Why does messenger keep stopping

Are you experiencing issues with your Messenger app crashing or freezing? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. In this article, we will explore the reasons why Messenger keeps stopping and provide step-by-step solutions to fix these issues. Keep reading to uncover the secrets to a smooth Messenger experience!

Common Reasons Behind Messenger Crashes

Outdated App Version

One of the primary reasons for the Messenger app crashes is using an outdated version of the app. Developers regularly update apps to improve performance, fix bugs, and add new features. Running an older version may cause compatibility issues, leading to crashes or freezes.

Insufficient Storage Space

Another possible reason for Messenger stopping is insufficient storage space on your device. When your device is low on storage, it may struggle to allocate resources for smooth app functioning, causing the app to crash or freeze.

Overloaded Cache

An overloaded cache can also cause Messenger to stop unexpectedly. Cache files are created to speed up app performance, but over time, they can accumulate and take up considerable space. Excessive cache files can lead to performance issues and crashes.

How to Fix Messenger Crashes and Freezes?

Fix 1: Update Messenger to the Latest Version in Detail

Updating Messenger to the latest version can resolve many issues, including crashes and freezes. Here’s a detailed explanation of how to update the app on both Android and iOS devices.

For Android Users:

• Unlock your device and open the Google Play Store app.
• In the top-left corner of the screen, tap on the three horizontal lines (hamburger icon) to open the menu.
• Tap on “My apps & games” to view the list of installed apps.
• Find Messenger in the “Updates” tab. If you don’t see Messenger listed, it means the app is already up-to-date.
• Tap on the “Update” button next to Messenger to start downloading and installing the latest version. You may need to accept any new permissions required by the update.

For iOS Users:

• Unlock your iPhone or iPad and open the App Store app.
• Tap on your profile icon located in the top-right corner of the screen.
• Scroll down to the “Upcoming Automatic Updates” or “Available Updates” section.
• Find Messenger in the list. If you don’t see Messenger listed, it means the app is already up-to-date.
• Tap on the “Update” button next to Messenger to start downloading and installing the latest version. You may need to accept any new permissions required by the update.
• After updating Messenger, check if the crashing issue persists. If the problem continues, move on to the next fix.

Messenger crashes and freezes can be frustrating, but with the right troubleshooting steps, you can quickly resolve these issues and enjoy a seamless chatting experience. Remember to keep the app updated, clear cache regularly, and maintain sufficient storage space on your device to prevent such problems in the future. Don’t hesitate to seek assistance from your device manufacturer’s support team if necessary. Happy messaging!

Fix 2: Free Up Storage Space on Your Device

Insufficient storage space on your device may cause Messenger and other apps to crash or freeze. Here are the steps to free up storage space on both Android and iOS devices:

For Android Users:

1. Open the ‘Settings’ app on your device.
2. Scroll down and tap on ‘Storage’ or ‘Device Care’ (depending on your device).
3. Check your available storage space. If it’s running low, follow the next steps to free up space.
4. Tap on ‘Clean Now’ or ‘Free Up Space’ to remove temporary files, cached data, and unnecessary files.
5. To remove larger files, like photos and videos, use the ‘Files’ app or a file manager app to manually delete or move them to external storage or cloud storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox.
6. Uninstall unused apps by going to ‘Settings’ > ‘Apps’ or ‘Applications,’ selecting the app, and tapping ‘Uninstall.’

For iOS Users:

1. Open the ‘Settings’ app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap on ‘General,’ then ‘iPhone Storage’ or ‘iPad Storage.’
3. Check your available storage space. If it’s running low, follow the next steps to free up space.
4. The storage menu will display recommendations for freeing up space, such as offloading unused apps, reviewing large attachments in Messages, or emptying the ‘Recently Deleted’ album in Photos.
5. Delete or move large files, like photos and videos, to external storage or cloud storage services like iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox.
6. Uninstall unused apps by tapping and holding the app icon on the home screen, selecting ‘Remove App,’ and then ‘Delete App.’

After freeing up storage space, check if the Messenger crashing issue persists. If the problem continues, move on to the next fix.

Fix 3: Clear Messenger Cache

Clearing the Messenger cache can help resolve performance issues, including crashes and freezes. Here’s how to clear the Messenger cache on both Android and iOS devices:

For Android Users:

1. Open the ‘Settings’ app on your device.
2. Scroll down and tap on ‘Apps’ or ‘Applications’ (depending on your device).
3. Find and tap on ‘Messenger’ in the list of apps.
4. Tap on ‘Storage’ or ‘Storage & Cache.’
5. Tap on the ‘Clear Cache’ button. This will delete the temporary cache files associated with the Messenger app.

Note: Clearing cache will not delete your messages or chat history.

For iOS Users:

Unfortunately, iOS does not provide a direct option to clear cache for individual apps like Messenger. However, you can try the following workaround:

1. Open the ‘Settings’ app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Scroll down and tap on ‘General,’ then ‘iPhone Storage’ or ‘iPad Storage.’
3. Find and tap on ‘Messenger’ in the list of apps.
4. Check the ‘Documents & Data’ size. If it’s significantly large, you may want to delete and reinstall the app to clear its cache.
5. To delete the app, tap ‘Delete App,’ then confirm the action. This will remove the app along with its data.
6. Restart your device.
7. Open the App Store, search for ‘Messenger,’ and reinstall the app.

Note: Deleting and reinstalling Messenger on iOS may delete your chat history. Make sure to back up important conversations before proceeding.

After clearing the Messenger cache, check if the crashing issue persists. If the problem continues, move on to the next fix.

Fix 4: Check for Device or System Updates

Outdated device software or system updates could cause compatibility issues with the Messenger app, leading to crashes and freezes. Ensuring your device’s software is up-to-date can help resolve these issues. Follow the steps below to check for device or system updates on both Android and iOS devices:

For Android Users:

1. Open the ‘Settings’ app on your device.
2. Scroll down and tap on ‘System’ or ‘Software Update’ (depending on your device).
3. Tap on ‘Update Center’ or ‘Check for Updates.’ Your device will search for available updates.
4. If an update is available, tap on ‘Download’ or ‘Install Now.’ Make sure your device is connected to Wi-Fi and has sufficient battery before proceeding with the update.

For iOS Users:

1. Open the ‘Settings’ app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap on ‘General,’ then ‘Software Update.’
3. Your device will check for available updates. If an update is available, tap on ‘Download and Install.’ You may be prompted to connect to Wi-Fi and ensure your device has sufficient battery life before proceeding with the update.

After updating your device’s software, check if the Messenger crashing issue persists. If the problem continues, consider trying the other fixes provided in this article or seeking assistance from your device manufacturer’s support team.

Fix 5: Reset App Preferences

Resetting app preferences can help fix issues with default settings, permissions, or background data restrictions that might be causing Messenger to crash or freeze. Here’s how to reset app preferences on both Android and iOS devices:

For Android Users:

1. Open the ‘Settings’ app on your device.
2. Scroll down and tap on ‘Apps’ or ‘Applications’ (depending on your device).
3. Tap on the three vertical dots in the top-right corner and select ‘Reset app preferences.’ This action will reset app permissions, disabled apps, background data restrictions, and notification settings.
4. A confirmation prompt will appear. Tap on ‘Reset Apps’ to proceed. This will not delete your app data or personal information.

For iOS Users:

Resetting app preferences on iOS requires individually adjusting settings for each app. To reset settings for Messenger:

1. Open the ‘Settings’ app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Scroll down and tap on ‘Messenger.’
3. Review the settings for Notifications, Background App Refresh, and Cellular Data, and adjust them as needed. Ensure Messenger has the required permissions and settings to function correctly.

After resetting app preferences, check if the Messenger crashing issue persists. If the problem continues, consider trying the other fixes provided in this article or seeking assistance from your device manufacturer’s support team.

Fix 6: Force Stop and Restart Messenger

Force stopping and restarting Messenger can help resolve temporary issues that might be causing the app to crash or freeze. Here’s how to force stop and restart Messenger on both Android and iOS devices:

For Android Users:

1. Open the ‘Settings’ app on your device.
2. Scroll down and tap on ‘Apps’ or ‘Applications’ (depending on your device).
3. Find and tap on ‘Messenger’ in the list of apps.
4. Tap on the ‘Force Stop’ button. A warning message will appear, stating that force-stopping the app might cause it to misbehave. Proceed by tapping ‘OK.’
5. Restart your device.
6. After your device has restarted, open the Messenger app and check if the crashing issue persists.

For iOS Users:

1. To force close the Messenger app, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle of the screen to access the App Switcher. On iPhone X and later, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause to access the App Switcher.
2. Find the Messenger app in the App Switcher, then swipe it off the top of the screen to close it.
3. Restart your iPhone or iPad by pressing and holding the power button (or the power button and volume up button on iPhone X and later) until the ‘Slide to Power Off’ slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off your device. After your device turns off, press and hold the power button (or the power button and volume up button on iPhone X and later) to turn it back on.
4. Once your device has restarted, open the Messenger app and check if the crashing issue persists.

If the problem continues, consider trying the other fixes provided in this article or seeking assistance from your device manufacturer’s support team.

Fix 7: Revert to an Older Version of Messenger

If you’ve recently updated Messenger and started experiencing crashes and freezes, it’s possible that the latest version of the app is causing issues on your device. Reverting to an older version of Messenger could resolve these problems. Here’s how to downgrade Messenger on both Android and iOS devices:

For Android Users:

1. Uninstall the current version of Messenger by going to ‘Settings’ > ‘Apps’ or ‘Applications,’ selecting the app, and tapping ‘Uninstall.’
2. Download the APK file for an older version of Messenger from a reliable source like APKMirror or APKPure.
3. Before installing the APK file, go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Security’ (or ‘Settings’ > ‘Apps & notifications’ > ‘Advanced’ > ‘Special app access’ > ‘Install unknown apps’ on some devices) and enable the ‘Unknown sources’ option.
4. Locate the downloaded APK file using a file manager app and tap on it to begin the installation process.
5. After installation, open the Messenger app and check if the crashing issue persists.

For iOS Users:

Downgrading apps on iOS is more complex and may require a jailbroken device or third-party tools like iTunes or iMazing. Proceed at your own risk, as downgrading apps on iOS can potentially cause data loss or other issues.

1. Uninstall the current version of Messenger by tapping and holding the app icon on the home screen, selecting ‘Remove App,’ and then ‘Delete App.’
2. Using iTunes or iMazing, find an older version of the Messenger app in your app library or download it from a trusted source.
3. Connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer and sync the older version of Messenger to your device.
4. After the sync is complete, disconnect your device from the computer and open the Messenger app to check if the crashing issue persists.

Note: Reverting to an older version of Messenger may cause you to lose access to some features or experience compatibility issues with newer updates. This fix should be considered a temporary solution, and it’s recommended to update to the latest version once any issues have been resolved.

If the problem continues, consider trying the other fixes provided in this article or seeking assistance from your device manufacturer’s support team.

Fix 8: Check for Conflicting Apps or Malware

Sometimes, other apps or malware on your device can cause conflicts with Messenger, leading to crashes and freezes. Identifying and addressing these conflicts can help resolve the issue. Here’s how to check for conflicting apps or malware on both Android and iOS devices:

For Android Users:

1. Restart your device in Safe Mode to disable all third-party apps temporarily. To do this, press and hold the power button until the power menu appears. Tap and hold the ‘Power off’ option until the ‘Reboot to Safe Mode’ prompt appears. Tap ‘OK’ to confirm.
2. Once your device has restarted in Safe Mode, open the Messenger app and check if the crashing issue persists. If the problem is resolved, it indicates that a third-party app is causing the conflict.
3. Restart your device normally to exit Safe Mode. Uninstall any recently installed or updated apps that may be causing the issue. You can also use an antivirus app to scan your device for malware.
4. After uninstalling potentially conflicting apps or removing malware, check if the Messenger crashing issue persists.

For iOS Users:

1. Review recently installed or updated apps on your device. If you suspect that an app may be causing a conflict with Messenger, uninstall it by tapping and holding the app icon on the home screen, selecting ‘Remove App,’ and then ‘Delete App.’
2. Restart your iPhone or iPad to clear any lingering conflicts.
3. Open the Messenger app and check if the crashing issue persists.
4. If you’re still experiencing issues, consider scanning your device for malware using a reputable antivirus app.

If the problem continues, consider trying the other fixes provided in this article or seeking assistance from your device manufacturer’s support team.

Conclusion

Resolving Messenger crashes and freezes involves a combination of troubleshooting steps, such as updating the app, clearing the cache, freeing up storage space, checking for device updates, resetting app preferences, force stopping and restarting the app, reverting to an older version, and addressing conflicting apps or malware. By following these guidelines, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable messaging experience, staying connected with friends and family without any interruptions.

FAQs