operating system, browser, and hardware drivers are all fully up-to-date:
- Windows: Windows Update
- Mac: System Preferences > Software Update
- Chrome: Menu > Help > About Google Chrome
- Firefox: Menu > Help > About Firefox
- Safari: System Preferences > Software Update
- GPU drivers: Manufacturer website (Nvidia, AMD, Intel)
Old, buggy software can sometimes cause issues with pages loading properly. Keeping your system fully updated helps rule that out.
Try Facebook in incognito/private mode
As a test, attempt to load Facebook in your browser’s incognito or private browsing mode. This will rule out any extensions or account settings that may be interfering:
- Chrome: Ctrl + Shift + N
- Firefox: Ctrl + Shift + P
- Safari: File > New Private Window
- Edge: … > New InPrivate Window
If Facebook loads properly in incognito, an extension or browser setting is likely the issue.
Try another browser
See if the issue persists in another browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. If Facebook loads properly in another browser, it indicates an issue with your default browser profile.
Reset browser settings
For browser-specific issues, you can try resetting your browser’s settings to defaults:
- Chrome: Settings > Advanced > Reset and cleanup > Restore settings to their original defaults
- Firefox: Menu > Help > Troubleshooting Information > Refresh Firefox
- Safari: Safari > Preferences > Advanced > Restore to Original Settings
- Edge: … > Settings > Restore browser settings and preferences
Resetting will clear out any problematic customizations or changes made to settings.
Contact your ISP for assistance
If you continue experiencing connectivity issues across multiple devices, contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for assistance. There could be an issue with your modem, connection to your ISP, or ISP outage in your area.
Conclusion
Troubleshooting loading issues with Facebook requires patience and systematically isolating the problem. Try the steps listed above one-by-one until Facebook starts loading normally again. The most common fixes are clearing your browser cache, resetting your network connection, allowing Facebook cookies, or updating your software and drivers. If the problem started suddenly, it’s likely a temporary network issue on Facebook’s end. Give it some time and try again later. But if problems persist for more than a few days, there may be a deeper technical issue requiring professional assistance. Contact Facebook support or your device manufacturer for additional help.