How to fix Facebook Messenger that keeps crashing on Samsung Galaxy S9 (easy steps)
Facebook comes pre-installed on your Samsung Galaxy S9 but its Messenger is not. Technically, both are third-party apps but the difference is that the main app, which is Facebook, is embedded in the firmware and thus, can’t be uninstalled even if you wish to do so. Messenger, however, can be uninstalled at will because in the first place, you will download it from the Play Store to be able to enjoy Facebook’s instant messaging feature. The point is if the problem is with the latter, you can easily fix it but if it’s with the former, well, you can still fix it but not as easy as.
In this post, I will share with you the solution that we’ve always been using for app-related issues. We will try to determine if the problem is with the Messenger only and fix it if it is but then we might have to do something for the Facebook app itself. If you’re one of the owners of the Galaxy S9 and are currently bugged by a similar problem, continue reading as this post may help you fix it one way or another.
Before we move on to our guide, if you have other issues with your device make sure you visit our Galaxy S9 troubleshooting page for we have already addressed some of the most common issues with this device. Find problems that are similar with yours and use the solutions we suggested. If you still need our help after that, then fill up our questionnaire and hit submit to contact us.
How to fix Galaxy S9 with Facebook app that keeps crashing
The following solutions are effective in addressing problems caused by apps. Try to do each one of them until the problem is fixed. Rest assured that an issue with either Facebook or Messenger is a minor one and you don’t need a technician or pay someone to fix it. So, here’s what you should do about it…
First solution: Reboot your phone
Is this the first time that Messenger crashed? If the answer is yes then a reboot might be able to fix it as more often apps crash due to minor glitch in the system or the app itself. Glitches can easily be fixed by a reboot because they’re temporary. During a reboot, the phone reloads all its apps and services so if the problem is with them, then you should be able to use Messenger without a hitch after this. So, hit that power key and restart your Galaxy S9.
However, if the problem isn’t fixed after the restart, try doing the forced reboot procedure that simulates battery pull and refreshes your phone’s memory and reloads all necessary services and core functions. To do this, press and hold the volume down and the power keys at the same time for 10 seconds or until the device restarts.
If Messenger still crashes after this, then move on to the next solution.
Second solution: Reset Messenger / Facebook
By reset I mean clearing the cache and data of the Messenger and probably Facebook. At this point, we don’t know the reason why the messenger is crashing. So, you better reset Messenger first and then use it to know if the problem is fixed or not. If it persists, go ahead and reset Facebook and then try triggering the problem again. Here’s how you reset Messenger and Facebook:
- From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
- Tap Settings > Apps.
- Find and tap Messenger / Facebook.
- Tap Storage.
- Tap Clear cache.
- Tap Clear data and then tap OK.
- Reboot your phone.
If the problem continues after doing this, then the next solution has a higher probability of fixing it.
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Third solution: Uninstall and reinstall Messenger
Usually, I would recommend updating the app that has a problem but in this case, I think it would be a lot better to just uninstall Messenger and remove its association with the services and apps that uses it. Here’s how you get rid of Messenger from your Galaxy S9:
- From the Home screen, swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
- Tap Settings > Apps.
- Find and tap Messenger.
- Tap Uninstall.
- Tap Uninstall again to confirm.
Now, open the Play Store and search for Messenger and install it. Open the app once installation is complete and if the problem remains, move on to the next step. This will make sure you have the latest version of Messenger in your phone. So, open it and try to login. If it still crashes, lags, freezes or shows and error, then you have no other choice but to reset your phone. That is if you badly need Messenger because if not, then you can just uninstall it from your phone.
Fourth solution: Backup your files and reset your phone
I understand that some of you maybe hesitant to do this especially if you already have hundreds of apps installed on your phone. But as I said, if you badly need to use the Messenger then you have to do this no matter what. Before you actually reset your phone, make sure that you make a backup of your files and data as they will be deleted during the process especially ones that are saved in your phone’s internal storage. After which, remove your google account from your phone so that you won’t be locked up after the reset.
Once ready, follow these steps:
- Back up data on the internal memory. If you have signed into a Google account on the device, you have activated Anti-theft and will need your Google credentials to finish the Master reset.
- Turn off the device.
- Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Bixby key, then press and hold the Power key.
- When the green Android logo displays, release all keys (‘Installing system update’ will show for about 30 – 60 seconds before showing the Android system recovery menu options).
- Press the Volume down key several times to highlight “wipe data / factory reset.
- Press Power button to select.
- Press the Volume down key until ‘Yes — delete all user data’ is highlighted.
- Press Power button to select and start the master reset.
- When the master reset is complete, “Reboot system now” is highlighted.
- Press the Power key to restart the device.
I hope that this troubleshooting guide can help you fix the problem with your phone. If you still have other concerns with your Samsung Galaxy S9 and want to share it with us, feel free to contact us or leave a comment below.
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