Facebook Reels Not Loading? Try These 9 Fixes

Facebook Reels may stop loading, keep buffering, show a blank screen, fail to refresh, or refuse to play even though other parts of Facebook work.

The fastest way to find the cause is to test another Reel, another internet connection, and Facebook in a browser before changing anything major on your phone.

Quick Fix

Try these in order:

1. Open 2–3 different Facebook Reels.
2. Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
3. Close Facebook completely and reopen it.
4. Restart your phone.
5. Update Facebook.
6. Clear Facebook’s cache on Android.
7. Test Facebook in Chrome or Safari.
8. Reinstall Facebook if the problem is app-specific.
9. If Reels fail everywhere, report the problem instead of repeatedly resetting your phone.

You do not need to factory reset your phone just because Facebook Reels are not loading.

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First: Identify What Is Actually Failing

The exact symptom can tell you which fix to try.

What happens	Most useful test
All Reels keep buffering	Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data
Reels work on Wi-Fi but not mobile data	Test another video app on mobile data
Reels work in a browser but not the Facebook app	Update, clear cache, or reinstall the app
Only one Reel will not play	Try several other Reels
Reels show a blank or black screen	Restart and update Facebook
Reels are not refreshing	Close Facebook and test another connection
Facebook crashes when opening Reels	Update Facebook and your phone
Reels fail on another phone too	Check whether the problem follows your account
Nothing loads on Facebook or other apps	Troubleshoot the internet connection first

This distinction matters because reinstalling Facebook will not fix an individual Reel that has been removed or made unavailable.

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1. Switch Between Wi-Fi and Mobile Data

This is the first test I recommend because it can quickly tell you whether the problem is specific to your internet connection.

If you are using Wi-Fi

1. Turn off Wi-Fi.
2. Enable mobile data.
3. Open Facebook.
4. Try several Reels.

If you are using mobile data

1. Turn off mobile data temporarily.
2. Connect to a reliable Wi-Fi network.
3. Open Facebook.
4. Test several Reels.

Also try another video app on the same connection.

What the result means

• Reels work on mobile data but not Wi-Fi:
• The Wi-Fi connection, router, DNS configuration, filtering, or network itself may be involved.
• Reels work on Wi-Fi but not mobile data:
• The mobile-data connection, signal, carrier configuration, or Facebook’s mobile-data access may be involved.
• Other video apps also fail:
• Focus on the internet connection rather than repeatedly reinstalling Facebook.
• Everything else works but Facebook Reels do not:
• Continue with the Facebook-specific fixes below.

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2. Close Facebook Completely and Open It Again

If Reels suddenly stopped loading while Facebook was already open, start here.

Android and iPhone

1. Open the recent-apps/app-switcher screen.
2. Find Facebook.
3. Swipe Facebook away to close it.
4. Open Facebook again.
5. Try several Reels.

If they still do not load, restart your phone and test again.

Closing and reopening the app is a low-risk troubleshooting step recommended for problems where an app is not behaving normally.

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3. Restart Your Phone

A normal restart is worth trying before changing Facebook’s stored data.

Android

Restart the phone normally, wait for it to reconnect to the internet, then open Facebook.

iPhone

Restart the iPhone normally, wait for the network connection to return, then open Facebook.

After restarting, test several different Reels.

If one Reel works and another does not, the problem may be with the individual Reel rather than your phone.

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4. Update Facebook

An outdated Facebook installation can cause compatibility or stability problems.

Android

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Search for Facebook.
3. Open the official Facebook app listing.
4. Tap Update if an update is available.
5. Reopen Facebook.
6. Test several Reels.

iPhone

1. Open the App Store.
2. Tap your profile icon.
3. Look for Facebook in the available updates.
4. Update Facebook if an update is available.
5. Open Facebook again.
6. Test Reels.

Also check whether your phone has a pending operating-system update.

If Facebook is already fully updated, move to the next step instead of repeatedly checking for the same update.

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5. Clear Facebook Cache on Android

This step applies to Android only.

It is particularly useful when:

• Other Facebook features work normally.
• Reels work in a browser.
• Reels do not work in the Facebook app.
• Restarting and updating did not help.

Clear the Facebook cache

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps or App management.
3. Select Facebook.
4. Tap Storage or Storage & cache.
5. Tap Clear cache.
6. Open Facebook.
7. Test several Reels.

Do not choose Clear storage or Clear data at this stage.

Android’s menu names vary between Samsung, Pixel, Xiaomi, Motorola, OnePlus, and other phones.

What clearing the cache does

It removes temporary Facebook app files.

If Reels start working afterward, those temporary files may have contributed to the problem.

It does not prove that cache corruption was the original cause.

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6. Check Whether Facebook Reels Work in a Browser

This is one of the most useful diagnostic tests because it separates the Facebook app from the Facebook service/account.

Open Facebook in:

• Chrome on Android
• Safari on iPhone
• Another mobile browser

Sign in to the same Facebook account and try several Reels.

If Reels work in the browser but not the app

The Facebook app installation or app-specific settings become more likely causes.

Continue with the app troubleshooting steps.

If Reels fail in both the app and browser

The problem may involve the connection, account, device, or Facebook itself.

Test another device if possible.

If Reels work on another phone

The problem is more likely specific to the original phone or its Facebook installation.

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7. Facebook Reels Keep Buffering or Showing a Blank Screen

If Reels open but never finish loading, show a spinning circle, or display a blank/black video area, check these first:

1. Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
2. Test another Reel.
3. Close and reopen Facebook.
4. Restart the phone.
5. Update Facebook.
6. Clear the Facebook cache on Android.
7. Test Facebook in a browser.

Avoid assuming that a blank Reel automatically means your phone is damaged.

A temporary Facebook-side problem can produce similar symptoms.

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8. Facebook Reels Are Not Refreshing

If Reels load but the feed appears stuck, old, or does not refresh:

1. Close Facebook completely.
2. Reopen the app.
3. Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
4. Try opening several Reels manually.
5. Update Facebook.
6. Clear the cache on Android.
7. Test Facebook in a browser.

If the browser also shows the same problem, repeatedly clearing the app cache is unlikely to be useful.

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9. Reinstall Facebook

Reinstalling should be a later step, not the first thing you try.

Consider reinstalling when:

• Several Reels fail.
• Your internet connection works.
• Facebook is already updated.
• Reels work in a browser or on another device.
• Restarting and clearing the Android cache did not help.

Before reinstalling

Make sure you know your Facebook login information.

Also check for anything that exists only inside the app, such as unpublished drafts.

Android

1. Uninstall Facebook.
2. Restart the phone.
3. Open the Google Play Store.
4. Install the official Facebook app again.
5. Sign in.
6. Test several Reels.

iPhone

1. Remove the Facebook app.
2. Restart the iPhone.
3. Open the App Store.
4. Install Facebook again.
5. Sign in.
6. Test several Reels.

If Reels still fail after a fresh installation, repeatedly reinstalling the app is unlikely to solve the underlying problem.

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What If Only One Facebook Reel Will Not Load?

If other Reels work normally but one specific Reel does not play, do not immediately clear the cache or reinstall Facebook.

The individual Reel may be:

• Removed
• Private
• Restricted
• Unavailable in your location
• No longer available to your account
• Temporarily unavailable

Open several unrelated Reels.

If they play normally, your phone and Facebook app are probably not the main problem.

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What If Facebook Reels Do Not Work on Any Device?

This is an important test.

If the same Facebook account cannot load Reels:

• In the Facebook app
• In a mobile browser
• On another phone

then repeatedly changing settings on your original phone is unlikely to help.

An account-side or Facebook-side problem becomes more plausible.

At that point, report the problem through Facebook’s Help and Support options and include:

• Your phone model
• Android or iOS version
• Facebook app version
• What happens when you open Reels
• Whether Reels work in a browser
• Whether another account works on the same phone
• A screenshot or screen recording if possible

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Don’t factory reset your phone: A Facebook Reels problem does not justify a factory reset.
• Don’t clear Facebook data immediately: On Android, try Clear cache before Clear storage/Clear data.
• Don’t reinstall Facebook repeatedly: If the same account fails on multiple devices, reinstalling the app over and over is unlikely to fix an account or service-side problem.
• Don’t troubleshoot one Reel as if the entire app is broken: Always test several different Reels.
• Don’t install unofficial Facebook APKs: Use the official app store.
• Don’t assume the cache is the cause: Clearing cache is a troubleshooting test, not proof of what caused the problem.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Related Topics:

• Facebook Not Working on Phone
• Facebook Marketplace Not Working
• Facebook Comments Not Showing
• Facebook Session Expired
• Facebook Notifications Not Working

How This Guide Was Verified

Last technically checked:
July 26, 2026

Research method:
The existing article was reviewed against current troubleshooting guidance from Meta, Google Android Help, and Apple Support. The instructions were reordered so that safe connection and app checks appear before cache clearing or reinstallation.

Physically tested:
No documentation reviewed.

Applies to:
The official Facebook app on supported Android phones and iPhones. Menu names and available options may differ by phone manufacturer, operating-system version, region, account, and Facebook app version.

Important limitation:
Meta Help Center pages were located during research, but direct page access later became temporarily login-gated or blocked. Those pages are therefore not presented as independently reverified clean links in this output.

Data-loss risk:
Conditional. Network tests, restarting, updating, and clearing Android cache are non-destructive. Reinstalling Facebook may remove locally stored app information or unpublished drafts.

Bottom Line

If Facebook Reels are not loading, do not start by reinstalling Facebook.

Start with this sequence:

Test another Reel → switch networks → reopen Facebook → restart phone → update Facebook → clear Android cache → test browser → reinstall only if necessary.

If Reels fail across the app, browser, and another device, stop repeatedly resetting the phone and report the problem to Facebook.

The goal is to identify whether the problem is coming from the connection, Facebook app, phone, account, individual Reel, or Facebook’s service before making disruptive changes.