Facebook Messenger problems and solutions

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• Is Facebook Messenger down?
  • Check Facebook Messenger using a web browser
  • Check Facebook Messenger Lite
• Fix Facebook Messenger errors on Android
  • Facebook Messenger: Please check your internet connection error
  • Unfortunately, Facebook Messenger has stopped error
• Cannot send or receive messages
• Retrieve deleted messages

Is Facebook Messenger down?

Before you start pulling your hair because Facebook Messenger isn't working, it would be a good idea to check if the issue is being caused due to an outage. It is not uncommon for Facebook services to go offline at times, and there have been several instances of this happening in the past.

One of the ways you can check for outages is to visit the Platform Status page for Facebook. This page usually lists ongoing outages. There are third-party services like Downdetector and Downhunter that can help you check the status of Facebook Messenger. 

Check the status of Facebook Messenger using a web browser

Before you start troubleshooting Facebook Messenger issues on your smartphone, it would be a good idea to check if you can access the service using a web browser.

Access Facebook via your browser:

1. Simply open your web browser and go to https://www.facebook.com/.
2. Log in with your username and password.
3. You should be able to access your messages within the Facebook website, old-school style.

Try Facebook Messenger Lite

Another way to go about this is to install a toned-down, less resource-intensive version of Facebook Messenger called Messenger Lite. Some people actually prefer using Messenger Lite over its bloated cousin because it hogs fewer resources and was generally thought to be less buggy. 

1. Get Messenger Lite from the Google Play Store.
2. Download, open and log in with your credentials.
3. Enjoy messaging as usual, with a streamlined appearance and just the essential features.

Fix Facebook Messenger errors on Android

Let us now take a look at some of the more common errors that you may encounter with the Facebook Messenger app for Android smartphones.

Facebook Messenger: 'Please check your internet connection and try again' error

This is among the most common errors that you may come across while using Facebook Messenger on your Android phone. Many people have complained about an error message that says, "Please check your internet connection and try again" when trying to use Facebook Messenger. Please follow these steps to try and fix the issue.

• Open the Settings menu on your Android phone.
• Go to System and then tap on Date & time (the menu options may change depending on the Android skin your phone has).
• In the Date and time menu, ensure that the options Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically are selected.
• Once this is done, go back to the Settings menu.
• Open the Apps menu.
• Select All apps.
• Look for Messenger in the list of apps and tap the option that says Force stop.
• Once this is done, go back to the home screen and try opening Facebook Messenger again, and the issue should be fixed.

Fix the 'Unfortunately, Facebook Messenger has stopped' error

This is another (relatively) common issue that many people face with Facebook Messenger on Android. A possible fix for this issue can be achieved by taking the following steps

• Open Settings.
• Go to Apps.
• In the app list, select Messenger.
• On older Android versions, you will see two options Clear Storage and Clear Cache.
• Select the Clear Cache option.
• On newer Android phones, select Storage and Cache. 
• Select Clear cache.

If this doesn't solve your issue, it might be a good idea to uninstall and reinstall Facebook Messenger. But before you do that, open the Google Play Store on your phone and check if there is an update available for Facebook Messenger. If yes, install the update and check if the issue is resolved.

In fact, the same solution can be used for issues like the one described below. Although we have suggested a slightly different method.

I can't send or receive messages on Facebook Messenger

If you're trying to send a sticker to your friend and Facebook Messenger is not delivering your vital correspondence, do not despair. Although the situation may seem desperate beyond all comprehension, the solution could well be simple.

Ensure, firstly, that the app is up to date. Head into the Google Play Store, hit the menu button, and press on My apps & games. From here, see if Messenger is among the apps awaiting an update. If it is, simply press on it and hit the Update button.

All (or some) of my messages have disappeared

If you've accidentally deleted your messages, which is not easily done, then you're out of luck; they're gone. But maybe you just archived them, in which case you are in luck.

Head to the mobile or desktop site, click on the messages button, then See all > More > Archived (for desktop users) or go to your messages, press See all messages, scroll to the bottom, and press View Archived Messages (on the mobile site) and see if you can find the message you long for there.

Let us know in the comments if there are any Facebook Messenger problems you're struggling with, and we'll do our best to address them.