This post will walk you through resolving an issue with the iOS messenger app that’s performing unstable on a new iPhone. Read on to learn what to do if Messenger crashes on iPhone 13 in iOS 15.4.
iOS 15 Messenger app crashing issue
App crashes are among the prevalent performance issues encountered by smartphone users of either Android or iOS devices. In most cases, memory-related issues are the underlying cause and internet connectivity issues if online or internet-based apps are the only ones affected.
In the case with the Messenger app that keeps crashing on an iPhone 13, random software glitches, internet problems, settings conflicts, and other errant apps are more likely the main culprits unless the phone storage is already running low.
The same problem could also arise from an iOS update especially when the recent update contains some unforeseen bugs that eventually caused conflicts with Messenger and other relevant services.
The fact that these are software-related problems makes it very possible to fix by end users. All it needs is to perform some tweaks that would eliminate the usual triggers.
To give you some input on what to do when faced with the same issue on the iPhone 13 Messenger app, I’ve mapped out some of the potential solutions as follows.
Troubleshooting Messenger Crashes on iPhone 13
Performing these subsequent procedures will help eliminate common software-related factors that can cause Messenger to become unstable and crash. These steps are outlined based on the iPhone 13 (iOS 15.4) interface.
Before you begin troubleshooting, verify and ensure that your iPhone is connected to the internet preferably via Wi-Fi and that the internet connection is stable.
If you’re on cellular data, make sure that you’ve got sufficient data credits (if on prepaid) and your account is current (if on postpaid). Also ensure that your phone has a strong and stable network signal or reception.
After verifying the internet connection, you may go ahead and start troubleshooting the problematic Messenger app on your new iPhone.
Solution #1: Force close all running apps then restart Messenger.
Facing random issues with online apps like Messenger is inevitable considering the fact that many factors can interfere with their normal operation. Oftentimes, the transpiring symptoms are just random and can easily be rectified by basic solutions.
If the Messenger app was perfectly working on your iPhone and then it suddenly crashes, it’s likely just a minor glitch triggered by random internet flaws or other faulty apps.
To deal with minor in-app glitches like this, ending and restarting the app is recommended.
So here’s what you must do first:
- Launch the multitasker by swiping up from the bottom-left corner. All recently running apps will be displayed in the form of app cards or previews.
- Find the Messenger app preview and then swipe it up to close.
Do the same to close any other background apps to prevent any of them from causing conflicts when you relaunch the Messenger app.
Solution #2: Restart the iPhone (soft reset).
Another simple yet very effective solution to random in-app errors is a soft reset. That said, give your iPhone a quick reboot to clear out any errant cached files and residual data including those that come into conflict with the Messenger app.
For starters, here’s how to soft reset/restart an iPhone 13:
- Press and hold the Power/Side button and either Volume buttons for a few seconds and then release when the Power off slider appears.
- Then, drag the slider to turn your iPhone completely off.
- After 30 seconds, press and hold the Side button again until the Apple logo appears.
There’s no need to worry about losing important files afterwards because a soft reset or iPhone restart does not affect any user data.
All it does is to eliminate random system errors and gives the device a clean start. It’s also a way of clearing temporary files that are stored as system cache on the iPhone.
Solution #3: Optimize iPhone storage.
Although it’s bizarre for a new phone to run into memory-related issues, it doesn’t hurt to optimize storage from time to time especially when you’ve already added multiple apps and files on your device.
Optimizing storage on an iPhone is not only achieved by deleting old and unwanted contents but also through offloading unused apps.
That said, enabling the offload unused apps feature on your iPhone is the next recommended solution.
And here’s how it’s done:
- Open the Settings app then go to General-> App Store menu.
- Find and then tap to turn the Enable Offload Unused Apps switch ON.
Enabling this feature prompts the device to automatically delete apps that aren’t used for a long period of time whenever low storage space is detected.
This can help prevent the device from running into some random performance issues tied to insufficient memory.
Solution #4: Update Messenger and other apps (if available).
Keeping apps up-to-date is highly recommended to ensure optimum performance and app security. Aside from bringing in new and enhanced features, app updates also contain essential patches to fix any existing bugs that might have decrepit the normal operations.
If you didn’t turn on auto-updates in the App store, manually downloading and installing pending app updates would be necessary.
So here’s what you should do then:
- Open the App Store app and then tap on your Apple ID profile.
- On the succeeding menu, tap Update All to install all pending app updates at once or tap the Update button next to the name of the app to update apps individually.
Alternatively, you can touch and hold on the App Store icon from the Home screen and then tap Updates from the quick menu options. Doing so will take you straight to the same menu in the App Store where pending app updates are available.
To avoid bumping into some errors when updating apps, make sure that your phone is sufficiently charged, has ample storage space and stable internet connection.
Don’t forget to restart/soft reset the iPhone after updating apps to ensure all recent software changes are properly implemented. A restart is also imperative to refresh all apps and system services.
Solution #5: Log out of Messenger then sign in again.
Some iPhone users have found logging out and logging in an effective tweak when dealing with random crashing issues with the Messenger app. It is somehow sensible especially when the current login session has timed out.
Should you wish to give it a shot, log out from your Messenger account and then log back in.
You may log out of Messenger using the Facebook app or straight from the Facebook Messenger app on your iPhone.
To log out through the Facebook Messenger app, follow these steps:
- Open the Messenger app on your iPhone and tap on your profile icon at the top left corner.
- Navigate to Account Settings and then tap Security login. If prompted, login with your Facebook credentials and find the list of logged-in devices.
- Tap on the three vertical dots next to your messenger device (iPhone 13) and then tap Log out.
Alternatively, you can log out using the Facebook app with these steps:
- Open the Facebook app on your iPhone.
- Tap the three vertical lines at the bottom then go to Settings and Privacy.
- Tap Settings from the dropdown and then tap Security and login.
- Find and select your iPhone 13 from the logged in devices then tap Log out on the following pop-up window.
After logging out of your account, close/end the Messenger app and then relaunch it.
As soon as it loads up, enter your account credentials to sign into your Facebook Messenger account like the first time.
Solution #6: Manually offload Messenger app.
Manually offloading the Messenger app can also fix it if memory-related flaws are the underlying cause.
Offloading an app will delete the app from the phone without deleting relevant files and documents. Thus, you can still retrieve the same files and documents when you redownload and install the app from the App Store.
To manually offload Messenger on the iPhone 13, just follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to General and then tap iPhone Storage.
- Select the Messenger app from the list.
- On the App info screen, tap Storage and then tap the option to Offload app.
- If prompted, read the warning prompt and then tap Offload app to confirm.
Restart your iPhone after offloading Messenger.
As soon as it reboots, allow it to re-establish a stable internet connection and then find the offloaded Messenger icon from the Home screen. To instigate re-downloading and reinstalling of the offloaded app, simply tap on the icon and wait for the progress bar to complete.
By then, you should be all set to log into Messenger and use the app on your iPhone as usual.
Solution #7: Uninstall then reinstall Messenger.
A drastic solution to recurring app issues including frequent app crashing is to uninstall and reinstall the problematic application. A fresh install is often required when the app is totally corrupted.
Should you wish to proceed, just follow these steps to uninstall Messenger from your iPhone 13:
- From your iPhone’s Home screen find and then long-press (touch and hold) the Messenger icon. Touching and holding on the Messenger app icon for a few seconds will open the quick menu options.
- On the quick menu, tap Remove or Delete app. Messenger will then be uninstalled and deleted from your phone.
After deleting the app, reboot the phone and then launch the App Store app. While on the App Store, tap on your Apple ID profile and then select Purchased. Locate the Messenger app and then tap the Get button or Cloud icon to redownload and install the app on the device.
Wait for your iPhone to finish installing Messenger and once the installation is complete, you can launch the app and log into your Messenger account.
Is Messenger still crashing on your iPhone?
If none of the above solutions worked, then you may have to consider resorting to iOS resets. Every iPhone has different reset options or commands that you can use to restore defaults values and options. To deal with performance issues in internet-based apps like Messenger, performing the reset network settings and reset all settings is typically deemed among the last options.
A. Reset Network Settings
This reset works by deleting all current network settings changes made on the device including faulty overrides that might have caused conflicts with the Messenger app.
Performing this reset will disconnect the iPhone from the Wi-Fi network as all saved networks will be deleted.
Other information that will be deleted in this reset include custom networks, SSIDs and passwords, APNs, VPNs, and other relevant settings.
User data saved in the iPhone storage are not affected so you won’t lose any important data in the process.
B. Reset All Settings
If a network reset failed to fix the problem, then you can try resetting all settings on the phone. As the name implies, this reset deletes all settings on the phone including network settings, location settings, keyboard dictionary, privacy settings, Apple Pay cards and relevant data. After the reset, all default values and options are restored.
Media files and documents saved in the iPhone storage are not affected so there’s no need to worry of losing important files.
After the network settings reset, you will need to set up Wi-Fi and connect to the network like the first time. Setting a default app for specific data type or protocol is also necessary.
Check Facebook Messenger Status
Just like other internet-based apps, Messenger also faces unexpected downtimes especially when unexpected technical difficulties arise in the network base or server. Messenger may also become unavailable when a scheduled outage is ongoing.
Having said that, care to check the Messenger server status using any of the online down detector platforms or Google search.
If there’s a surge in the number or reported issues concerning Messenger, then it’s very likely due to an outage. In this case, there’s not much that can be done on your end but to wait until the service is back up and running smoothly again.
Alternatively, you can try using the web version of Facebook messenger to view and reply to new messages in your inbox.
For sure, the Facebook Messenger technical team will do their best to resolve the problem in no time.
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