Facebook Messenger Not Showing Messages: Best Troubleshooting Guide! (2023)

Are you facing the frustrating problem of Facebook Messenger not showing messages? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this troubleshooting guide, we explore common causes and provide step-by-step solutions to resolve the issue. Discover how to restore your Facebook Messenger functionality and ensure that your messages are displayed as intended.

Contents show

7 Methods to Fix the Facebook Messenger Not Showing Messages Error

See if the Facebook Servers are online
Install the Latest Messenger Version
Using Mobile Data for Messenger (iPhone)
Turn off Low Data Mode (iPhone)
Force Kill the Messenger Application (Android)
Delete the Messenger App Cache (Android)
Try the Messenger Lite App

Solutions for the Facebook Messenger Not Showing Messages issue

See if the Facebook Servers are online

To check if the Facebook servers are online, you can perform a simple network connectivity test by accessing the Facebook website or using a network monitoring tool. Here are a few methods you can try:

Access the Facebook website: Open a web browser on your device and navigate to the Facebook website. If the website loads without any errors or issues, it indicates that the Facebook servers are online and accessible.
Ping command: Open the command prompt or terminal on your computer and run the following command:

ping www.facebook.com

This command sends a small packet of data to the Facebook server and measures the response time. If you receive responses from the server, it indicates that the Facebook servers are online and reachable.

Install the Latest Messenger Version

To install the latest version of Facebook Messenger, follow these steps:

Open the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) on your device.
Search for “Facebook Messenger” in the search bar.
Tap on the “Facebook Messenger” app from the search results.
If an update is available, you will see an “Update” or “Install” button. Tap on it to download and install the latest version.
Once the installation is complete, you can open Facebook Messenger and sign in with your Facebook account or create a new account if needed.

Note: The steps may vary slightly depending on your device and operating system version. Make sure to have a stable internet connection while downloading and installing the app.

Using Mobile Data for Messenger (iPhone)

To enable mobile data for Facebook Messenger on an iPhone, follow these steps:

Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
Scroll down and tap on “Cellular” or “Mobile Data”, depending on your iOS version.
Find “Messenger” in the list of apps under the Cellular Data section.
Toggle the switch next to “Messenger” to enable mobile data for the app. The switch should turn green.
You can now exit the settings and use Facebook Messenger with mobile data.

Note: Enabling mobile data for Facebook Messenger allows the app to use your cellular data connection for sending and receiving messages, photos, and other media. Be aware of your data plan limits and charges from your mobile network provider.

Turn off Low Data Mode (iPhone)

To turn off Low Data Mode on an iPhone, follow these steps:

Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
Scroll down and tap on “Cellular” or “Mobile Data”, depending on your iOS version.
Find “Cellular Data Options” and tap on it.
Locate “Low Data Mode” and toggle the switch next to it to turn it off. The switch should be grayed out when it’s turned off.
You can now exit the settings and Low Data Mode will be disabled.

Note: Low Data Mode is a feature that helps reduce your cellular data usage by limiting background app refresh, automatic downloads, and certain visual effects. Disabling Low Data Mode allows your apps to use more data as needed. Be aware of your data plan limits and charges from your mobile network provider.

Force Kill the Messenger Application (Android)

To force kill the Messenger application on an Android device, you can follow these steps:

Open the “Settings” app on your Android device.
Scroll down and tap on “Apps” or “Applications”, depending on your device.
Find and tap on “Messenger” in the list of installed applications.
On the Messenger app info screen, tap on “Force stop” or “Stop” to forcefully stop the app.
Confirm the action by tapping on “OK” or “Confirm” when prompted.
The Messenger application will be terminated and all its processes will be stopped.

Note: Force-stopping an app will close all its background processes and clear its temporary data. This action may cause any unsaved data or active sessions in the app to be lost.

Delete the Messenger App Cache (Android)

To delete the Messenger app cache on an Android device, you can follow these steps:

Open the “Settings” app on your Android device.
Scroll down and tap on “Apps” or “Applications”, depending on your device.
Find and tap on “Messenger” in the list of installed applications.
On the Messenger app info screen, tap on “Storage” or “Storage & cache”.
Tap on “Clear cache” to delete the app’s cache files.
Confirm the action by tapping on “OK” or “Confirm” when prompted.
The Messenger app cache will be cleared, freeing up storage space on your device.

Note: Clearing the app cache will not delete any personal data or messages in the Messenger app. It will only remove temporary files and data that may be taking up storage space.

Try the Messenger Lite App

To try the Messenger Lite app, you can follow these steps:

Open the Google Play Store on your Android device.
Search for “Messenger Lite” in the search bar.
Tap on the “Messenger Lite” app from the search results.
On the app page, tap on “Install” to download and install the Messenger Lite app on your device.
Once the installation is complete, you can open the Messenger Lite app from your app drawer.
Log in to your Facebook account using your credentials.
You can now use Messenger Lite, which is a lightweight version of the Messenger app designed for slower internet connections and devices with limited resources.

Note: Messenger Lite offers essential messaging features while using less data and requiring less storage space compared to the regular Messenger app.

With the solutions outlined in this guide, you can troubleshoot and fix the issue of Facebook Messenger not showing messages. Stay connected and never miss a conversation again. By following the provided steps, you’ll be able to enjoy a seamless messaging experience on Facebook Messenger, with all your messages displayed properly.