Facebook App Won’t Open on iPhone XS After iOS 13 Update? Here’s How to Fix It

If your Facebook app is suddenly not opening or loading after installing iOS 13 on your iPhone XS, you’re not alone. This is a common issue that often pops up after major system updates. The good news? It’s usually fixable with a few straightforward troubleshooting steps.

Here’s what to try when your iPhone XS Facebook app won’t launch.

1. Force Close Facebook and Try Again

If Facebook was running during the update, it might’ve glitched.

To force close the app:

Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle.
Find the Facebook app preview.
Swipe it up to close it.
Reopen the Facebook app from your Home screen.

2. Restart Your iPhone XS

A soft reset clears temporary glitches that may be blocking the app.

To restart:

Hold the Side button and either Volume button until the power slider appears.
Slide to turn off.
After 30 seconds, press the Side button again to reboot.

Alternatively, you can force restart:

Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
Then press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.

3. Reset Network Settings

A network glitch can prevent Facebook from loading content, especially if the app needs to sync immediately on launch.

To reset network settings:

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
Tap Reset Network Settings.
Enter your passcode and confirm.

Reconnect to Wi-Fi afterward and relaunch Facebook.

4. Check for App Updates

Your version of Facebook may not be fully compatible with iOS 13 yet.

To update:

Open the App Store.
Tap your profile icon at the top right.
Scroll to the Pending Updates section.
Tap Update next to Facebook, or tap Update All.

After updating, restart your phone and test the app.

5. Delete and Reinstall Facebook

Still not working? A clean reinstall often clears lingering app corruption.

To uninstall:

Press and hold the Facebook icon.
Tap Remove App > Delete App > Delete.

To reinstall:

Go to the App Store.
Search for Facebook.
Tap the download icon or Get to reinstall.

Launch it again once the installation is complete.

Still Not Loading? Try This:

If Facebook still refuses to open, try these:

Test another network: Switch from Wi-Fi to cellular or vice versa.
Check if Facebook is down: Visit Downdetector to see if others are reporting issues.
Try Facebook in Safari: Open facebook.com in Safari to rule out an account issue.

As a Last Resort: Restore iOS

If nothing works, and Facebook isn’t the only app acting up, you might need to restore your iPhone:

Use iTunes or Finder to back up your phone.
Perform a factory reset or restore in Recovery Mode or DFU Mode.
Set up your device and reinstall Facebook clean.