15 Fixes For Facebook Not Loading Pictures Error

Are you having trouble loading pictures on Facebook? Social media platform has always dominated the internet. It is the best place for you to find and connect with people. But before you send a friend request, you might want to check the person’s picture.

Imagine that you’re scrolling through your feed. You come across interesting memes and follow pages for those. Then you find that the images are not loading for some reason.

That’s why we have hand-tailored this guide for you. It will have to navigate through the issues, find the reason, and solve the problem. There are many ways you can fix the images not loading error. We are bringing all those for you under a single guide. So, let’s check them out:

The Reason For Facebook Not Loading Pictures

Images not loading on Facebook seems like a straightforward problem. Unfortunately, it could be a symptom of some major issues waiting for you. So, you should check the cause behind the problem and solve it before it grows.

Of course, you would think that the issue is internet connectivity. You’re not wrong. Often, the culprit for the image not loading is bad connectivity. Low bandwidth or insufficient data could lead to problems. But that’s not all.

There are many other reasons behind the problem. Here are some you might want to take a good look at:

Poor Network Connection

Let’s start with the obvious reason. Think of it as a checklist as there are many problems related to a simple network connection. Low internet speed is one of the leading causes of the issue. Another is insufficient net or poor network connectivity.

Cache Issues

Yes, there is the browser or app cache that might need a fix. It could be those stored files causing the problem. But that’s not the only kind of cache you have.

Another is the network cache, and if that gets corrupted, you will have some notable problems. Corrupted or missing data in the network cache can lead to many problems. It directly affects connectivity and could be the reason for images not loading.

DNS Issues

A DNS server allows you to connect to various other servers. That’s how you maintain connectivity on websites, online games, and more. It takes care of various requests. Thus, if you have poor DNS, you will get frequent errors.

Free Facebook Mode

Indeed, Facebook decided to provide you with a way to use its services without a data plan. That’s where Free Facebook comes into play. If you’re using it, you will face frequent issues like images not loading.

There’s a possibility that you might have activated it by mistake. So, it is worth checking if you weren’t using Free Facebook in the first place.

Ad-Blockers And Other Tools

Are you using extensions and applications that block adsand other content? The chances are, it can hinder Facebook’s performance. Not only Facebook, but you will also see it affect various internet performances.

It is better to check if any third-party extension is causing trouble. You might be using a simple screenshot tool or some performance-oriented tools.

You Have Images And Other Content Disabled

It would depend on the type of extensions or web browsers you’re using. But you can block content from loading, like images, for instance. Many users do it to enhance performance or reduce unnecessary data consumption.

So, these settings are worth browsing through, just in case.

Server Issues On Facebook’s End

Like any other online service provider, even Facebook can go down. It has gone down way too many times to remember. So, a server outage could be the reason behind images not loading.

Host File Error

There’s a host file on your PC that works on various functions and programs. It keeps records of various activities via entries. If that gets corrupted, or if host file data is missing, you can run into errors. Loading images on Facebook could be one of these errors.

Solutions to Fix Pictures On Facebook Not Loading

1. Check The Internet Connectivity
2. Reset The Router
3. Check The Server Status
4. Check For The Latest Facebook Version
5. Try To Update Browser 
6. Check For The System Updates
7. Check For Disabled Image Settings
8. Clear The Browser Cache And Data
9. Try The Network Troubleshooter
10. Set A Google Public DNS
11. Resetting Network Cache
12. Editing Your Host File
13. Disable The Ad-Blocker
14. Change Facebook Settings To Unrestricted Data Usage
15. Force Close The Android App
16. Reinstall The App
17. Use A VPN
18. Reset Everything

How To Fix Facebook Pictures Not Loading?

This section is divided into different segments. First, you will get the common issues for PC, Android, iOS and other devices. Then the solutions will divide into other options. This is to ease things up for you: 

1. Check The Internet Connectivity

As mentioned earlier, you might want to check the internet connectivity. There are plenty of things to try here. You might not have a checklist for it. That’s why this section, the first solution, will help you navigate. Let’s have a look:

• Confirm that you have an active internet connection or plan.
• Ensure that you have appropriate bandwidth and there isn’t any problem from the ISP’s end.

Once you have these two points checked, follow through with a couple of self-diagnoses:

• If you use Wi-Fi, try to connect to another device. See if you can log in to Facebook there and see the images.
• Activate and deactivate the Airplane mode of your mobile if you use a cellular network. It can help you fix the connectivity issue. If not, you can try to restart the phone.
• You can use an Internet Speed Test. For this, you can visit Google and search for Internet Speed Test. Google has a built-in test available for you.
• Are you using the public internet? Try to use the private and see if that solves the issue.

2. Reset The Router (Optional)

Take this solution as something you can try with the first one, or whenever you want. It is up to your priority. You can try other methods before reverting to resetting the router.

After all, resetting the router should be the last resort in most cases. Why? Because it will reset all your settings and configurations. So, you might want to back them up or remember the settings.

• First, go to the official settings of your Router. It is the Admin access panel. How do you do that? Find the ‘default IP’ of your Router.
• Often, models of the same company have the same default IP. All you need to do is open your web browser and enter the default IP. Hit enter, and this will take you to Router’s admin controls.
• Next, you might need Admin login credentials. Most companies provide it in the manual, but you can also Google them. Yes, they are open to the public.

These steps are only necessary to access the Router Settings to backup any data and details. If you don’t want to do that, you can move and reset the router immediately. For that:

• Keep your Router powered (plugged in).
• Check the backside of your router. There will be ‘Reset’ written with a tiny button. Press that button for around 10 seconds.
• In some cases, there might be a tiny hole and not a button. This is to prevent accidental resets. You will need a pin or something thin and long enough to get inside that hole and push the button. That’s how you will reset the router.
• As mentioned, keep the router powered as you press the reset button.
• It can take around 10 seconds of holding. After that, your router will reset in most cases.

Ensure to reconnect to your router’s internet and check if the Facebook images are loading. Now, remember that your connection’s password and everything else is reset to default. So, you will have to use the information given above about admin access to change the password.

Some manufacturers also offer an app to change the password and other settings.

3. Check The Server Status

Before resetting the router, it would be ideal for checking the Server Status of Facebook. There have been frequent downtimes for various servers, including Facebook and Instagram. It could be for maintenance or some hacking attempt.

Either way, it is worth checking the official server status. There are many websites and platforms available for you to check. You can even find the information on forums, as they get updated quickly.

The quickest way to do it is by contacting and asking your friends. See if they know anything about it. If not, then you can follow these steps:

• Open the official Facebook link to check the status.
• If it says that the Facebook Platform is healthy, the servers are working fine.  

4. Check For The Latest Facebook Version

This solution applies if you use the Facebook app on your phone or PC. You would have to check the Facebook version. There are two ways to do it:

• Go to the Google Play Store on your Device and check if your Facebook is up to date.
• Go to the ‘About’ Facebook App. For this, you will have to open the App > Go to the Menu > Settings > Scroll down to find ‘About.’ Click on it.

This step also exists for the users that have Free Facebook. If you’re using Free Facebook by choice, you will have a ‘Show picture’ option. It will be available on every image that comes on your Feed. You can click on it to see the picture.

Remember that Free Facebook is available on selected Mobile Networks only. If you want to disable it:

• Go to the Menu of Facebook.
• Find Network Provider Settings.
• In the Mobile Center, you can change the mode.

It uses the same way that you used to activate Free Facebook. So, if you didn’t know how to activate Free Facebook, now you know.

5. Try To Update Browser (Google Chrome, Edge, Firefox)

Yet another solution that has to do with updating, but it can’t be helped. There are too many components to take care of. So, make sure that if you don’t use the app, your browser is up to date.

Often, having the outdated version can hinder FB connectivity. Because Facebook keeps itself up to date at all times. So, use a similar method of either visiting the Play Store or using the ‘About’ in the browser settings.

6. Check For The System Updates

Unfortunately, much like the other updates, System updates are crucial. If you have an up-to-date app or browser but not the OS, it can lead to problems. So, make sure to check for the latest updates on your PC, Android, iOS, or macOS.

7. Check For Disabled Images Settings

Many web browsers come with the feature to disable images and other content. It helps you boost the loading speed of web browsers. Many users activate it to save data and enjoy high-speed performance.

There’s a possibility that you might have activated this for some reason. If you’ve ever done it, it’s time to check and fix the issue. Make sure to check your browser’s built-in options to disable the feature. Each browser has a different method, so you might have to check them out separately.

8. Clear The Browser Cache And Data

Sometimes, the problem is very simple. It could be that corrupted data or cache might be the issue. If you clear these files, it won’t delete your saved or downloaded files. It won’t affect anything. So you can try this solution.

Now, if you use the Browser, you will have to access the History. In history, you will most likely find the ‘Clear Browsing Data’ option. Make sure to clear it for as far as you can. It would be best to do it from the beginning of time (or all-time).

If you are using the app, go ahead and access the app information. You will find an option to clear data and cache in the app information.

For Windows Users

These are some of the diagnoses and solutions that will work for Windows users. So, if you use FB on PC, try these out: 

9. Try The Network Troubleshooter

Windows 10 and 11 come with a fantastic collection of troubleshooting tools. One of these is the Network Adapter troubleshooter. So, if you’ve tried everything else, it is time to give the troubleshooter a try:

• Open the Settings by pressing the Windows + I key.
• Next, go to the Updates and Security option. On the left side, you will see a Troubleshoot option. Select it.
• Go to the Additional Troubleshooter option.
• Select the Network Adapter Troubleshooter. Let it fix any issue your connection might have.

After that, you might have to restart the PC to ensure that everything is working fine.

10. Set A Google Public DNS

Google Public DNS is one of the best ways to enhance your access and connectivity. It can help you connect to various servers. Many gamers and app users prefer Google Public DNS.

• Open the Control Panel of your PC. You can find it in the Start Menu’s search option.
• Next, go to the Network And Internet option. You will find Network and Sharing Center in the list.
• Right-click on the network your system is connected to. Select properties from the list.
• Next, you will see a series of services attached to the connection. Find IPv4 from the list. It is also known as Internet Protocol Version 4.
• Check on the ‘Use the following DNS server addresses.”  The disabled options will become available for you. Enter the following:

In the preferred DNS server area, put: 8.8.8.8. Meanwhile, in Alternate DNS: 8.8.4.4

• Make sure to apply the changes and click OK to save them.
• You might have to reconnect to the internet.

Your mobile also has a similar option available. You will find it in the Network Settings. If you type the same DNS options for the phone, it will work there, as well.

11. Resetting Network Cache

Brace yourself because this is a lengthy process. Keep this in the note because it can be helpful in various network diagnoses. If you ever run into network-related problems, you can try this. It works well for fixing the Network issue with Facebook, as well. This is help with your network configurations:

• Launch the command prompt. You can search for it in the Start Menu. Right-click on it and select Run AS Administrator.
• Type this command: ipconfig/release. Hit enter. Next type: ipconfig / renew, hit enter. Then ipconfig / flushdns.
• These commands will reset your DNS to be good as new.
• Make sure to press enter after each command, above-given, and below as well:

netsh winsock reset
net stop dhcp
net start dhcp
netsh winhttp reset proxy

This will help you change all the settings. Now you can restart your PC and see if this has fixed all the issues. Check Facebook to see if you have the image issues or not.

12. Editing Your Host File

Windows OS comes with a host file. It collects essential data such as hostnames, IP addresses, and other settings. Are you having trouble with other solutions? You can give this one a try.

• First, you will have to locate the host file. It will be in the same drive that has your Windows OS files.
• In that drive, go to Windows > System32 > Drivers > etc > Hosts.
• That is the folder where you will find the Host file. First, copy it and make a backup of the host file. Why? Because the Host file is a critical part of the Windows OS. Any unwanted changes can lead to plenty of errors. You could end up reinstalling the entire OS. So, make a backup.
• After that, right-click on the file and select ‘Open With.’ Find the built-in Notepad tool from the options. Once you open it, you will have plenty of written data.
• Use CTRL + F to open the Find command in the notepad. Type: 31.13.70.40 scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net and find it in the list. If you can find it, then everything is fine. If you can’t find it, you will have to add it.
• Once done, save the changes and restart the PC. See if this solves the image loading issue.

13. Disable The Ad-Blocker

Ad-blockers aren’t always great for loading content on the web browser. You can quickly come across an error that would hinder Facebook from loading images. So, disabling the Ad-blocker would be the right choice.

Most likely, you have it as an extension. So go ahead and turn the extension off. If you can’t seem to turn the extension off for some reason, then move to remove the extension.

If you use any other third-party tool, like an ad-blocker on your PC, make sure to disable it as well.

For Mobile Users

These solutions will work on both – iOS and Android platforms. So, if you’re having trouble with loading images, give these a try:

14. Change Facebook Settings To Unrestricted Data Usage

The first step will check if you have any data saver feature active on your phone. If not, then check whether Facebook has any limit on the data it consumes. You can go ahead and give it unlimited data access for that:

• Press and hold onto the Facebook app icon and click on the information icon (the small i in a circle). This will lead you to settings.
• Check the Mobile Data & Wi-Fi settings. See if there is any restriction. Make changes if there are.
• You can also Enable Unrestricted data usage. This feature is available for Android users to access.

15. Force Close The Android App

Force close works like restarting the app, but with an emergency power shut. You run a risk of data loss, among other things, but that’s rare. Force closing Facebook and then relaunching it could help with data sync. It could solve the issue, so:

• Once again, access the app info for the Facebook app on your phone.
• You can also go to the Settings > Apps > Facebook for it.
• Next, you will see the Force Close option at the bottom. Click on it.
• Now, go back to the home and find the Facebook app to launch it.
• See if this fixed the issue.

16. Reinstall The App

If you have come this far, you’ve already tried clearing the cache and data. That didn’t pan out for you. So, you can go ahead and uninstall the Facebook app from your phone. After that, you can open the Google Play Store and download the app again.

Sometimes, there are corrupted files and components that you can’t fix. So, reinstalling an app often works.

If this doesn’t work, then there’s a Facebook lite app. If reinstalling the official app didn’t pan out for you, you can try and install the Facebook lite:

• Visit the Google Play Store. Search for Facebook Lite. Go ahead and install it.
• You might have to log into the account from scratch.

This option works for phones that can’t support the original app. Try this step if you are running low on space or your phone can’t perform well.

Last Resorts

Have you had any luck so far? If not, then you might be looking at more profound problems. Things should have worked by now. But if they didn’t, you have come to the last resort. Here are the two things that you can try:

17. Use A VPN

Maybe Facebook is having problems in your region. There can be several reasons for it, from political issues to ISP issues. You can go ahead and try using a premium VPN service. Often, a premium VPN comes with security.

It also lets you connect to Facebook and various other servers. You can access Facebook through other country’s servers. It is entirely legal, and you also maintain impeccable privacy. So, this is worth giving a try.

18. Reset Everything

You’ve tried relaunching and reinstalling Facebook, browser, and everything else. Now, if you didn’t fix the Facebook image issue, it’s time to reset. Reset your system.

In other words, if you have Android, Factory Reset it. This option also exists for iOS, macOS, and Windows users. So, you can go ahead and try to reset it. Why?

Because the error might be from the system’s end. There is some problem you can’t seem to track. So resetting is a good idea.