Messenger not working? 9 fixes for messages that won’t send

What is wrong with Messenger? Match the symptom

• Messages stuck on Sending or a red warning: a network problem, a blocked or deactivated account on the other side, or a restriction on your account.
• App crashes or will not open: an outdated app, full storage or a corrupted cache.
• Chats not loading or blank: a weak connection, Data Saver, or an outage.
• No notifications: phone notification settings, muted chats or battery limits.
• Logged out and cannot get back in: an account or login problem, not the app.

Is Messenger down right now?

Before you change any settings, check Downdetector or search "Messenger down" on X. Meta outages often hit Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger at the same time. If thousands of people report problems in the last hour, there is nothing to fix on your phone. Wait and try later. If WhatsApp and Instagram also fail but other apps work, an outage is likely.

Messenger not working on Wi-Fi or mobile data

If Messenger works on Wi-Fi but not on cellular, the app is probably blocked from using mobile data. On iPhone, go to Settings › Apps › Messenger and turn on Cellular Data. On Samsung, go to Settings › Apps › Messenger › Mobile data and turn on Allow background data usage and Allow data usage while Data saver on. On Pixel, the same options are under Settings › Apps › Messenger › Mobile data and Wi-Fi.

If it fails only on one Wi-Fi network, that network may block Meta apps. School, office and public Wi-Fi often do. A VPN can also cause trouble; turn it off and test.

Messages will not send to one person

If messages to everyone else work, the problem is with that chat. The person may have blocked you, deactivated or deleted their account, or restricted you. Their name may appear as Facebook User or the chat may say you cannot reply. Your messages may also go to their message requests if you are not friends. There is no setting on your side that fixes these.

Your account may be restricted

Meta limits accounts that send many messages quickly, add many people to groups or share links that look like spam. When this happens, Messenger may refuse to send messages for hours or days. Check Account Status in Facebook settings or the Support Inbox for a notice. You can often appeal from there. Waiting out the restriction is usually the only fix.

Fix Messenger notifications

1. In Messenger, tap the menu, then the gear icon, then Notifications & sounds. Make sure notifications are on and Do Not Disturb is off.
2. Open the chat that is silent, tap the person's name and check that it is not muted.
3. On iPhone, check Settings › Notifications › Messenger and turn on Allow Notifications. Make sure a Focus mode is not hiding it.
4. On Android, check Settings › Notifications › App notifications and set Messenger's battery use to Unrestricted.

Clear the cache or reinstall

On Android, go to Settings › Apps › Messenger › Storage and tap Clear cache. This keeps your login and chats. If that fails, tap Clear data; you will need to log in again, but chats are stored on Meta's servers and come back.

iPhone has no cache button. Delete Messenger by pressing and holding its icon, tapping Remove App › Delete App, then reinstalling it from the App Store. Your chats return when you log in. End to end encrypted chats need your PIN or a backup to restore old messages, so set that up first if Messenger asks.

Free up storage

Messenger saves photos, videos and voice messages. When your phone has less than about 1 GB free, apps start to misbehave. Check Settings › General › iPhone Storage or Settings › Device care › Storage on Samsung, and remove large videos or apps you do not use.

Cannot log in to Messenger

Messenger uses your Facebook account. If you cannot log in, the problem is with Facebook login, not Messenger. Reset your password at facebook.com and check that your account is not disabled. If you are waiting for a login code that never arrives, see Facebook not sending a code.

Messenger on a computer

Meta retired the standalone Messenger desktop apps for Windows and Mac, and messages on a computer now open in facebook.com/messages or messenger.com in a browser. If chats will not load there, clear the browser cache, turn off ad blockers for the site and try a different browser. Make sure you are signed in to the same account as on your phone.

Report a problem to Meta

In Messenger, shake your phone or go to Settings › Report a problem. Describe what happens and attach a screenshot. Meta does not reply to each report, but reports help them find bugs. If chats you need have vanished, see how to see deleted Messenger messages.

Why Messenger stops working

Messenger depends on three things: your connection to Meta's servers, the app on your phone, and your Facebook account. When any of them has a problem, the app looks broken in the same way, with spinning chats and messages that will not send. That is why the fixes start with an outage check and the network, then move to the app, and end with the account. Most problems are solved by the first four steps.

Update Messenger and your phone

Meta updates Messenger often and stops supporting old versions. Open the App Store or Google Play, search for Messenger and tap Update if you see it. Also update your phone's software in Settings › General › Software Update on iPhone or Settings › Software update on Samsung. Very old phones may no longer be able to run the current Messenger app at all.

Video and voice calls not working

Calls need permission to use the camera and microphone. On iPhone, check Settings › Apps › Messenger and turn on Microphone and Camera. On Android, check Settings › Apps › Messenger › Permissions. Calls also need a stronger connection than messages. If calls drop but texts work, switch to Wi-Fi or move to a place with better signal.

Photos and videos will not send or load

Large videos fail on weak connections. Wait for Wi-Fi, or trim the video before sending. Make sure Messenger has access to your photos in the phone's privacy settings. If received photos show as grey boxes, Data Saver may be holding them back, so turn it off in Messenger settings.

Restart your phone

It sounds basic, but a restart clears stuck network connections and background processes that cause many Messenger problems. Turn the phone fully off, wait 30 seconds and turn it on. Then open Messenger before other apps.

Is your Facebook account the problem?

If Facebook keeps logging you out or showing security checks, Messenger will act up too. Fix the login first; see Facebook keeps logging me out for the common causes.

Messenger Lite and older phones

Meta shut down Messenger Lite, the smaller app made for older or slower phones. If you used it, install the regular Messenger app or open messenger.com in your phone's browser. On older Android phones with little memory, closing other apps before you open Messenger helps it run smoothly.

Work through the steps in order and test Messenger after each one, so you know which change fixed it if the problem returns.