Messenger is a widely used online messaging platform for both Android and iOS devices. Most if not, all Facebook users also have a Messenger app installed on their respective devices to stay connected and easily communicate with their Facebook friends. But like any other online apps, the Messenger app also has its own share of flaws. And the common triggers are network errors.
In case you’ll have some trouble loading Messenger on your Apple device particularly iPad Pro, I’ve mapped out some applicable workarounds and possible solutions for you to refer to. Read on to learn how to troubleshoot a Messenger app that’s not loading or keeps crashing on the iPad Pro device.
For those who are looking for a solution to a different problem, drop by our troubleshooting page for we have already addressed some of the most common issues with this phone. Browse through the page to find issues that are similar with yours and use the solutions we suggested. If they don’t work for you or if you still need our help, contact us anytime through our iPad issues questionnaire.
What to do if Messenger crashes on your iPad Pro 2018?
Before troubleshooting, check your Internet connection. Online apps won’t be able to load if the Internet connection isn’t stable or on and off. You can open your browser then browse through different websites to test the Internet connection on your iPad Pro. If the Internet isn’t working at the moment, then that’s the root cause of the problem and therefore needs to fix so online apps and services, particularly Messenger can get back up and running smoothly again. But if the Internet is working just perfectly fine and the rest of your online apps are working except for Messenger, then that’s when you need to troubleshoot the app or iPad software. Here are some of the recommended workarounds and potential solutions you can try.
First solution: Quit the app then restart.
If the problem occurs so suddenly, then that could be just a random app error that can easily be rectified by ending the application and then restarting it. So here’s what you should do first:
- Swipe up from the bottom of the Home screen and then pause slightly in the middle of the screen.
- Then swipe right or left to navigate through the app previews.
- Swipe up on the Messenger app card/preview to close it.
Try loading the app afterwards and see if the problem is gone. If it’s still unable to load or continues to crash, then soft reset your iPad Pro with these steps:
- Press and hold the Side/Power button and either Volume buttons simultaneously for a few seconds.
- Release the buttons when the Slide to Power Off command appears and then drag the power off slider to the right.
- After 30 seconds, press and hold the Power/Side button again until the iPad reboots.
Performing a soft reset does a lot of wonders when it comes to resolving minor software errors including rogue apps. This doesn’t affect any saved information on the phone storage so backing up won’t be necessary. Just wait until the iPad is finished booting up and by then you can try loading Messenger app and see if it’s able to run or not.
Second solution: Update Messenger to the latest version.
Another recommended solution to application errors inflicted by malwares and bugs is to update the app. App updates not only bring in new features and app enhancements but also offer dedicated fix patches to get rid of any bugs that might have ruined the application. If you haven’t set your iPad apps to auto-update, chances are that you’ve missed some critical updates or fix patches for the Messenger. And because of that, the app eventually becomes erratic or unstable. In this case, you can manually check for new updates for Messenger app with these steps:
- From the Home screen, tap App Store.
- From the App Store main screen, scroll down to the bottom and then tap on the Updates tab. A list of all apps with pending updates will then appear.
- Tap the Update button next to the Messenger to install pending updates for the app.
- If multiple app updates are available, then tap on the Update All button on the top-right of the screen to install all app updates simultaneously.
Your iPad must have ample of storage space and battery life to allocate new updates. A fast and stable Internet access is also needed. After installing updates for Messenger and other apps, restart/soft reset your iPad Pro to apply the recent changes. Then try launching Messenger and see if that fixes the problem.
Third solution: Uninstall then reinstall Messenger on your iPad Pro.
In worst case scenarios, the app won’t be able to load or continues to crash even after applying the prior workarounds because it has been corrupted. To fix the app, you will need to reinstall it on your device. But before that, you also need to delete or uninstall the corrupted version of the app from your iPad system. Here’s how:
- From the Home screen, lightly touch and hold the Messenger app icon until it jiggles. Do not press too firmly to avoid opening the Quick Actions menu.
- Then tap on the X at the upper-left corner of the app you want to delete.
- Tap Delete when prompted to confirm action.
Another way to delete or uninstall apps from the iPad is through its storage menu. This can be considered an option if the previous method isn’t applicable. Here’s how it’s done:
- Tap Settings from the Home screen.
- Scroll down the left menu then select General.
- Tap iPad Storage.
- Select Messenger from the list of apps.
- Tap the option to Delete App.
- If prompted, tap Delete App to confirm.
Restart the iPad after deleting the app to clear and refresh its memory. Then open the App Store and download the latest version of Messenger app for your iPad Pro. Simply follow the onscreen instructions to download and install the app on your iPad again.
Reinstalling the applications usually solves minor app-related issues. If that failed to fix the problem, then it’s likely a complex system error you’re dealing.
Fourth solution: Manage app restrictions on your iPad Pro.
When Restrictions are enabled on the phone, access to certain apps and services can be limited or completely barred. Some contents or specific URLs may also be blocked. To make sure this isn’t what’s halting the Messenger app from working as intended, try to disable restrictions on your iPad Pro. Here’s how it’s done:
- From the Home screen, tap on Settings.
- Select Screen Time.
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Then select the option to turn off restrictions for Messenger app or completely disable the feature instead.
Give your iPad another restart and then try launching Messenger to see if the problem is gone.
Fifth solution: Reset all settings on your iPad Pro.
For recurring symptoms and persistent errors, performing software resets if often needed. Among the applicable resets for network app problems are network settings reset and all settings reset. To rule out network-related errors, performing a reset on the network settings is recommended. To clear out settings errors like invalid customizations or device configurations, resetting all settings on the iPad instead. Here’s how it’s done:
- From your Home screen, tap on Settings.
- Select General.
- Scroll down to and then tap on Reset.
- Select the option to Reset all settings.
- If prompted, enter your passcode then follow the onscreen instructions to confirm all settings reset.
Allow your device to finish resetting and then restarts by itself. After it reboots, you will need to re-enable features that you want to use again, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections. Once your device is connected to the Internet, launch the Messenger app to see if it’s already working properly. If it’s still failed to load or keeps crashing, then you’re likely dealing with more complex error on the application, if not, on iOS.
Seek more help
You can report the problem to Messenger Help Center if nothing else works on your end. The problem might be on the Messenger or Facebook server itself. Should that be the case, the only thing you can do is wait until it will be fixed. You can switch to other online messaging platform while waiting.
If the Messenger app stopped working after installing a new iOS version and none of the given solutions is able to fix it, then you can escalate the problem to Apple Support so they can make further assessments on their end. This might be a new update bug that needs a dedicated fix patch.
I hope that we’ve been able to help you fix the problem with your device. We would appreciate it if you helped us spread the word so please share this post if you found it helpful. Thank you so much for reading!
RELEVANT POSTS:
- How to fix Software update failed error on Apple iPad Pro 2018, unable to install new iOS update [Troubleshooting Guide]
- How to fix Netflix app that’s not working, keeps crashing on an Apple iPad Pro 2018 [Troubleshooting Guide]
- How to fix an Apple iPad Pro that won’t charge, slowly charging, or intermittently charging
- How to fix an Apple iPad Pro 2018 that has no Internet access but connected to Wi-Fi network [Troubleshooting Guide]