3 Fixes for Facebook Messenger Not Working on Mac

Quick Tips

• Update the Facebook Messenger app and restart it on your Mac.
• Check Facebook Messenger servers to ensure the problem is not from your end.
• If the issue persists and you can’t log in to your account, Facebook may have restricted your account.

Basic Fixes to Try

If Facebook’s Messenger is glitching on your MacBook, try the following basic fixes:

• Check your network connection. Weak or greyed-out Wi-Fi could hinder the inflow or outflow of messages.
• Facebook’s servers may be down.
• Update the application on your Mac.
• Uninstall and re-install the Facebook Messenger application.

Fix 1: Facebook Restricted Your Account

Facebook may restrict your account due to platform misuse, violation of company guidelines, hate content, and several other reasons. In that case, you can’t log into Messenger on your Mac and send messages. You must wait for Facebook to lift your account restrictions on the platform.

Fix 2: Force Quit Messenger

If Facebook Messenger still malfunctions, force quit the app and re-launch it.

Step 1: Press Command + Space to launch Spotlight Search and type Activity Monitor. In the list of processes, select Messenger. Then, click on the x symbol at the top.

Fix 3: Turn off VPN

You may encounter occasional hiccups if you use Facebook Messenger on an active VPN connection on Mac. So, tap on your VPN’s symbol from the notification bar. Then, tap Quit.

Alternative hack: If none of the tricks work, we advise using Messenger Web.