This article covers a variety of solutions for when text and media aren’t loading properly in Facebook Messenger.

How Do I Fix Messenger Not Loading Messages?

Here are reliable solutions to fix Facebook Messenger loading problems. Follow the steps in the order listed.

1. Check if Facebook Messenger is down. Service outages can prevent messages from loading in the app and website. If the issue is on Facebook’s side, you just need to wait.

2. Quit and re-open the app or website. Remember that minimizing is different from closing; you want to fully close it so that it restarts the next time you open it.

   The process for closing an app depends on the platform: iPhone [Close an App on an iPhone] or Android [Close an App on Android].

3. Double-check the app you’re using. With many messaging apps available, it’s easy to accidentally open the wrong one.

   For instance, the message may have come through WhatsApp or your email instead of Messenger.

4. Send someone a message with Facebook Messenger. This sometimes forces the app to check Facebook’s servers for new data and download the latest texts and media.

5. Turn off Airplane Mode. Airplane Mode disables Wi-Fi and cellular data, which are needed to receive messages. If enabled, switch it off to load new messages.

   Disabling Airplane Mode depends on your platform. Here’s how to use Airplane Mode on Android; similar steps apply on iPhone, iPad, and Windows through the Settings app.

   Even if Airplane Mode is off, switch it on for 10 seconds, then back off. This can prompt your device to find a network connection, potentially fixing the issue.

6. Turn off Wi-Fi and use cellular. As long as you have a good mobile data connection, switching Wi-Fi off should fix issues with Messenger not loading correctly. This is a common issue when the device is too far from the router to get a reliable connection.

7. Turn off cellular and use Wi-Fi only. This is helpful if your phone struggles to connect to a mobile network.

8. Disable your VPN. VPN connections can be highly unreliable, depending on the provider and server load. Turn off the VPN temporarily to see if this fixes your Messenger issues.

   If you don’t know what a VPN is then there’s a really good chance you’re not running one; you can skip this step.

9. Restart your device. A quick reboot can fix not only this problem but lots of other odd tech issues.

   This process is different based on the device you use: iPhone [Restart an iPhone]. Android [Restart an Android Device], Windows [Restart Windows], or Mac [Restart a Mac].

10. Update the app. If Facebook Messenger is not working because of a software bug, an update could be pending that fixes it.

    Here’s how to do it: iPhone [Update an iPhone App], Android [Update an Android App], and Windows [Update a Windows 11 App].

11. Update your operating system. An out-of-date OS can cause connectivity issues in some online services and apps such as Facebook Messenger.

    The process for completing an OS update is different depending on your platform: Windows [Update Windows], macOS [Update macOS], iOS [Update iOS], or Android [Update Android].

12. Check if you’ve been blocked on Messenger. If you can’t load a conversation, you might have been blocked from communicating by that person.

13. See if you’ve been blocked on Facebook. Also check if you’ve been blocked on Facebook because this can also prevent conversations from loading.

14. Turn on Background App Refresh. If this feature is off, Messenger won’t be able to load new texts when the app is running in the background.

    On iPhone, select Settings > Apps > Messenger and switch Background App Refresh on. There are different background app settings for Android smartphones and tablets.

15. Turn off Data Saver in the Messenger app. This applies to mobile users, as it requires you to tap an image or video before it loads.

    Here’s where to find this toggle: Menu > Settings > Data Saver.

16. Turn off your phone’s data-saving feature. This is called Low Data Mode on iPhone and Data Saver on Android. When turned on, this option can prevent apps like Messenger from pulling in the latest information from servers.

17. Clear your browser cache if you’re having trouble loading messages from the Messenger website, or clear the Facebook cache on your phone.

    This process forces Facebook to fetch new data, which hopefully includes your messages.

18. Reinstall the Messenger app. This will definitely clear out the cache and is a great fix after you’ve tried all the above.

19. Reset network settings. If you’re experiencing internet connection problems in multiple apps, this is the likely fix for when Messenger won’t load correctly.

Why Is Facebook Messenger Not Working?

Here are some common reasons why the Facebook Messenger app or website doesn’t work like it should:

• The messaging service is experiencing issues
• The app is outdated or includes unfixed bugs
• You’re having a data or network-related issue
• You or the recipient are blocked