Facebook Messenger is one of the most popular messaging apps, used by billions of people worldwide to stay connected with friends and family. However, sometimes Messenger stops working and won’t open for some reason. Don’t worry – in most cases, it’s easy to fix. Here are the top solutions to try when Messenger won’t open on your iPhone, Android, computer or tablet.
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Restart The Messenger App
Often a simple restart is all you need to get Messenger working again. Force close the Messenger app completely and reopen it. This refreshes the app and clears any software glitches.
On iPhone:
- Double press the Home button to bring up your recent apps.
- Swipe up on the Messenger preview to fully close it.
- Tap the Messenger icon to restart the app.
On Android:
- Open the Recent Apps screen and swipe Messenger off the screen to close it.
- Tap the Messenger icon to restart the app.
On Windows/Mac:
- Right click the Messenger icon on the taskbar/dock and choose ‘Close Window’.
- Click the Messenger icon again to restart it.
Update The Messenger App
An outdated version of Messenger could be the reason it won’t open. Update to the latest version which often comes with bug fixes.
On iPhone/Android:
- Open the App Store/Play Store.
- Search for ‘Messenger’.
- If an Update button is shown, tap it.
On Windows/Mac:
- Click on the Messenger icon to open the web app.
- A pop-up will appear if an update is available.
Restart Your Device
Sometimes a system restart can fix Messenger issues. This resets all apps and services on your device.
- On iPhone: Hold Power + Volume Down until the power off slider appears.
- On Android: Hold the Power button and choose ‘Restart’.
- On Windows: Click Start > Power > Restart.
- On Mac: Apple Logo > Restart.
After rebooting, open Messenger again and see if it works.
Reinstall The Messenger App
If Messenger continues to not open, uninstalling and reinstalling the app often helps resolve software issues. Note: This will not delete your Messenger data.
On iPhone/Android:
- Delete Messenger from your Home Screen/App Drawer.
- Redownload it from the App Store/Play Store.
On Windows/Mac:
- Uninstall Messenger from the Control Panel/System Preferences.
- Visit messenger.com to reinstall the web app.
Clear The Cache & Data
Corrupted temporary data could stop Messenger loading. Clearing this data forces the app to start fresh.
On Android:
- Open Settings > Apps > Messenger > Storage > Clear Cache/Data
On iPhone:
- Offload the Messenger App (this clears cache & data)
- Reinstall Messenger
Disable Restrictive Settings
Check if any security settings, battery saver modes or restrictions are blocking Messenger. Turn these off and test if Messenger opens.
Use Messenger On Another Device
See if the issue only occurs on one device. Install Messenger on another phone or computer and check if it opens there. If so, the issue lies with your original device.
Is Messenger Down?
Very rarely, Facebook’s servers go down, taking Messenger offline globally. Visit downdetector.com to check Messenger’s status. If an outage is reported, you’ll have to wait for Facebook to fix it.
Contact Messenger Support
If you still can’t get Messenger to work after trying all troubleshooting steps, get help directly from the Messenger team. Visit facebook.com/help/messenger-app and click ‘Contact Support’. Provide details of your issue and what you’ve tried.
So those are 10 solutions to try when Facebook Messenger won’t open on your device. In most cases, a restart, update or reinstallation will get Messenger working again. Be sure to also check Downdetector for any current outages. If problems persist, contact Messenger support for personalized troubleshooting assistance.
