Messenger Keeps Crashing on iPhone 8? Here’s How to Fix It

If Messenger keeps closing, freezing, or not working right on your iPhone 8, you’re definitely not alone. A lot of users have run into this issue—usually after an update, but sometimes totally out of the blue. Whether it crashes the moment you open it or lags until it shuts down, there are several ways to fix it.

Here’s a complete list of simple but effective ways to get Messenger working smoothly again.

1. Force Close the Messenger App

Sometimes Messenger just needs a quick reboot.

To close and restart the app:

Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle to open the App Switcher.
Find Messenger, then swipe up on its preview to close it.
Do the same for any other background apps that might be hogging resources.

Reopen Messenger and see if it’s working better.

2. Restart Your iPhone 8

A simple reboot can clear out small software hiccups.

To perform a soft reset:

Hold the Side (Power) button until “slide to power off” appears.
Slide to power off.
Wait 30 seconds, then hold the Side button again to power back on.

Force restart (if Messenger froze your screen):

Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
Hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

3. Update Messenger and iOS

Messenger updates often include bug fixes that stop crashes.

To update Messenger:

Open the App Store.
Tap your profile icon in the top-right corner.
Scroll down to Available Updates.
Tap Update next to Messenger, or Update All to update everything.

To check for iOS updates:

Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
If an update is available, tap Download and Install.

After updating, restart your iPhone to finalize everything.

4. Reset All Settings on Your iPhone

Misconfigured settings can mess with apps like Messenger. A reset can help—without deleting your data.

To reset all settings:

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

Your iPhone will restart. You’ll need to rejoin Wi-Fi networks and re-pair Bluetooth devices afterward.

5. Delete and Reinstall Messenger

If Messenger is still crashing, the app itself may be corrupted.

To uninstall and reinstall:

Tap and hold the Messenger icon.
When it starts jiggling, tap the X or Remove App, then confirm.
Restart your iPhone.
Go to the App Store, search for Messenger, and reinstall the latest version.

Log back in and check if it’s working fine now.

Still Not Working?

If nothing else helps:

Check for Messenger outages at Downdetector.com.
Contact Facebook support through the Messenger Help Center.
Try an alternative messaging app while waiting for a fix.