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Facebook App Keeps Crashing? Fixes for iPhone and Android

“Crashing” covers three different problems: the app closes by itself, it freezes and stops responding, or it won’t open at all. They share most fixes, but knowing which you have — and whether it happens everywhere or in one part of the app — gets you to the right one faster.

Reviewed 12 min read 9 fixes App errors & performance

Quick answer

Update Facebook and your phone’s software, then restart the phone — that fixes most crashes. If it keeps closing, clear the app’s cache on Android or offload and reinstall it on iPhone (neither deletes your account; Apple says offloading keeps the app’s documents and data, though you may need to sign in again). If it crashes only in one place, such as videos or Marketplace, check for low storage and updates to Android System WebView or Chrome. A full reinstall is the last step, and Facebook in your browser works meanwhile.

Is this really a crash?

Does this match what you see?

  • Facebook closes and drops you back to the home screen, sometimes seconds after opening.
  • The app freezes on a white or blue screen and stops responding to taps.
  • Facebook won’t open at all, or the icon opens and immediately closes.
  • It crashes only when you open videos, Reels, the camera, Marketplace or a particular screen.
  • It started after an app update, a phone update, or when your storage got nearly full.

iPhone & iPadAndroid

Android menu names vary by phone maker (Samsung, Pixel, Motorola and others). Where we show a Pixel path, look for the closest match on your phone.

Why this happens: the possible causes

First pin down the type of crash. It tells you where to start.

Types of crash and where to start
What happensPossible causeStart with
Closes on its own after openingOutdated app or phone software, damaged cacheFix 1, then Fix 3 or Fix 4
Freezes on a white or blank screenTemporary glitch, damaged cache, weak connectionFix 2, then Fix 3 or Fix 4
Won’t open at allIncomplete update or damaged installFix 1, then Fix 7
Crashes only on videos, Reels or linksLow storage, or (on Android) outdated WebView or ChromeFix 5 and Fix 6. Videos that won’t play (no crash)? See videos not playing
Crashes only in Marketplace or one other sectionPossibly a bug in that part of the appFix 1, then Fix 9
Started right after a phone or app updatePossibly a compatibility bug in the new versionFix 2, check for another update, Fix 9
App Store or Google Play won’t install the latest versionPhone software too old for the current appSee Is your phone too old?
  • Outdated app or phone softwareCheck this first

    Each Facebook version needs a minimum iOS or Android version — Meta’s App Store listing shows the iOS requirement. Running an old app on new phone software (or the reverse) is a classic cause of crashes.

  • Damaged temporary files (cache)Check this first

    Facebook stores a lot of temporary data to load faster. If it gets damaged, the app can crash as soon as it tries to read it.

  • Not enough free storageCheck this first

    Google’s Android help notes phones can start having issues when less than 10% of storage is free. Facebook is a large app and needs space to work, especially for video.

  • A temporary glitch in memoryCheck this first

    Phones that haven’t restarted in a long time can leave apps in a bad state. A restart clears it.

  • Android System WebView or Chrome out of datePossible

    On Android, many apps use a shared system component (Android System WebView, which on many phones works with Chrome) to show web content such as links. If it’s outdated or broken, apps that rely on it can crash when opening links or some content.

  • A bug in the current Facebook versionPossible

    Sometimes a new release has a bug that affects certain phones or certain screens. The fix comes from Meta in a later update; reporting it helps.

  • Another app or setting interferingLess likely

    Rarely, a third-party app (for example a screen overlay, battery “cleaner” or custom keyboard) interferes. Android’s safe mode is a way to test this.

Does it crash everywhere, or only in one place?

Many crash reports are really about one part of the app. That’s a useful clue, because the general “reinstall everything” advice often doesn’t help:

Feature-specific crashes
Crashes when you…Try this first
Play videos or ReelsFree up storage (Fix 5); on Android update WebView/Chrome (Fix 6); try Wi-Fi
Open links inside FacebookOn Android, update WebView and Chrome (Fix 6)
Open the camera or upload photosCheck Facebook’s camera and photo permissions in your phone’s Settings; free up storage
Open MarketplaceUpdate the app and clear cache; if Marketplace is missing rather than crashing, see Marketplace not showing
Open Messenger chatsMessenger is a separate app; see Messenger not sending messages

If one section crashes on a fully updated app, report it (Fix 9) — that’s the kind of bug Meta needs to fix in a release.

Try these 60-second checks first

  • Restart your phone — it takes a minute and fixes a surprising number of crashes.
  • Check your free storage. If it’s almost full, free some space first.
  • Check for a Facebook update in the App Store or Google Play.
  • Try facebook.com in your phone’s browser. If it works, your account is fine and the problem is the app.

How to fix it, step by step

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.

Fix 1: Update Facebook and your phone’s software

Safe & reversible5 miniPhone & iPadAndroid

Apple’s own advice for an app that closes unexpectedly includes checking for updates, and the same applies on Android. Updates fix known crash bugs and keep all your data.

iPhone & iPad

  1. Open the App Store and tap your profile icon at the top.
  2. Scroll to App Updates and tap Update next to Facebook if it’s there.
  3. If there’s no app update, go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any iOS update.
  4. To avoid this in future, keep automatic updates on: Settings > Apps > App Store > App Updates.

Android

  1. Open Google Play, tap your profile icon (top right), then Manage apps & device.
  2. Under Updates available, update Facebook (and anything else pending).
  3. Check for a phone update: on many phones Settings > System > System update (some phones use Software update).

Did it work? Open Facebook and use it for a few minutes, including the screen that used to crash.

Fix 2: Force-close Facebook and restart your phone

Safe & reversible2 miniPhone & iPadAndroid

This clears a frozen app and temporary memory glitches. It’s the first step in both Apple’s and Google’s troubleshooting for apps that stop responding.

iPhone & iPad

  1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle to see your open apps.
  2. Swipe the Facebook preview up to close it. (Apple suggests closing apps only when they’re unresponsive — this is that case.)
  3. Restart: on iPhone X and later, hold either volume button and the side button until the slider appears, drag it, wait 30 seconds, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
  4. Open Facebook again.

Android

  1. Open Settings > Apps > See all apps > Facebook > Force stop > OK (this is the Pixel path; names vary by phone maker).
  2. Restart the phone. If the phone itself is frozen, Google suggests holding the power button for about 60 seconds.
  3. Open Facebook again.

Did it work? Facebook opens and responds normally.

Fix 3: Android: clear Facebook’s cache (not storage)

Safe & reversible2 minAndroid

Clearing the cache deletes temporary files only. Google notes some apps are slower the next time you open them while the cache rebuilds — that’s normal.

Android

  1. Open Settings > Apps > See all apps > Facebook (Pixel path; on Samsung it’s usually Settings > Apps > Facebook).
  2. Tap Storage & cache (or Storage).
  3. Tap Clear cache. Don’t tap Clear storage yet.
  4. Open Facebook and test.

Cache vs storage: Clear cache removes temporary files and keeps you signed in. Clear storage (also called Clear data) permanently deletes the app’s data on the phone and signs you out. Your Facebook account itself isn’t affected by either. Only clear storage if clearing cache didn’t help — and make sure you can log back in first.

Did it work? Facebook stays open past the point where it used to crash.

Fix 4: iPhone: offload and reinstall Facebook

Safe & reversible3 miniPhone & iPad

iPhone doesn’t have a clear-cache button for most apps. Offloading removes the app but, as Apple explains, keeps its documents and data; reinstalling gives you a fresh copy. Google’s own YouTube help recommends the same approach on iPhone.

iPhone & iPad

  1. Open Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
  2. Wait for the list to load, then tap Facebook.
  3. Tap Offload App, then confirm.
  4. Tap Reinstall App on the same screen and open Facebook.

Did it work? Facebook opens without crashing. You may need to sign in again.

Fix 5: Free up storage space

Safe & reversible10 miniPhone & iPadAndroid

Facebook needs room to store temporary files and video. When the phone is nearly full, apps crash or freeze — particularly when playing videos or Reels.

iPhone & iPad

  1. Open Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see what’s using space.
  2. Offload or delete apps you don’t use, and remove large videos you’ve already backed up.
  3. Restart the iPhone, then try Facebook.

Android

  1. Open Settings > Storage (names vary) to see what’s using space.
  2. Uninstall apps you don’t use and delete large downloads you no longer need. (On Samsung phones, storage tools may be under Device care.)
  3. Aim to keep at least 10% of storage free — Google notes problems can start below that.

Did it work? Videos and Reels play without the app closing.

Fix 6: Android: update Android System WebView and Chrome

Safe & reversible3 minAndroid

If Facebook crashes mainly when opening links or certain content, the shared web component it relies on may be out of date. Updating it is safe and also helps other apps.

Android

  1. Open Google Play > profile icon > Manage apps & device.
  2. Look under Updates available for Android System WebView and Google Chrome, and update them.
  3. If they don’t appear there, search for each one in Google Play and tap Update if offered.
  4. Restart the phone and test Facebook.

Don’t try to disable or uninstall Android System WebView — other apps depend on it.

Did it work? Opening a link or video in Facebook no longer makes it close.

Fix 7: Delete and reinstall the Facebook app

May sign you out5 miniPhone & iPadAndroid

A clean install replaces any damaged files. It signs you out, so check you can log back in first, especially if you use two-factor authentication.

iPhone & iPad

  1. Make sure you know your password and can receive your login code.
  2. Touch and hold the Facebook icon > Remove App > Delete App. Apple warns you might lose data stored only in the app.
  3. Reinstall from the App Store and sign in.

Android

  1. Make sure you know your password and can receive your login code.
  2. Touch and hold the Facebook icon > Uninstall (Google notes this erases the app’s saved data on the phone).
  3. If there’s no Uninstall option, Facebook came pre-installed on your phone (common on Samsung and some carrier phones). Open Settings > Apps > Facebook, tap the ⋮ menu > Uninstall updates, then update Facebook again from Google Play. Names vary by phone.
  4. Reinstall (or re-update) from Google Play and sign in.

Deleting the app does not delete your Facebook account, posts or photos. If you use end-to-end encrypted Messenger chats, make sure you know your Messenger PIN or have chat backup set up, because restoring that history on a fresh install can ask for it — see Meta’s help. If you get stuck signing in afterwards, see Can’t log in.

Did it work? The fresh copy opens and stays open.

Fix 8: Android: test in safe mode to rule out another app

Safe & reversible10 minAndroid

Safe mode starts the phone with apps you installed yourself turned off. Google’s help uses it to find out whether another app is causing problems. If Facebook came pre-installed it may still run in safe mode; either way, if the phone is stable there, a recently installed app may be the culprit.

Android

  1. Check your phone maker’s instructions for safe mode — the button combination varies between phones.
  2. In safe mode, check whether the phone is stable (no freezing).
  3. Restart normally to leave safe mode.
  4. If you suspect another app (a battery “cleaner”, screen overlay or custom keyboard you installed recently), uninstall it and test Facebook again.

Did it work? Facebook stops crashing after the interfering app is removed.

Fix 9: Report the crash and use a fallback meanwhile

Safe & reversible5 miniPhone & iPadAndroid

If Facebook still crashes on a fully updated phone with a fresh install, it’s probably a bug that only Meta can fix. Apple’s guidance at this stage is to contact the app developer.

  1. If the app stays open long enough, report it from inside the app: on Android, tap ☰ Menu > Help and support > Report a problem (or shake your phone on the screen where it crashes), tap Continue to report a problem, choose Include for logs and diagnostics (crash logs help most here), pick the area on Select product, describe the crash and tap send. Full steps are in our Facebook not-working guide.
  2. If the app won’t stay open, report it from a computer: log in, click your profile picture (top right) > Help and support > Report a problem, then follow the on-screen instructions. Meta says adding a screenshot and a description helps it find the problem.
  3. Say what you were doing when it crashed, your phone model and software version. Never include passwords or codes.
  4. Use facebook.com in your phone’s browser until an update arrives.
  5. If Facebook offers a lighter version of its app in your region (such as Facebook Lite on some Android phones), it may run better on older or low-storage phones. Features can differ.

Did it work? You can still use Facebook through the browser while you wait for a fixed app version.

Is your phone too old for the current Facebook app?

Each Facebook version needs a minimum phone software version. On 20 October 2026, Meta’s App Store listing said the iPhone app requires iOS 15.1 or later (iPadOS 15.1 or later on iPad). The requirement changes over time, so check the listing for your phone.

  • If your iPhone or iPad can’t update to the version the App Store lists, the latest Facebook app may not install or may stop working properly.
  • On Android, Google Play shows whether the current version is compatible with your device on Facebook’s listing.
  • Either way, facebook.com in your phone’s browser keeps working on older phones and is the safest fallback. Don’t install old app files from unofficial websites.

It started crashing right after an update

When crashes start immediately after a Facebook or phone update, the new version may have a bug on your model. There’s no official way to roll back to an older Facebook version, and installing old app files from unofficial websites is risky — they can contain malware. Instead:

  • Restart the phone once after any update; some updates finish setting up on restart.
  • Check the App Store or Google Play again over the next few days for a newer version.
  • Clear the cache (Android) or offload and reinstall (iPhone).
  • Use facebook.com in the browser meanwhile, and report the crash so Meta knows which phones are affected.

How to know it worked

  • Facebook opens and stays open for several minutes of normal use.
  • The screen that used to crash (videos, Marketplace, links) now works.
  • It still works after you close the app and reopen it later.

Still not working? Your next steps

  1. Try facebook.com in your phone’s browser. If that also fails, it’s probably not a crash — see Facebook not working and run the outage test.
  2. Check for another app or phone update in a day or two.
  3. Report the crash to Meta with your phone model and software version.
  4. If the whole phone keeps freezing (not just Facebook), follow Apple’s or Google’s device troubleshooting, linked below in Sources.

Official help routes

Apple and Google maintain the device steps; Meta maintains the app. These links go to their official help pages.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Facebook keep crashing on my iPhone?

Common culprits are an outdated app or iOS version, damaged app data, or low storage. Update both, restart the iPhone, then offload and reinstall Facebook from Settings > General > iPhone Storage.

Why does Facebook keep stopping on Android?

Common causes are an outdated app, a damaged cache, low storage, or an outdated Android System WebView or Chrome. Clear Facebook’s cache, update those components from Google Play, and restart.

Will clearing the cache delete my Facebook account or messages?

No. Clearing cache removes temporary files on your phone only, and your account isn’t affected. Clearing storage signs you out but still doesn’t delete your account. Most content is stored online, but end-to-end encrypted chat history can need your Messenger PIN or backup to restore after a reset or reinstall.

Can I go back to an older version of Facebook?

There’s no official way to do this. Avoid downloading old app files from unofficial sites — they can be unsafe. Use the browser until a fixed update is released.

Why does Facebook only crash when I watch videos?

Often low storage, a weak connection or, on Android, an outdated Android System WebView or Chrome. Free up space and update those components.

Is Facebook crashing for everyone right now?

If it crashes on several different phones at the same time and others report it, it may be a wider problem. Run the 60-second outage test.

Sources and how we checked this guide

We base steps on the platforms’ own help pages and the phone makers’ official guides. Menu names change often and can differ by device, app version and region. Where a platform page could not be independently read, we link it so you can check the current wording yourself.

  1. Download or update the Facebook app (external site, opens in a new tab)Facebook Help Center · linked for reference 20 October 2026
  2. Report That Something Isn’t Working on Facebook (external site, opens in a new tab)Facebook Help Center · checked 20 October 2026
  3. Facebook on the App Store (external site, opens in a new tab)Apple App Store · checked 20 October 2026
  4. Facebook on Google Play (external site, opens in a new tab)Google Play · checked 20 October 2026
  5. If an app on your iPhone or iPad stops responding, closes unexpectedly, or won’t open (external site, opens in a new tab)Apple Support · checked 20 October 2026
  6. How to manually update apps from the App Store (external site, opens in a new tab)Apple Support · checked 20 October 2026
  7. Close an app on your iPhone or iPod touch (external site, opens in a new tab)Apple Support · checked 20 October 2026
  8. Restart your iPhone (external site, opens in a new tab)Apple Support · checked 20 October 2026
  9. How to check the storage on your iPhone and iPad (external site, opens in a new tab)Apple Support · checked 20 October 2026
  10. Fix an installed Android app that isn’t working (external site, opens in a new tab)Android Help · checked 20 October 2026
  11. Fix an installed app that isn’t working on a Pixel phone (external site, opens in a new tab)Pixel Phone Help · checked 20 October 2026
  12. Clear up space (external site, opens in a new tab)Android Help · checked 20 October 2026
  13. Fix an Android device that freezes or won’t respond (external site, opens in a new tab)Android Help · checked 20 October 2026
  14. How to update apps on Android (external site, opens in a new tab)Google Play Help · checked 20 October 2026
  15. Troubleshoot streaming & video issues – iPhone & iPad (external site, opens in a new tab)YouTube Help · checked 20 October 2026

Last reviewed 20 October 2026 by the SocialAppFix editorial team against the sources above. Next scheduled review: 18 April 2027. How we write and review guides.

What changed
  • 20 October 2026: Confirmed the Android menu route to Report a problem (☰ Menu > Help and support > Report a problem) from owner screenshots.
  • 20 October 2026: Added the Android Report a problem flow (shake to report, logs choice, Select product, Send report) from owner screenshots.
  • 20 October 2026: Confirmed Meta’s Report a problem steps (profile picture > Help & support > Report a problem).
  • 20 October 2026: First published.
  • 20 October 2026: Editorial audit corrections applied.

SocialAppFix is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Meta or Facebook. We never ask for passwords, login codes or payment to fix an account.