If you’re having issues with Facebook Watch not showing content, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try to resolve the problem. Facebook Watch is a video service offered by Facebook where you can view shows, live videos, and more. However, sometimes technical glitches prevent Watch content from loading properly.
Check Your Internet Connection
One of the first things to check is your internet connection. Video streaming requires a relatively fast and stable internet connection to work properly. Try disconnecting from your WiFi and connecting to cellular data, or vice versa, to see if that fixes the issue. You can also try rebooting your router if you’re on a home WiFi network. Poor internet connectivity is one of the most common reasons why videos won’t load in Facebook Watch.
Restart the Facebook App
If your internet is working fine, another simple step is to restart the Facebook app on your device. App glitches happen from time to time and a quick restart can help clear out any bugs that are preventing content from loading. Completely force quit the Facebook app, wait a few seconds, then launch it again and try watching a video. This refresh often fixes random technical issues like Facebook Watch not functioning correctly.
Update the Facebook App
Make sure you’re running the latest version of the Facebook app. Bug fixes, performance improvements, and compatibility updates are pushed out constantly. If your Facebook app is outdated, it may have issues running Facebook Watch properly. Go to your device’s app store to check for a Facebook update and install the latest version.
Log Out and Back In
Logging out and back into your Facebook account can also help resolve connectivity issues that may be preventing Watch from working right. Try fully logging out of the Facebook app, closing it, then launching Facebook again and logging back in with your username and password. After logging back in, see if videos now load when trying to access Facebook Watch.
Enable Video Autoplay
Facebook Watch requires video autoplay to be enabled in your device settings and in the Facebook app settings. If autoplay is disabled, you’ll just see a preview image rather than the actual video loading. Here’s how to make sure autoplay is turned on:
On iPhone/iPad
- Go to the iOS Settings app
- Tap on the Facebook option
- Make sure Autoplay is enabled
On Android
- Open the Facebook app
- Tap the three-line Menu icon
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings
- Tap on the Videos option
- Enable Autoplay
If autoplay was disabled, enabling it should get your Facebook Watch videos loading properly again.
Check Your Account Settings
There are a couple settings on your Facebook account itself that can interfere with Facebook Watch:
Restricted Mode
If you have Restricted Mode enabled, it filters out videos that may have sensitive or mature content. Check under Settings & Privacy > Settings > General Account Settings. Make sure Restricted Mode is disabled, as this can prevent a lot of Facebook Watch content from showing up.
Video Privacy Settings
You also want to make sure your Video Privacy Settings under Settings & Privacy > Privacy Shortcuts are configured correctly. Set it so either “Everyone,” “Friends,” or “Friends Except” can see your videos. If it’s totally restricted, most Facebook Watch videos won’t load.
Update Your Browser
If you’re trying to access Facebook Watch from a desktop computer in a web browser, try updating your browser or switching to a different browser. For example, update Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari to the latest version. Also disable any browser extensions that may conflict with video playback. Using an outdated or incompatible browser can prevent Facebook Watch from working properly on desktop.
Clear Cache and Cookies
Clearing cached data and cookies from the Facebook app or website may also help get Facebook Watch functioning again. Here’s how to wipe the cache and cookies from some popular browsers:
Chrome Desktop
- Click the three-dot Menu icon
- Go to More Tools > Clear Browsing Data
- Select cookies, cached images/files
- Click Clear Data
Safari Desktop
- Click Safari > Clear History
- Select Cookies and Other Website Data
- Click Clear History
Firefox Desktop
- Click the three-line Menu icon
- Go to Options > Privacy & Security
- Under Cookies and Site Data click Clear Data
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content
- Click Clear
After wiping the cookies and cache, reload Facebook and try watching a video again. Often this clears up technical issues that were preventing videos from loading.
Try Facebook Watch on Different Devices
Determine if the issue is only occurring on one device, or if Facebook Watch has problems across all your devices. Try accessing Facebook Watch from different places like:
- Your smartphone’s Facebook app
- The Facebook website on your computer
- Facebook Watch smart TV apps
- Facebook View app on Oculus VR headsets
If Watch has problems on just one device, it points to something specific to that device. But if Watch is not working across multiple devices in your household, it likely indicates a more systemic technical issue.
Contact Facebook Support
If you’ve tried all the basic troubleshooting tips and Facebook Watch still won’t load videos, you’ll need to reach out to Facebook support for additional help. Here are some ways to get support directly through Facebook:
- In the Facebook app, tap Menu > Help & Support to start a live chat or request support email
- Go to facebook.com/help to browse help topics or submit a bug report
- Search Facebook Help Community discussion forums about Watch issues
Provide as much detail as possible about the specific Watch problem you’re experiencing. Details like error messages, what device(s) are affected, and what steps you’ve already tried will help Facebook identify the cause of the issue.
Common Facebook Watch Loading Errors
Here are some common error messages you may see when Facebook Watch isn’t functioning properly:
| Error Message | Possible Solution |
|---|---|
| Video Unavailable | Check internet connection, restart app, update app |
| Sorry, something went wrong. Please try again. | Clear cache/cookies, reinstall app, contact support |
| Video Not Playable | Enable autoplay setting, log out and back in |
Conclusion
Facebook Watch not playing videos can often be fixed with simple troubleshooting like checking your internet connection, updating the app, clearing cache, and making sure your account settings are properly configured. Try going through all the steps outlined above to determine what may be causing the issue on your specific device setup. If the problem persists across multiple devices, gets progressively worse, or generates specific error messages, you’ll want to reach out to official Facebook support channels to investigate further based on your detailed issue report.