Are you experiencing the Messenger login error on your iPhone? Don’t worry, there are a few things you can try to fix it. This article will walk you through seven troubleshooting steps that you can follow to get your Messenger login working again, without having to restore your iPhone.
Troubleshooting Messenger Login Error on iPhone
The subsequent easy fixes are also applicable when troubleshooting login errors with Messenger on other iOS devices that are running on the same platform or iOS version with the iPhone 13 series.
Actual screens and menu items may vary between device models and wireless service providers.
Prerequisites:
- Before you begin, verify and ensure that your iPhone is running on the latest iOS version. If there are any pending iOS updates that you’ve missed to implement, then you better update your iPhone first.
- Also make sure that the date and time settings on your iPhone are correct. Some login errors are likewise attributed to invalid system date and time.
- If Screen Time is enabled on your iPhone, make sure that the Messenger app is not restricted.
Don’t forget to test login to your Messenger account after performing each solution to determine whether or not the problem is solved. Proceed to the next applicable solution(s) if needed.
1. Relaunch Messenger app.
Sometimes, the Messenger login error is just transpiring as a random in-app glitch which are often addressed by an app restart. This is the simplest way to clear out errant cached files from an iOS application.
To end the Messenger app on the iPhone 13 mini, just follow these steps:
- Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen to launch the app switcher or multitasking menu that contains previews of all apps you’ve recently used and left open/running in the background.
- Find the Messenger app preview and then swipe it up to close. Do the same to end all other background apps on your iPhone.
After ending all background apps, relaunch Messenger then retry logging into your account. If auto-fill logins are provided, delete the auto-text values then type in the username and password manually. This will help rule out incorrect login details from the underlying causes.
2. Refresh your internet connection
Ruling out random network connection issues that result in Messenger login error, refreshing the internet connection on your iPhone with the following methods is recommended.
- Go to Settings->Wi-Fi menu and then turn the Wi-Fi toggle off and on. If you’re on Cellular data, turn cellular data off and on instead.
- Go to Settings-> Airplane mode menu and then toggle to turn the Airplane mode switch off for a few seconds and then turn it back on again.
If you have set up other Wi-Fi networks on your iPhone, then switching to another network may also be a potential solution especially if the problem is attributed to a corrupted Wi-Fi network in use.
Rebooting the wireless modem or router can also help clear out any transpiring issues affecting wireless internet apps and services.
3. Restart/soft reset your iPhone
If Messenger was working perfectly fine and suddenly you get the Messenger login error even without altering anything on your iOS device settings, then it’s probably just a random system glitch. To clear this out, performing a soft reset or restarting the iPhone can help.
This does not affect any user data saved in the iPhone memory so there’s no need to back up files beforehand. Just follow these steps if you haven’t already:
- 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.
Restarting the iPhone also clears out residual system data including corrupted app cache.
4. Manually offload the Messenger app
In-app glitches that cause sudden app malfunction can also be addressed by manually offloading the app.
In iOS 15 devices, offloading individual application particularly Messenger, is carried out with these steps:
- Open the Settings app by tapping on the Settings icon from Home.
- On the succeeding menu, tap General.
- Then, tap iPhone Storage.
- Tap to select Messenger from the apps list and then tap the command to Offload App.
- If prompted, enter your passcode and tap Offload App again to confirm.
- The Messenger app will then be dumped from the system.
Offloading doesn’t delete any app data so you can always retrieve the app settings after reinstalling it for as long as the app is still available on the App Store.
After offloading, restart/soft reset your iPhone and then reinstall the Messenger app by tapping on its icon from the Home screen.
5. Install pending update for Messenger
Installing app updates is also deemed a potential solution to app-related issues including login errors that are inflicted by random software bugs and malware.
Before you proceed, make sure that your iPhone is connected to the internet preferably through a Wi-Fi network, has ample storage space and is sufficiently charged.
If you haven’t set the App Store to auto-install app updates, then you will need to do it manually with these steps:
- Go to your iPhone Home screen or App library and then long-press the App Store icon.
- Select Updates to continue to view all pending app updates on the App Store.
- If multiple app updates are available, tap Update All. Otherwise, tap the Update button next to Messenger. Do the same to other apps with pending updates.
After updating apps, restart your iPhone to properly save and apply recent software changes.
6. Uninstall then reinstall Messenger
Among the last options you’ve got if none of the prior methods is able to fix the Messenger login error is to delete or uninstall Messenger from your iPhone. This is often needed if the problem is tied to critical in-app errors and likewise when the app itself gets corrupted.
To uninstall the Messenger app from your iPhone 13, just follow these steps:
- Go to the Home screen and then touch and hold the Messenger icon.
- On the quick menu, tap Remove or Delete app.
- After deleting the app, launch the App Store app.
- While on the App Store, tap on your Apple ID profile picture then select Purchased.
- Locate the Messenger app and then tap the cloud icon to instigate app installation.
- Reinstalling an app is also another way to clear cache and data from an iOS application.
Alternatively, you can delete the Messenger app through the iPhone Storage menu.
7. Reset all settings on iPhone
To eliminate errant iPhone settings from the possible cause of Messenger login error, resetting all settings is also recommended. This reset deletes all custom settings including network details, app permissions and preferences among others. As a result, all default settings are restored.
But unlike a factory reset, the iOS reset all settings command does not affect any user data so you won’t lose any important content saved on your device.
Just refer to these steps should you wish to give this reset a shot in fixing your iPhone 13 mini’s Messenger login issue:
- Go to your Home screen and then open the Settings app.
- Scroll to and tap General.
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone to proceed.
- Then tap on Reset.
- On the succeeding menu, tap Reset all settings from the given options.
- Enter your device passcode if prompted.
- Tap the option to confirm all system settings reset on your iPhone.
After the reset, your phone reboots automatically and then restores all default values and options.
Still getting the Messenger login error?
Try logging into your Messenger account on a web browser. You can use the built-in Safari app, Chrome or other browser you’ve got and preferred to use.
If you’re able to log into Messenger in the web browser, then it’s probably just an isolated issue with the iOS mobile version of the application.
Perhaps there’s an ongoing problem with Facebook Messenger that results in the mobile version of the app temporarily inaccessible in iOS devices. Server outages are typically resolved on their own so all you have to do is wait and retry logging into Messenger at some other time. Surely downtime issues won’t take too long on these platforms and therefore it should be up and running again in no time.
If this happens to be a post-iOS update problem and it persists after performing all applicable tweaks, then you better have it escalated to either Facebook Messenger support or Apple Support team for further assistance and official recommendations.
Please keep posted for more comprehensive iOS tutorials and troubleshooting guides on this site. Or you can check out this YouTube channel to view more comprehensive tutorial and troubleshooting videos including recent iOS devices.