There are a few common reasons why you may be having issues using Facebook Watch on your TV:
Your TV is not compatible
Facebook Watch is only available on certain smart TVs and streaming devices. It works on:
- Amazon Fire TV
- Android TV
- Apple TV
- Oculus TV
- Portal TV
- Samsung Smart TVs (select models)
If you have an older TV or one made by a different manufacturer, it likely does not support the Facebook Watch app. You would need to purchase a compatible streaming device like a Roku or Amazon Fire Stick to be able to use Facebook Watch.
The app is not installed
In order to watch Facebook Watch on your TV, you need to first install the Facebook Watch app. Here are the steps to install it on common platforms:
Amazon Fire TV
- From the main menu, select “Apps” from the top menu bar.
- Select the “Search” icon.
- Type in “Facebook Watch”.
- Select the Facebook Watch app icon.
- Select “Download”.
Android TV
- Select the Google Play Store icon.
- Search for “Facebook Watch”.
- Select the Facebook Watch app.
- Choose “Install”.
Apple TV
- Go to the App Store on your Apple TV.
- Search for “Facebook Watch”.
- Select the Facebook Watch app.
- Choose “Get” and then “Install”.
Once installed, you should see a Facebook Watch icon on your TV’s home screen or app menu.
You’re not logged in
To watch videos on Facebook Watch, you need to be logged into your Facebook account. If you open the Facebook Watch app and it asks you to log in, be sure to enter your Facebook email and password to access your account.
Also check that you are logging in with the same account that you use on your phone or computer. Content that you follow or have watched before is tied to your account.
The app needs to be updated
Like any app, the Facebook Watch app needs to be kept updated. If it’s been a while since you used the app, there may be a new update available.
To check for updates on different devices:
- Fire TV: Go to Apps > Facebook Watch > Check for Updates
- Android TV: Go to the Facebook Watch page in the Play Store > Update
- Apple TV: Go to App Store > Updates > Check for Facebook Watch update
Install any available updates. This will ensure you have the latest version of Facebook Watch.
You have connectivity issues
Of course, in order to stream videos from Facebook Watch, your TV needs to be connected to the internet. Some things to check:
- Make sure your TV is connected to your WiFi network. Go to your TV settings to confirm the connection.
- Check that other internet-connected apps like Netflix or YouTube are working properly on the TV.
- Try restarting your wireless router if you’re having connectivity issues.
- If you’re using a very weak WiFi signal, consider moving your TV closer to your router or connecting it via ethernet cable for faster speeds.
Geographic restrictions
In some cases, rights holders may block video content on Facebook Watch for certain geographic regions. So you may find some videos that say something like “This content isn’t available in your region” when you try to play them.
This is due to the owner of that video restricting the countries where it can be viewed. While frustrating, unfortunately there is not much you can do about geographic restrictions beyond using a VPN to appear located in a different country.
Troubleshooting tips
If you’ve checked the above issues and Facebook Watch still isn’t working, here are some further troubleshooting steps to try:
- Force close and restart the Facebook Watch app.
- Sign out of Facebook and sign back in.
- Delete and reinstall the Facebook Watch app.
- Restart your TV.
- Check Facebook’s status page for any known issues at https://www.facebook.com/business/help/support.
- Update your TV’s software/firmware.
- Reset your TV to factory default settings.
Check Facebook Watch on other devices
To help narrow down the issue, try accessing Facebook Watch from other devices like your phone or computer. If Facebook Watch works fine on other devices, the issue is likely related to your TV setup. But if it’s not working anywhere, then your Facebook account or Facebook Watch itself may have a problem.
Contact Facebook support
If you still can’t get Facebook Watch working after trying everything, you may need to contact Facebook for support. You can reach them at:
- Help Center: https://www.facebook.com/help
- Report a Problem: https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/169486816475808
Explain the issue you’re running into and the steps you’ve tried already. The Facebook support team may be able to provide additional troubleshooting tips or determine if there are any known issues affecting the service.
Conclusion
Facebook Watch not working can be frustrating, but the issue likely stems from one of the common problems covered above. Be sure your TV is compatible, the app is installed and updated, you’re logged into Facebook properly, and you don’t have any connectivity issues. Trying various troubleshooting steps may also help get Facebook Watch back up and running. If not, contacting Facebook support is the next best step to resolve persistent issues accessing Facebook Watch on your television.