Experiencing Facebook Messenger crashes on iOS can be quite frustrating. This problem could arise from an outdated app, recent iOS updates, or other technical glitches. In this article, we’ll explore the common causes and provide solutions to resolve the issue swiftly.
Facebook Messenger not working on the iPhone
Issues with Facebook Messenger on iPhone can arise from an outdated app version, network connectivity problems, or glitches stemming from recent iOS updates. Also, watch out for changes in Screen Time settings and Text Size in Display Settings.
(1) Restart your iPhone
The first thing you should do is check if the Messenger is down at the moment. If it isn’t and you have an isolated issue, simply restart your iPhone and check for improvements.
If that did nothing and Facebook Messenger won’t open on your iPhone or keeps crashing, check the Text Size option under Display Settings.
(2) Check the text size in Display & Brightness Settings
We found some reports on Apple Community Forum stating that the Text Size and the scaling caused by changes to Text Size cause Messenger crashes. It seems that enlarging text causes issues.
Follow these instructions to change Text Size and, hopefully, fix issues with Facebook Messenger on your iPhone:
- Open Settings.
- Select Display & Brightness.
- Choose Text Size.
- Lower the text size to the default value and test Facebook Messenger.
(3) Update Facebook Messenger
If you recently updated to iOS 17, make sure to update all third-party apps to avoid possible compatibility issues.
Follow these instructions to update apps on your iPhone, including Facebook Messenger:
- Open the App Store.
- Tap on your account at the top.
- Swipe down to refresh.
- Tap Update All in the Upcoming Automatic Updates.
(4) Check the network
It goes without saying that Facebook Messenger requires a network connection in order to access your chats and for you to receive messages.
Test the network behavior in other apps. If all other apps work without issues, continue to the next step. On the other hand, if your iPhone won’t connect to Wi-Fi or cellular data, follow these instructions:
- Test the network in other apps that require the internet to work.
- Restart the router and modem.
- Forget and reconnect to the network that’s troubling you.
- Disable VPN or proxy temporarily.
- Reset Network Settings on your iPhone in case nothing else works.
In case you use Cellular data besides Wi-Fi, confirm that Cellular data is allowed for Facebook Messenger.
Here’s how you can enable Cellular data for Facebook Messenger in your iPhone settings:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Tap Facebook Messenger.
- Ensure that Facebook Messenger is allowed to use Cellular data.
(5) Reinstall Messenger
In case Facebook Messenger still crashes on your iOS, you can always uninstall the app and install it again from the App Store.
Follow these instructions to reinstall Messenger on your iPhone:
- Tap and hold on to the Facebook Messenger icon on the Home Screen or in the App Library.
- Select Remove App from the context menu.
- Choose Delete App and confirm.
- Open the App Store and reinstall Facebook Messenger again.
- Sign in with your Facebook credentials and check for improvements.
(6) Update iOS
Finally, make sure that your iOS is up to date because there’s a good possibility that Apple fixed underlying system issues that caused Facebook Messenger not to work.
To update your iPhone or iPad, navigate to Settings > General > Sofware Update.
You can also report the problem to Apple or to Meta. With that said, we can call it a wrap. Don’t forget to share your valuable suggestions in the comments section below. We look forward to hearing from you.
Editor’s note: This article was initially published in February 2018. We made sure to revamp it for freshness and accuracy.
