10 Ways to Fix Facebook Messenger Waiting for Network Error

Are you facing Waiting for Network Error on Facebook Messenger? Whenever you try to send messages it won’t deliver and the app would be stuck on waiting for network error. Don’t panic, follow our guide to see how to fix Facebook Messenger network issues.

Facebook Messenger is a popular messaging app that keeps us connected with friends and family all over the world. However, like any app, it can sometimes encounter issues, such as the “Waiting for Network” error, which can be quite frustrating. This error typically prevents messages from sending or receiving, disrupting your real-time communication. In this guide, we’ll delve into the causes of the “Waiting for Network” error on Facebook Messenger and provide you with effective solutions to fix it, ensuring you can stay connected without interruption. Say goodbye to waiting and hello to seamless messaging on Messenger.

Fix Messenger waiting for network error

Fix Facebook Messenger Waiting for Network Error

Solution 1: Make sure that you have Internet Access

Sometimes, when Messenger notifies you about network connectivity problem it is actually because the network that you are connected to has no internet access. You might not be aware that the cause of the error is actually an unstable network connection with poor or no internet bandwidth. Before jumping to any conclusion, it is better to make sure that the internet is working properly on your device.

Solution 2: Restart your Device

The next solution is the good old “Have you tried turning it off and on again?” Any electrical or electronic device when starts malfunctioning can be fixed with a simple restart. Similarly, if you are experiencing network connectivity issues while using Messenger, you can try to reboot your device. Simply press and hold the power button until the power menu pops up on the screen and tap on the Restart button. Once the device boots up again, check if the problem still persists or not.

Restart your phone to fix the issue

Solution 3: Clear Cache and Data for Messenger

Follow the steps given below to delete the cache files for Messenger:

1. Go to the Settings of your phone.

2. Tap on the Apps option.

3. Now select Messenger from the list of apps.

Now select Messenger from the list of apps

4. Now click on the Storage option.

Click on the Storage option | Fix Messenger waiting for network error

5. You will now see the options to clear data and clear cache. Tap on the respective buttons and the said files will be deleted.

Tap on the options to clear data and clear cache and the said files will be deleted

6. Now exit settings and try using the Messenger again and see if the problem still persists.

Also Read: 3 Ways to log out of Facebook Messenger

Solution 4: Make sure Battery Saver isn’t interfering with Messenger

Every Android device has an in-built battery saver app or feature that restricts apps from running idly in the background and thus converse power. Although it is a very useful feature that prevents the device’s battery from being drained out, it might affect the functionalities of some apps. It is possible that your battery saver is interfering with Messenger and its normal functioning. As a result, it is unable to connect to the network and keeps showing an error message. In order to make sure, either disable the battery saver temporarily or exempt Messenger from Battery saver restrictions. Follow the steps given below to see how:

1. Open Settings on your device.

2. Now tap on the Battery option.

Tap on the Battery and Performance option

3. Make sure that the toggle switch next to the power-saving mode or battery saver is disabled.

Toggle switch next to “Power saving mode” | Fix Messenger waiting for network error

4. After that, click on the Battery usage option.

Select the Battery usage option

5. Search for Messenger from the list of installed apps and tap on it.

Search for Messenger from the list of installed apps and tap on it

6. After that, open the app launch settings.

Open the app launch settings | Fix Messenger waiting for network error

7. Disable the Manage Automatically setting and then make sure to enable the toggle switches next to Auto-launch, Secondary launch, and Run in Background.

Disable the Manage Automatically setting

8. Doing so will prevent the Battery saver app to restrict the functionalities of Messenger and thus solve the connection problem.

Solution 5: Exempt Messenger from Data Saver Restrictions

1. Open the Settings on your phone.

2. Now, click on Wireless and networks option.

Click on Wireless and networks

3. After that tap on the data usage option.

Tap on Data Usage

4. Here, click on Smart Data Saver.

Click on Smart Data Saver

5. Now, under Exemptions select Installed apps and search for Messenger.

Under Exemptions select Installed apps and search for Messenger | Fix Messenger waiting for network error

6. Make sure that the toggle switch next to it is ON.

7. Once data restrictions are removed, Messenger will have unrestricted access to your data and this will solve your problem.

Solution 6: Force Stop Messenger and then Start again

1. First, open Settings on your phone.

2. Now tap on the Apps option.

3. From the list of apps look for Messenger and tap on it.

Now select Messenger from the list of apps

4. This will open the app settings for Messenger. After that, simply tap on the Force stop button.

Tap on the Force stop button | Fix FACEBOOK Messenger waiting for network error

5. Now open the app again and see if it works properly or not.

Also Read: How to Fix Facebook Messenger Problems

Solution 7: Update or Re-install Messenger

1. Go to Playstore.

2. On the top left-hand side, you will find three horizontal lines. Click on them.

3. Now click on the “My Apps and Games” option.

Click on the “My Apps and Games” option

4. Search for Facebook Messenger and check if there are any pending updates.

Search for Facebook Messenger and check if there are any pending updates

5. If yes, then click on the update button.

Click on the update button | Fix Facebook Messenger waiting for network error

6. Once the app gets updated try using it again and check if it works properly or not.

7. In case an update is not available then click on the Uninstall button instead to remove the app from your device.

8. Restart your device.

9. Now open Play Store again and download Facebook Messenger again.

10. You will have to log in again. Do that and see if it is able to connect to the internet properly or not.

Solution 8: Reset Network Settings

1. Go to the Settings of your phone.

2. Now, click on the System tab.

3. Click on the Reset button.

Click on the Reset tab

4. Now, select the Reset Network Settings.

Select the Reset Network Settings

5. You will now receive a warning as to what are the things that are going to get reset. Click on the “Reset Network Settings” option.

Select Reset network settings

6. Now, connect to the Wi-Fi network and then try to use Messenger and see if it still shows the same error message or not.

Solution 9: Update the Android Operating System

1. First, open Settings on your device.

2. Now tap on the System tab.

3. Here, select the Software update option.

Now, click on the Software update | Fix Facebook Messenger waiting for network error

4. After that tap on the Check updates option and wait while your device searches for available system updates.

Click on Check for Software Updates

5. If there is any update available then go ahead and download it.

6. Downloading and installing an update will take some time and your device automatically restart once completed.

7. Now try using Messenger and see if the problem still persists or not.

Solution 10: Switch to Messenger Lite

If none of the above methods works, then it is probably time to look for alternatives. The good news is that Messenger has a lite version available on the Play Store. It is comparatively a much smaller app and consumes fewer data. 

We hope that you find these solutions helpful and were able to use one of them to fix Messenger waiting for network error. However, if you are still facing the same problem after trying all the above-mentioned steps and you do not wish to switch to an alternate app, then you need to download and install an older APK file for Facebook Messenger.

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