If you are suddenly seeing a grey screen when you try to access Facebook, there are a few potential causes and solutions to try. The grey screen typically means Facebook has failed to load properly. This issue tends to be temporary, but can be frustrating if you rely on Facebook access.
Quick Overview of Main Causes
Here are some of the most common reasons for the Facebook grey screen problem:
- Internet connectivity issues on your end
- A temporary glitch or outage with Facebook servers
- Your Facebook account is restricted or suspended
- The Facebook mobile app needs to be reinstalled
- Your browser cache and cookies need to be cleared
- A browser extension is causing conflicts
The good news is that in most cases, the Facebook grey screen can be fixed quickly using the troubleshooting tips in this article. The solutions range from checking your internet connection to clearing your browser cache to reinstalling the Facebook app on mobile.
Check Your Internet Connection
One of the first things to check is your internet connection. Issues like wireless network outages, broadband failures, and ISP problems can prevent Facebook from loading properly. To test if the issue is on your end:
- Try loading other websites, if they fail to load too, it points to a connection problem.
- Restart your wireless router and modem to refresh the connection.
- Connect a different device to the same network to see if Facebook loads.
- Switch to cellular data on mobile to test if the WiFi is at fault.
If you can rule out internet connectivity problems, the next steps are checking Facebook status and troubleshooting your browser and account settings.
Check Facebook Platform Status
The next possibility is that Facebook is experiencing temporary technical issues. Like any major website, Facebook occasionally has outages and glitches that prevent pages from loading. Before you go through extensive troubleshooting steps, it pays to check if Facebook is down or having problems for everyone.
You can quickly verify this by going to the Facebook status page on Downdetector. This tracks real-time outage reports and will let you know if others are experiencing the Facebook grey screen too. If Facebook is reporting issues, all you can do is wait for their engineers to resolve the problem.
Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
If the Facebook grey screen is not caused by internet or site issues, another common cause is corrupted browser data. Over time, the cached files and cookies stored by your web browser can become damaged or outdated. When this happens to the Facebook data, it can prevent pages from loading correctly.
Clearing your browser cache and cookies often fixes Facebook loading problems. The steps to do this vary slightly for each browser:
Chrome Desktop
- Click the 3 Dots menu > Settings
- Click Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Cached Images/Files
- Click Clear Data
Firefox Desktop
- Click the 3 Lines Menu > Options
- Go to Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
- Click Clear Data
Safari Desktop
- Click Safari > Clear History and Website Data
- Select Cookies and Cached Web Content
- Click Clear History
On mobile browsers like Chrome and Safari, look under Settings to find the option to clear cache and cookies. After clearing this data, try loading Facebook again.
Try Disabling Browser Extensions
Another culprit that can cause Facebook loading problems is a misbehaving browser extension. Browser add-ons like ad blockers, VPNs, privacy extensions, and others sometimes conflict with page loading.
To troubleshoot, temporarily disable all your browser extensions and then try bringing up Facebook. If the page now loads fine, turn the extensions back on one-by-one until you identify the problematic one. You can then remove the extension or find an alternative.
Test Facebook in Incognito/Private Mode
As an additional browser troubleshooting step, attempt to load Facebook in Incognito or Private Browsing mode. This starts your browser in a clean session without extensions or customizations. If Facebook loads normally here, it indicates the problems lie with your usual browser profile.
You can access Incognito mode in supported browsers:
- Chrome Desktop: Ctrl+Shift+N
- Firefox Desktop: Ctrl+Shift+P
- Safari Desktop: File > New Private Window
On mobile, find the incognito/private mode option under the browser’s menu or settings.
Update the Facebook App
If you’re seeing the grey screen on the Facebook mobile app specifically, the issue may be a buggy app version that needs updating. Open the App Store (iOS) or Play Store (Android) and check if any Facebook updates are available.
Install the latest version of the app and then check if Facebook is loading properly again. Updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements that could resolve grey screen problems.
Reinstall the Facebook App
If the Facebook app is still showing a grey screen after updating, the next solution is to uninstall and reinstall the app. This wipes the slate clean, clearing any corrupted files that may be disrupting Facebook. Here are the steps:
- Delete the Facebook app from your mobile device.
- Restart your phone.
- Download and install the Facebook app again from the app store.
- Open the fresh install of the app and try loading Facebook.
Hopefully the fresh app install will load Facebook normally again. Just make sure to save any photos or other app data you want to keep before deleting the corrupted install.
Log Out and Log Back Into Facebook
Logging out and back into your Facebook account can also help resolve grey screen issues in some cases. When logged out, any account or authentication issues are reset.
To sign out of Facebook:
- Click the Account Menu (top right) > Log Out
- Close all browser windows and re-open Facebook in a fresh window.
- Log back into your account with your email and password.
This refresh of your account credentials often resolves grey screens caused by authentication bugs or mishandled access tokens.
Check for Facebook Account Restrictions
In some cases, seeing only a grey screen when you try to access Facebook means your account has been restricted or suspended. This can happen if Facebook detected suspicious activity or suspected violations of their policies.
Check your email inbox for any notifications from Facebook about account restrictions. You may see messages about unusual logins or posts if your account was flagged.
If you think your account may be temporarily blocked, you can file an appeal with Facebook. In the appeal, explain the situation and any misunderstanding. Note that severe or repeated violations can lead to permanent account deactivation.
Try Accessing Facebook from Another Device
To help narrow down the cause, attempt to access Facebook from another computer, phone, or tablet. If Facebook fails to load on multiple devices connected to your home network, it points to an overall connectivity issue.
But if Facebook loads fine on another device, it indicates the problem is isolated to your original device’s browser, apps or account settings. You can then focus troubleshooting efforts on that device.
Reset Router and Renew IP Address
As another connectivity test, try unplugging your wireless router for 60 seconds to reset it. Then plug it back in and connect your computer or phone to the WiFi network again. This will fetch a new IP address and refresh the router connection.
If Facebook now loads properly, it suggests temporary network issues were preventing access. Periodic router restarts can help clear up flakey internet problems.
Contact Your Internet Service Provider
If you still see the Facebook grey screen after trying all the above solutions, contact your internet provider for assistance. There may be an outage or technical issue impacting your connectivity.
Your ISP can run diagnostics, check status in your area, and contact you if they identify a problem. Having your provider troubleshoot ruled out any issues on their infrastructure causing Facebook loading problems.
Use a VPN Service
As a workaround, consider using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service to access Facebook. A VPN routes your traffic through external servers, bypassing your ISP. This can resolve location-specific issues.
Some popular and reputable VPN providers include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, and TunnelBear.
Contact Facebook Support
If all else fails, you can contact Facebook directly about the loading issues:
- Facebook Help Center
- Click Help on loading screen (if available)
Explain the specific troubleshooting steps you performed. Facebook Support can further investigate potential account or technical issues on their end causing the grey screen.
Conclusion
To recap, the most common fixes for the Facebook grey screen problem include:
- Checking for Facebook outages
- Clearing browser cache and cookies
- Updating or reinstalling the Facebook app
- Logging out and back into your account
- Testing connectivity on multiple devices
- Contacting your ISP for assistance
- Using a VPN service
In most cases, the Facebook grey screen is temporary and can be resolved in under an hour using the troubleshooting tips in this article. But if the issue persists for more than a day, be sure to contact Facebook support for help recovering access to your account.