Why Does Facebook Say Something Went Wrong? Fixes in Order

It's one of the vaguest messages on the internet: Something went wrong, please try again, and not a word about what. Facebook shows it when a page, a post, a button or a login won't do what it should, and the real reason can be anything from a patchy connection to a feature that hasn't reached your account yet. I've gone through Facebook's own troubleshooting articles so you don't have to, and put the fixes in the order I'd try them. If you manage a Page for your business, there's a short section for you too, because this message always seems to turn up when you're in a hurry.

What Facebook means when it says something went wrong

The message is a catch-all. Facebook's troubleshooting article is written for exactly this situation: when something isn't working correctly on Facebook, such as content not appearing or a selection not loading. It doesn't give a list of codes, and neither will I, because I'd be making them up. What it does give is a set of steps per device and a short list of possible causes, covered below.

The causes Facebook's help pages name for something going wrong

• A problem with your connection. The article tells people on phones to make sure they're on a reliable data or Wi-Fi network.
• An out-of-date app. It says to update the Facebook or Facebook Lite app.
• A problem with the browser or the page itself, which is why it suggests refreshing, closing and reopening, clearing the cache and trying a different browser.
• Settings that you or someone else set up, which can stop something loading as expected.
• A feature that isn't available to everyone yet.
• Being blocked from doing something, such as posting, commenting or sharing.
• A bug or broken feature on Facebook's side, which you can report.

What to try on your phone when Facebook says something went wrong

Facebook's article gives the same basic list for iPhone, iPad and Android. In the order I'd go:

1. Close the Facebook app and reopen it.
2. Make sure you're connected to a reliable data or Wi-Fi network.
3. Update the Facebook (or Facebook Lite) app. If the download struggles, the article says to check your internet connection and, for best results, connect to Wi-Fi first.
4. Restart your device.

What to try on a computer when Facebook says something went wrong

1. Refresh the page.
2. Close the page and reopen it.
3. Clear your cache by going to your browser settings.
4. Try again with a different browser, for example Firefox if you're on Chrome.
5. Restart your computer.

What to try in a mobile browser when Facebook says something went wrong

If you use Facebook in your phone's browser rather than the app, the article's list is a little different: refresh the page, close it and reopen it, clear your cache (it has separate instructions for iPhone or iPad and for Android), try a different browser, and restart your device. Menus vary by device and by version, so look for the browser's own settings if the wording differs.

What to try when Messenger says something went wrong

Messenger has its own help article for trouble sending. It suggests updating the app, connecting to a reliable Wi-Fi network, making sure your device has enough storage, and closing the app and restarting your device. It also asks you to check that the person you're replying to hasn't deactivated or deleted their account, that you haven't blocked each other and, in a group chat, that other members haven't left. It lists some reasons you can't send: you sent a lot of messages recently, your messages went against Community Standards, or there are problems with your app, device or internet. If that last block applies, Facebook says it's temporary.

When something went wrong is not a Facebook fault at all

If only one thing won't load, it may be a setting rather than a fault. A post you can't open might have been shared with a small group, which I've covered in my guide to the content isn't available message. If pictures are the only thing failing, my guide to Facebook pictures that won't load is the better place to look. And if the error appears at login, Facebook's article says there are separate steps for trouble logging in or if you think you've been hacked. I've covered the recovery side in my guide to recovering a hacked Facebook account.

Something went wrong on Facebook for Page admins and small businesses

The panic version of this error is when it appears while you're scheduling a post, replying to a customer or checking a Page. A few habits keep it from costing you time. Don't keep retrying the same button a dozen times, because that rarely helps and can make a duplicate. Work through the list above once, then move to a different device or browser so you're not stuck. If the Page is how customers reach you, tell them politely where else to find you while you sort it out. And keep a note of what you were doing when the error appeared, because it makes a report far more useful to Facebook.

How to report a Facebook something went wrong error

Facebook's article says that if you're still experiencing an issue after trying these suggestions, it could be a bug or broken feature, and you can report it. The way depends on your device:

• iPhone or Android: shake your phone, then follow the on-screen instructions.
• Computer or iPad: go to Help and support and select Report a problem.
• Mobile browser: tap Report a problem.

Facebook's separate help article on reporting that something isn't working says to log in on a computer, click your profile picture at the top right, select Help and support and then Report a problem. It adds that giving details, such as a screenshot and a description, helps them find the problem.

When to stop trying and wait

If you've been through the lists above and the error is still there, stop. Repeating the same steps won't change anything, and trying lots of random fixes from forums can make things worse. Report it using the steps above, then leave it a while and try again. I wouldn't use any app, extension or tool that promises to fix Facebook errors. They're not in Facebook's help pages, and some are designed to get at your login details.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Facebook say something went wrong?

Facebook's troubleshooting article doesn't give a single cause. It lists connection problems, an out-of-date app, browser or page problems, settings, a feature that isn't available to everyone yet and bugs.

How do I fix something went wrong on the Facebook app?

Close and reopen the app, check your data or Wi-Fi connection, update the Facebook app and restart your device, according to Facebook's help.

How do I fix it on a computer?

Refresh the page, close and reopen it, clear your cache, try a different browser and restart your computer.

Does the error mean my account has been hacked?

Not necessarily. Facebook's help treats login and hacking problems separately, with their own steps. If you think you've been hacked, follow those instead.

How do I report the error to Facebook?

On iPhone or Android shake your phone and follow the instructions. On a computer or iPad go to Help and support and select Report a problem.