1. Why are my messages stuck on Sending (empty circle or hollow checkmark)?

This typically means the message hasn't left your phone yet. Ensure you aren't in Airplane Mode and have a strong signal. If you are on Android, check if Data Saver is restricting Messenger. Go to your device settings, find Messenger, and ensure Background Data is enabled.

2. Why are my messages sent but not showing as Delivered?

If you see a solid checkmark but not the recipient's profile photo (which indicates Read), the message has been sent from your phone but not received by theirs. The recipient may have their phone turned off, have no internet connection, or have deleted the app. In rare cases, this can indicate you have been blocked.

3. Can I use Messenger without a Facebook account?

Historically yes, but Meta (Facebook's parent company) has changed this policy. New users now generally need a Facebook account to use Messenger. However, if you have an older account that was created with just a phone number, you may still be able to use it without a full Facebook profile.

4. Why can't I make video calls on Messenger?

This usually happens because the app does not have permission to use your hardware. You must go to your phone's privacy settings and explicitly grant Messenger permission to access both your Camera and your Microphone.

Facebook Messenger Not Working on iPad: Reasons & Solutions

Messenger is a popular messaging app that allows users to send text messages, photos, videos, links, and more. Many users prefer logging into Messenger on their iPads because the larger screen makes it easier to view shared content and manage conversations. By syncing Messenger across iPhone and iPad, users can stay connected anytime and anywhere.

However, some users report problems when using Messenger on an iPad, such as the app failing to load or showing a message that it is not compatible with iPad. These issues have made Messenger not working on iPad a common concern. In this post, we will explain why Messenger not working on iPad and introduce solutions to help you fix the problem.

Part 1: Why Is My Facebook Messenger Not Working?
Part 2: How to Fix Messenger Not Working on iPad?
Part 3: FAQs about Facebook Messenger Not Working
Part 4: Conclusion

Part 1: Why Is My Facebook Messenger Not Working?

In daily life, it is not uncommon for you to find that apps fail to work. It may seem like a difficult problem to fix, but once you understand why it happens, you will realize that it is an easy fix. Before fixing your messenger, take a look at the reasons listed, which are most likely causes for Messenger not working:

01 Poor or unavailable network. When your network runs at a low speed or is unavailable, any software that needs to use the network will not load successfully.
02 iOS bugs. If there are bugs on your iPadOS, some software does not work properly due to compatibility.
03 Other system problems. System problems always appear unexpectedly at any time, and there are some hard to judge the reason for their appearance. So, system problems may also cause your Messenger on iPad not working properly.
04 Messenger server unavailable. When the server of the software is down, all the functions of the software cannot be used properly. You can find out if Messenger is down by going to its official social media accounts or through a notice on its official website.

Part 2: How to Fix Messenger Not Working on iPad?

Now that you understand the possible reasons why Messenger is not working on your iPad, it's time to look at how to fix the problem. Below, we'll walk you through the most effective methods to get Messenger running normally again.

Method 1: Check Your Network

Network issues can prevent Messenger from loading properly or cause it to become temporarily unavailable. Before trying other solutions, make sure your network connection is working correctly.

1. Open several other apps on your iPad to see if they work normally.
2. If other apps work normally, the problem is likely not caused by your network. If all apps fail to load or crash, there is a high probability that the issue is related to your network connection.
3. You can try switching to a different network (for example, from Wi-Fi to mobile data). Alternatively, turn on Airplane Mode, wait for about 30 seconds, and then turn it off.
4. After resetting the network, open Messenger again to check whether the issue has been resolved. This method can fix certain network configuration errors.

check ipad network

Method 2: Delete & Reinstall Messenger

In some cases, incompatible plugins or installation issues can cause configuration errors, which may prevent Messenger from working properly on your iPad. Reinstalling the app can help fix these issues.

1. Press and hold the Messenger icon on your Home Screen, then remove the app from your iPad.
2. Open the App Store, search for Messenger, and download it again.
3. After reinstalling, open Messenger to see if it is working normally.

delete messenger on home screen and download again

Method 3: Restart or Force Restart iPad

According to Apple's manual, it is necessary to reboot your device periodically because rebooting refreshes your system and fixes some app and program malfunctions. By restarting your iPad, all applications will be refreshed and restarted, and Messenger can be refreshed and fixed in a reboot if it has previously encountered running errors. So, turn your iPad off and then on again. Here's how:

For iPads with Face ID:

1. Press and hold either the Top button (also known as the Power or Sleep/Wake button) and either of the Volume buttons until the power off slider appears.
2. Drag the slider to turn off your iPad.
3. Once the device is off, press and hold the Top button again until you see the Apple logo.

restart ipad

For iPads with a Home Button:

1. Press and hold the Top (or Side) button until the power off slider appears.
2. Drag the slider to turn off your iPad.
3. Once the device is off, press and hold the Top (or Side) button again until you see the Apple logo.

restart ipad

If a simple reboot doesn't solve the problem of messenger not opening, then try force restarting your iPad. Here's how:

For iPads with Face ID:

1. Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
2. Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
3. Press and hold the Top button (also known as the Power or Sleep/Wake button) until the Apple logo appears.
4. Release the Top button once you see the Apple logo.

For iPads with a Home Button:

1. Press and hold both the Home button and the Top (or Side) button at the same time.
2. Keep holding both buttons until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
3. Release both buttons once you see the Apple logo.

Method 4: Update iPadOS

Updating the iPadOS version is also an official way to fix system errors. If your Messenger is not working because of compatibility failure, you need to update your iPadOS version to the latest version and then run Messenger again. Apple always releases new iPadOS versions to fix compatibility issues among apps and devices. Follow the steps below to update your iPad system to the latest one.

1. Tap Settings on your iPad.
2. Go General option.
3. Tap Software Update. And click Update Now button to update your iPadOS to the latest version.

update ios version

Method 5: Fix Facebook Messenger Not Working on iPad via TunesKit iOS System Recovery

You might encounter some tough system issues, so all your attempts at those solutions are in vain. To get rid of Messenger on iPad not working, you should use a third-party tool to fix it. You should consider its security, price, success rate and operations when you select a repair tool. If you shop around, the price and service of TunesKit iOS System Recovery is remarkable. It is a professional tool designed to deal with different types of iOS issues on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

People who have the same issue as you have successfully fixed their devices using this tool. Furthermore, not only for simple system issues, it allows users to fix more than 150 tough iOS system issues with several easy steps, including fast charging not working, Facebook app not working, frozen screen on iPad, disconnecting from network randomly, failing to update iOS version, etc. The latest iOS version and iPhone series are compatible with TunesKit iOS System Recovery.

Fix Facebook Messenger Not Working on iPad

With TunesKit iOS System Recovery, you can quickly repair iPad system issues and get Facebook Messenger back to normal—no data loss, no hassle.

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Next, you will see three steps to totally fix your broken Messenger using TunesKit iOS System Recovery.

Step 1: Connect Your iPad

Go Download TunesKit and launch it, and you should connect your iPad to the PC using a USB cable. Once you start to repair your iPad system, you should pay attention to its connection, because the process will end if you do not connect to your iPad properly. Next, click iOS System Repair button to begin fixing Messenger not working on iPad.

connect ipad to PC

Step 2: Choose Repair Type

Click the Start button. Go Standard Repair, which will not cause data loss, on the contrary, Deep Repair will erase all the data, but a deep repair on your system. If the former fails to work, back up your data and choose the latter.

select standard mode

Step 3: Start to Repair

Check your iPad's information, which is detected automatically. Next, go Download to install the firmware package, and wait for its verification. After that, click Repair button to repair your iPad system, only a few minutes spent.

start to fix messenger on ipad not working

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Method 6: Free up iPad Storage

App running requires a certain amount of memory, especially social apps, and you need to provide them with some memory space because viewing pictures, videos and links will take up some storage space on your iPad. If you don't have enough memory for Messenger to run, it won't load any messages. So you need to follow the tips below to check if your iPad has enough memory to support Messenger running.

1. Go to Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap General option.
3. Select iPad Storage. If your iPad storage is nearly full, delete or offload unnecessary app.

check ipad storage

Part 3: FAQs about Facebook Messenger Not Working

1. Why are my messages stuck on "Sending" (empty circle or hollow checkmark)?
This typically means the message hasn't left your phone yet. Ensure you aren't in "Airplane Mode" and have a strong signal. If you are on Android, check if "Data Saver" is restricting Messenger. Go to your device settings, find Messenger, and ensure "Background Data" is enabled.
2. Why are my messages sent but not showing as "Delivered"?
If you see a solid checkmark but not the recipient's profile photo (which indicates "Read"), the message has been sent from your phone but not received by theirs. The recipient may have their phone turned off, have no internet connection, or have deleted the app. In rare cases, this can indicate you have been blocked.
3. Can I use Messenger without a Facebook account?
Historically yes, but Meta (Facebook's parent company) has changed this policy. New users now generally need a Facebook account to use Messenger. However, if you have an older account that was created with just a phone number, you may still be able to use it without a full Facebook profile.
4. Why can't I make video calls on Messenger?
This usually happens because the app does not have permission to use your hardware. You must go to your phone's privacy settings and explicitly grant Messenger permission to access both your Camera and your Microphone.

Part 4: Conclusion

Messenger not working on iPad is a common issue. By learning its cause, you can find the appropriate solution or choose the reliable repair tool TunesKit iOS System Recovery to fix your iPad system. Hopefully all of your iPad and Messenger glitches can be completely fixed with this article.

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