If Facebook won’t open on your iPhone XR, don’t panic. It’s usually just a glitch with the app or a minor issue with your phone’s software. Here are some quick and effective ways to get Facebook working again — no tech skills required.
Force Quit the Facebook App
Sometimes the app just gets stuck in the background.
- Swipe up from the bottom of your screen and pause in the middle.
- Swipe up on the Facebook preview to close it.
- Close any other apps running in the background.
- Reopen Facebook from your Home Screen.
Restart Your iPhone XR (Soft Reset)
Rebooting clears temporary glitches and junk data.
- Press and hold the Side button + Volume Up (or Down) until you see the power slider.
- Drag the slider to turn off your phone.
- Wait 30 seconds, then press the Side button again to turn it back on.
- Open Facebook and check if it works.
Check Your Internet Connection
No internet = no Facebook. Make sure your connection is solid.
- Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and toggle it off and on.
- Or turn on Airplane Mode, wait a few seconds, then turn it off again.
- Try switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
Then relaunch Facebook and see if it loads.
Update the Facebook App
Using an outdated version of the app can cause problems.
- Open the App Store.
- Tap your profile icon at the top right.
- Scroll to see if Facebook has an update.
- Tap Update next to Facebook (or Update All to update everything).
After the update, open the app again.
Delete and Reinstall Facebook
If the app is glitched beyond saving, a fresh install usually helps.
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Find and tap Facebook, then tap Delete App.
- Confirm to remove it completely.
Then reinstall it:
- Open the App Store.
- Search for Facebook.
- Tap the download icon (cloud or “GET”).
- Log in after installation and see if it works.
Reset Network Settings
This resets all Wi-Fi, cellular, and VPN settings — helpful if connection glitches are behind the issue.
- Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset > Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your passcode and confirm.
Your phone will reboot. Reconnect to Wi-Fi and check the Facebook app again.
Still Not Working? It Could Be on Facebook’s End
If none of these fixes worked, Facebook itself might be down or having server issues. You can check websites like Downdetector or search Twitter to see if others are having the same issue. If that’s the case, all you can do is wait it out.