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Messenger Not Working On iPhone? Here’s The Fix!

    David Lynch
  • 3 years ago
    • Categories: Apps

Messenger won’t load on your iPhone and you don’t know why. Over a billion people use Facebook’s messaging app every month, so when something goes wrong, it’s a major inconvenience. In this article, I’ll explain why Messenger is not working on your iPhone and show you how to fix the problem for good.

Restart Your iPhone

When Messenger is not working on your iPhone, the first and simplest troubleshooting step is to turn your iPhone off and back on. This will occasionally fix minor software bugs and glitches that could be causing the Messenger app to malfunction.

To turn your iPhone off, press and hold the Sleep / Wake button (the power button) until “slide to power off” appears on your iPhone’s display. Using a finger, swipe the red power icon from left to right to turn off your iPhone.

If you have an iPhone or newer, press and hold the side button and either volume button until “slide to power off” appears on the screen. Swipe the power icon from left to right to shut down your iPhone.

To turn your iPhone back on, press and hold the power button (iPhone 8 and older) or the side button (iPhone X and newer) until the Apple logo appears in the center of your iPhone’s display.

Close Out Of The Messenger App

Similar to restarting your iPhone, closing and reopening Messenger can give the app a fresh start if the app crashed or experience a software issue.

To close out of Messenger on iPhones with a Home button, double-press the Home button to open up app switcher on your iPhone. Then, swipe Messenger up and off the screen. You’ll know the app is closed when it no longer appears in the app switcher.

If you have an iPhone without a Home button, swipe up from the very bottom of the screen to the center of the screen. Hold your finger in the center of the screen until the app switcher opens. Swipe any apps up and off the top of the screen to close them.

Check For A Messenger App Update

Periodically, developers will release updates to their to patch up any software glitches and bugs. If Messenger is not working on your iPhone, you may be using an outdated version of the app.

Open the App Store and tap on Account Icon located in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Then, scroll down to the Updates section.

You can either update apps individually by tapping Update next to an app, or update them all at once by tapping Update All.

Delete And Reinstall Messenger

Sometimes, app files become corrupted which may cause them to malfunction. Individual files can be difficult to track down, so we’ll just delete the app entirely, then reinstall it like new. When you delete Messenger, your account will not be deleted, but you may need to reenter your login information.

To delete Messenger, press and hold on the app icon until the menu appears. Then, tap Remove -> Delete App -> Delete.

To reinstall Messenger, open the App Store and tap the Search tab in the lower right hand corner. Type in “Messenger”, then tap the cloud icon with an arrow point down to reinstall the app.

Check To See If Messenger Is Down

Occasionally, apps like Messenger will undergo routine server maintenance in order to keep up with a growing user base. When this happens, you’re usually unable to use the app for a short period of time.

Check Messenger’s server status and see if many other users are reporting an issue. If an abnormally high number of people have reported a problem, Messenger is probably down for everyone.

Unfortunately, the only thing you can do in this case is wait it out. Messenger won’t be down for too long!

Do You Use Messenger When Connected To Wi-Fi?

Many iPhone owners use the Messenger app when connected to a Wi-Fi network. If Messenger is not working on your iPhone while connected to Wi-Fi, follow the two steps below to troubleshoot your Wi-Fi connection.

Turn Wi-Fi Off And Back On

Turning Wi-Fi off and back on gives your iPhone a second chance to make a clean connection your Wi-Fi network. If your iPhone didn’t connect to Wi-Fi correctly, you may not be able to use apps like Messenger via Wi-Fi.

To turn Wi-Fi off, open up the Settings app, then tap Wi-Fi. Tap the switch next to Wi-Fi to turn Wi-Fi off. You’ll know it’s off when the switch is grayish white and positioned to the left. To turn Wi-Fi back on, simply tap the switch again! You’ll know Wi-Fi is on when the switch is green and positioned to the right.

Try Cellular Data Instead

Your iPhone can also connect to the internet using Cellular Data. Open Settings and tap Cellular. Make sure the switch next to Cellular Data is on. Then, open Messenger and see if it starts working.

Forget Your Wi-Fi Network

If Wi-Fi isn’t working on your iPhone, there may be an issue with how your iPhone connects to your Wi-Fi router. When your iPhone connects to a Wi-Fi network for the first time, it saves data on how to connect to that Wi-Fi network. If that process changes in any way, your iPhone may not be able to connect to the Wi-Fi network.

To forget the Wi-Fi network, open the Settings app and tap Wi-Fi. Then, tap the information button (look for the blue i) next to the Wi-Fi network you want to forget. Tap Forget This Network to forget the network.

Contact Facebook Support

If the problem with Messenger persists, it’s time to get in touch with Facebook support. Messenger may be experiencing an issue only a high-level customer support representative can resolve. You can get in touch with customer support online, or you can report a problem directly within the app.

Start Messaging!

You’ve fixed Facebook’s messaging app on your iPhone and you can start getting back in touch with your friends and family. Make sure to message this article to your friends on social media so they know what to do when Messenger is not working on their iPhones!

View Comments (77)

  • None of the above worked and my iphone SE was bought in December 2021 so it's not even old. I still cannot log into messenger as the message keeps on saying 'check your internet connection' which I have and it's working.

  • I am unable to see any stories on (People, Stories tab) in Messenger nor does the blue circle appear on any profile picture in Messenger.

  • Hi I have an iPhone XR and has been working really good. About 2 days ago I noticed in messenger I had a message and when I try to open it no message the but it say something like. No messages right now . But there are messages. This is also happening to my iPad but my husbands iPad is fine. I have tuned off my phone and back on also deleted the app and reinstalled and still no working. Can anyone help

  • Hi! was wondering if u can tell me what this means? Every time I open my messenger This pops up and I’m afraid to click on restart because I’m not sure if it will delete all my messages. Thank u!

  • I can't use messenger in my iPhone X, I reinstalled messenger, restarted my phone, reset all settings, I already done everything said in here, but it's still not working. I'm using my old android phone and the messenger works well, why apple?

  • I’m using an iPhone 12 Pro. I can’t connect to a video call on Messenger when connected to WIFI but can connect to a Video Call on Messenger when connected to Cellular Data. At the same point I can connect to any other video calling apps like WhatsApp, IMO & Google Duo when connected to the same WIFI Network or Cellular Data. I did reset the network settings, deleted Facebook and messenger and reinstalled it but still facing the same issues. How do I fix it?

    • That's really bizarre and unfortunately I don't have a good answer for you. I'd check for a Messenger app update. Does Messenger not connect on any Wi-Fi network, or just your home Wi-Fi?

  • I'm using an iPhone 13 Pro Max. I can't connect to a group video call on Messenger. How do I fix it?

  • Hello, I'm using an iPhone 12 with IOS 15. I usually use the voice messenger function in Facebook Messenger but now after recording it couldn't be sent. After hitting the send button there is always the red exclamation point right beside the voice dialogue box but I still can receive and hear the voice message from others. I have tried many methods to fix this such as delete the app then reinstall it from the App Store, update to the latest version (Now my Messenger version is 331.0) and I even restored my iPhone via iTunes, but it is impossible. I also sent the quick report to Messenger but no response. Please help and thank you so much. 

    • My phone is doing this as well. The Facebook app and Messenger. However, I can access it on other people's phones.

    • Hi Samantha! To clarify, is the entire list of people active on Messenger not visible for your? Or do you see certain contacts briefly, which then disappear from your list of active friends.

  • Sad to say: None of this is working. I get no sound on Messenger when receiving a text, only on the built-in apps on my iPhone 12 Pro running iOS 14.7.1. The chosen tone is on my phone — which I downloaded from iTunes.

    • Hi Martin, I'm sorry to hear that you're dealing with this issue. Thanks for the brief and clear summary of the problem!

      It's possible that you need to turn notifications on for Messenger. Try opening Settings -> Notifications. Then, scroll down and tap Messenger. Finally, make sure the switches labelled Allow Notifications and Sounds are both flipped on!

      I hope this helps!

  • my messenger login keeps saying unsupported post request on my iphone. I can login on my computer.

  • And i can't login to messenger as well. every time i try to login it says unable to login. PLEASE CHECK YOUR INTERNET CONNECTION AND TRY AGAIN. which i haven't have any problem with internet

    • Hi Robyn, this might be an issue with the Messenger app. I'd recommend reaching out to Facebook's customer support directly to see what the solution might be. Thank you for reading, sorry we couldn't be of more help!

      • I have searched high and low, and there doesn't appear to be ANY way to contact Facebook customer support directly. Any suggestions

  • Since 5 days ago Version 314.0 Messenger - makes my i-phone 7s with ios 14.6 program,

    start slow loading earlier chat, no photo media shared, no label or nickname to every chat.

    My messenger app is Okay with Android phone and PC Laptop except here on my I-phone.

    The rest app is okay. I also start purchasing and installing Anti Virus for my IPHONE.

    Done and follow instruction from Apple website and some video tutorial

    Done call Apple Customer Service to call 3rd party App Messenger.

    Done re-setting, re-booting,re-starting, re-installing and update ( FB and Messenger).

    Also changing sim card, leaving all group chat, mark read all notification in Facebook ,still struggling .

    I was planning to Buy/Update I-phone to higher version but the assurance that I will not experiencing

    like this..

    Yes, hoping there will be new Messenger Version launch soon that fix my problem.

    Thank you

  • I have followed everything on this and messenger still says “Unable to complete request. Please try again later” and it has been 2 weeks

    • Hi Kiki, sounds like it might be time to contact Facebook support directly. Sorry we couldn't be of more help!

  • Someone whom I really did not know video called me on Messenger. Since I did not really know the person I tried to cancel the call. Since I can’t find any button, I just uninstalled and reinstalled Messenger. After the incident, when Messenger was installed again, every Facebook friend whose stories are set to public appeared on the Stories section of Messenger. Many of them I muted, but they still appear. This is my problem until now - I cannot mute stories on Messenger. What could be done to fix this? Thanks a lot!

    • Hi Andrew, it's possible that Messenger update the app so the Mute button is in a different place, or it could be a software bug. Check out this Facebook Help Article about Facebook Messenger for more information.

  • Hello
    Messenger app is only showing connecting message when I call anyone on messenger from my iphone 11 pro max. Is there any solution to solve it??

    • Hi Ramu,

      Have you updated the Messenger app recently? It's possible that the problem you're experiencing is a software bug the Messenger app's developers are aware of. If that's the case, they may have resolved the issue in a more recent software update! Head to the App Store, tap on your account in the upper-right corner, then scroll down to the Messenger app's listing to see if your app needs to be updated.

  • I recently got a new phone. XR. And at first messenger worked, but slowly it stopped. When i deleted the app and reinstalled it, it completely stopped working. So i backed up my phone, deleted everything and started from scratch. Messenger worked for maybe a couple of days, then went back to the same issues. This is super annoying because i can't get in contact with anyone at facebook concerning this issue. So, i have to use my pc now.

  • Mine says try again later for over a year now since I got the iPhone 12 Pro. Worked perfect on my iPhone 8. Also works fine on my computer just now on my phone.

    • Exact same thing here. Worked perfect on my iPhone 8 Plus, but kept saying error on my 12 Pro Max. It also works on my Note phone.

  • I also tried all of these tips and it is still not loading. It just shows a loading sign but nothing does happen.

  • My allow access in Messenger, microphone, camera and photo suddenly turned off. What should be the problem?

    • Hi Macy,
      mine is doing the same. I have tried everything mentioned above.

      have you found something that works?

  • Help!! I’ve tried everything listed above, nothing has worked. I’m having to uninstal and reinstall every day!!

  • I've done all the above not least restarting my phone and even reinstalling the Messenger App but it still won't open. Click on the icon and it pulls up a black screen before becoming transparent and disappearing. Double click the main button to show open apps tho and it's there as just a blank screen with the Messenger logo in the middle. It did work briefly after I'd reinstalled it but soon reverted within a few hours. Any suggestions welcome?

  • I’ve done everything to get my FB messenger isn’t working/opening up...I tried to update it but it’s not allowing me to do so.

  • I am trying to search for one of my contacts on Messenger and all I get is the circle that shows that it is loading, but never does. I have tried all of the above suggestions to no avail. Can you help me with this?

  • The app is installed . But when Im logging in I can find that an unexpected error was occurred pleas try later .. this is the thing which Im getting from past 2 months onwards !

  • I get the same error too. I deleted the messenger app from my iphone and then reinstaled it, but now I can't log in. Another error pops up."The operation couldn't be completed. (FBAPIErrorDomain error 1.)" Did you manage to solve it?

  • I cant send pictures when I try a thing pops up and says the operation couldnt be completed ServerReturnNonRetriableError I dont even know what that means

  • I have reistalled checked data, everything suggested.
    I still have no home button. I go to my profile picture , left corner and it lists the active status, user name, phone, preferences, account and support. Still no home button. Help!!

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David Lynch: David Lynch is an expert on cell phones, cell phone plans, and other tech. After using a flip phone into his early 20s, he learned the ropes about iPhones and Androids from a former Apple employee. Today, his articles and videos are read and viewed by millions, and he has been cited by major publications including Reader's Digest, Wired, CMSWire, Consumers Advocate, and more.