If you’ve noticed your Facebook news feed suddenly jumping around while scrolling, there are a few potential causes for this annoying issue. The good news is that in most cases, it’s relatively easy to fix and resume smooth scrolling on Facebook.
Common Causes of Jumpy Facebook Scrolling
Here are some of the most common culprits behind jumpy or jerky scrolling behavior on Facebook:
- Outdated Facebook app – An outdated version of the Facebook app for iOS or Android can cause performance issues like jumpy scrolling. Make sure you have the latest version of the app installed.
- Browser cache and cookies – An overloaded browser cache or corrupted cookies related to Facebook can affect scrolling performance. Clearing your cache and cookies may help.
- Slow internet connection – If you’re browsing Facebook with a slow or unstable internet connection, that can definitely cause choppy scrolling. Try refreshing while on a faster, more reliable network.
- Heavy news feed – The more content loading in your news feed, the more scrolling can lag. Try paring down friends, groups, and pages to reduce news feed clutter.
- Software conflicts – Other apps or browser extensions conflicting with Facebook can sometimes impact scrolling. Try disabling other software to isolate potential conflicts.
- Mobile device issues – On mobile devices, things like low storage, memory issues, and software conflicts can also cause choppy Facebook scrolling.
Fixes and Solutions for Jumpy Facebook Scrolling
If you’re encountering jumpy, jerky scrolling on Facebook, here are some troubleshooting tips to smooth things out again:
Update the Facebook App
If you’re on mobile, make sure you have the latest version of the Facebook app installed. Open your device’s app store, search for Facebook, and update to the newest available version. The developers are constantly making performance improvements and bug fixes, so staying updated can resolve scrolling lag.
Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
Over time, your browser’s cache and cookies can get overloaded with unnecessary data that bogs things down. Clearing out the cache and cookies gives your browser a fresh start. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data. Select cache and cookies, choose the timeframe, and clear the data. Other browsers have similar options in their settings.
Try Disabling Other Browser Extensions and Software
Other software and browser extensions running while you’re using Facebook could potentially cause conflicts. Try disabling other extensions one by one to see if that smooths out scrolling. Also close any other programs or apps you may have running in the background. Restarting your computer can also isolate any software issues.
Switch to a Faster Internet Connection
If choppy scrolling only occurs with one internet network, that points to a connection speed issue being the culprit. Try loading Facebook on a different, faster network like a wired connection, WiFi, or cellular data. If scrolling improves, you’ll know the problem is related to your slower network.
Limit Your News Feed Content
The more content loading in your news feed, the more work your device has to do to scroll smoothly. Pare down the accounts you follow, groups you’ve joined, and pages you like to improve performance. Hiding posts after you’ve read them can also help condense your feed.
Update Your Mobile Device Software
On mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, software glitches can sometimes interfere with smooth Facebook scrolling. Make sure your device is updated to the latest OS version. Also try restarting your phone or tablet – powering down completely then back on can clear up any lingering software issues.
Check Your Storage and Memory
Low storage space and memory issues on mobile can also contribute to choppy scrolling in apps like Facebook. Try deleting unused apps and files to free up storage. Restarting your device can also clear up any memory constraints and give Facebook the resources it needs to scroll smoothly.
Report Issues to Facebook
If no other troubleshooting fixes the jumpy scrolling, try reporting it directly to Facebook. They may be able to identify a bug or issue affecting performance for certain users. On mobile, shake your device while in the Facebook app to submit feedback. On desktop, click the question mark at the top and choose “Give Feedback.” Thoroughly describe the scrolling issue.
Conclusion
Jumpy, jerky scrolling on Facebook can certainly be annoying. But in most cases, it’s an easily fixable issue. Updating apps and software, clearing out browser data, reducing news feed clutter, and switching to faster internet are some simple ways to get back to smooth scrolling. Paying attention to when the issue occurs can help isolate the cause. If scrolling is choppy across the board, look at device performance and connections. But if it’s isolated to Facebook, focus on app updates, browser conflicts, or reporting issues to Facebook directly. With a bit of targeted troubleshooting, you can eliminate frustrating scrolling issues and enjoy Facebook’s news feed once again.