Last updated: April 3, 2026
Facebook is one of the heaviest apps on any phone — it runs background processes constantly, maintains a large cache, and pushes frequent updates that sometimes introduce new bugs. When it crashes, it matters when and where it crashes: crashing at startup is different from crashing when you open a video, and crashing only on your phone (but not someone else's) points to a device-specific issue.
The good news: the vast majority of Facebook crashes are fixed by two things — clearing the cache and ensuring the app is up to date. But if those don't work, there are five more targeted fixes depending on your exact situation.
Crashes immediately on startup, every time → Bad update or corrupted install. Clear cache first (Fix 2), then reinstall (Fix 6).
Freezes while scrolling the news feed → Cache overload. See Fix 2.
Crashes when opening videos → Low RAM or storage. See Fix 4 and Fix 5.
Crashes only after a recent update → Bad update. See Fix 3.
Crashes when switching between tabs (Marketplace, Groups) → Memory issue. See Fix 4.
Older phone that's been getting worse over time → Try Facebook Lite. See Fix 7.
Why this works: Facebook releases app updates almost daily. If you're running a version even a week or two behind, there may be known crash bugs that have already been fixed in newer releases. This is especially important after major iOS or Android OS updates, which often break older app versions.
On iPhone: Open the App Store → tap your profile icon in the top right → scroll to Facebook → tap Update if available.
On Android: Open the Google Play Store → tap your profile icon → Manage apps & device → find Facebook → tap Update.
After updating, force-close Facebook and reopen it rather than just using the app that's currently running.
Why this works: Facebook accumulates a massive cache over time — video thumbnails, post previews, photos, and browsing history all pile up. This cache can grow to several gigabytes and when it gets corrupted, Facebook freezes while scrolling or crashes when loading posts.
On Android:
On iPhone: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Facebook > Offload App. This frees up the app's cached data without deleting your account settings. Then reinstall from the App Store to get a fresh copy.
Why this works: Facebook occasionally ships updates with new bugs that cause crashes on specific device models or OS versions. If Facebook worked fine before you updated it and now crashes immediately, this is the most likely cause.
First, check if Facebook has released a subsequent fix: look in the App Store or Google Play Store for a newer update that was released after the one that broke things.
On Android only — you can uninstall the update to revert to the previous version:
On iPhone, you can't roll back updates, so your options are to wait for a fix update or use the Facebook mobile website (m.facebook.com in your browser) in the meantime.
Why this works: Facebook needs free storage to create temporary files while loading posts and videos. When your phone's storage is nearly full (under 1 GB free), Facebook frequently crashes, especially when loading media-heavy content.
Why this works: Facebook runs a significant amount of background processing. After running for days without a restart, phones can run low on available RAM, causing apps to crash especially under load. A restart clears RAM and resets background processes.
On iPhone: Press and hold the side button + volume down button → drag the Power Off slider → wait 30 seconds → turn it back on.
On Android: Press and hold the power button → tap Restart. If there's no restart option, tap Power Off, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on.
After restarting, open Facebook before other apps to give it priority access to RAM.
Why this works: A fresh reinstall replaces all app files, including any that became corrupted during an interrupted update or after a crash loop. Your account data and posts are on Facebook's servers and won't be affected.
Note: if you had Facebook as a pre-installed system app on Android, you may only be able to "Disable" it rather than fully uninstall it. Disabling and re-enabling the app can still help clear corrupted data.
Why this works: Facebook Lite is a stripped-down version of the app designed for older hardware and slower connections. If the main Facebook app keeps crashing on your phone despite trying everything else, Lite is often stable on devices where the full app struggles — particularly phones with less than 3 GB RAM.
Facebook Lite is Android-only. iPhone users who need a lighter option can use m.facebook.com in Safari — add it to your home screen as a shortcut for an app-like experience without the weight of the full app.
Q: Why does Facebook crash only when I open videos?
A: Video playback requires significantly more RAM and CPU than text posts. If Facebook only crashes on videos, your phone is likely running low on available memory. Restart your phone to clear RAM, free up storage space, and close other apps before opening Facebook. If it persists, clearing the cache and updating the app usually resolves video-specific crashes.
Q: Will reinstalling Facebook delete my account or posts?
A: No. Your Facebook account, posts, photos, messages, and friends are all stored on Facebook's servers. Reinstalling only removes the app from your phone. When you log back in, everything will be exactly as you left it.
Q: Is Facebook Lite as good as the regular app?
A: Facebook Lite covers all core features — feed, posts, groups, Marketplace, and basic messaging. It's missing some features like Stories, advanced video playback, and some newer UI elements. For most people who mainly use Facebook to browse and post, Lite works well and is often more stable on older devices.
Q: Why does Facebook crash after a recent update?
A: Facebook occasionally ships buggy updates. On Android, you can uninstall updates: Settings > Apps > Facebook > three-dot menu > Uninstall Updates. On iPhone, you can't roll back updates — use the Facebook website at m.facebook.com in your browser until a fix update is released, which usually happens within a few days.
If Facebook still crashes after all these fixes, report it to Meta through the Help Center. On another device or browser, go to facebook.com/help and search "report a bug." Include your device model, OS version, and Facebook app version (found in the Facebook app: Menu > Settings > About). The Facebook Community forums at facebook.com/help/community can also help — your issue may already have a known fix posted there.