8 Methods to Fix Facebook Messenger Not Working on Apple Watch

User Concern

“Hello, today I changed my watch from Apple Watch 5 to Apple Watch Ultra and since I started using it, I don't have the FB Messenger app, I can use it on my previous watch, what happened? How to fix it?”

Facebook Messenger on an Apple Watch provides a variety of conveniences and features that enhance communication. However, users may encounter issues with Facebook Messenger not working properly on their Apple Watch, such as messages not loading, app crashes, or receiving repeated prompts to "log in from the paired iPhone."

Have you run into the same problem on your Apple Watch and have no idea what to do? In this tutorial, we will introduce some quick fixes for you to get the Facebook Messenger working properly on Apple Watch.

How Do I Use Facebook Messenger on My Apple Watch?

To use Facebook Messenger on Apple Watch, you should install this app first. Here is how you can do that:

• Download the latest version of Facebook Messenger on your iPhone.
• Open the Apple Watch that you paired with your iPhone and click on the My Watch tab.
• Then scroll down to find and click on Messenger.
• Finally, enable the Show App on Apple Watch and Facebook Messenger will be uploaded to the Apple Watch.

Note

If you enjoy using the Facebook Messenger app on your Apple Watch, there's some bad news. Meta, Facebook's parent company, has deprecated and removed the Messenger app on Apple Watch on May 31, 2023.

How to Fix Messenger App Not Working on Apple Watch

Restart the Apple Watch and iPhone

Restarting is often the first measure to take when it comes to fixing issues for our devices. You can restart both your Apple Watch and iPhone to re-initiate the connection. Here's how you can do it:

• For iPhone with Face ID: Press and hold either the Voluem button and the Side button at the same time until you see the power off slider. Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone. Then press and hold the Side button to turn on your iPhone.
• For iPhone with Touch ID: Press and hold the Side button until you see the power off slider. Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone. After that, press and hold the Side to turn on the device.

• For Apple Watch: Press and hold the Side button until the power off slider appears on the screen. Slide from left to right to turn it off. Then press and hold the Side button to turn it on.

Turn On Background App Refresh

Try to turn on Background App Refresh if the reboot doesn't offer help. You can open Settings on your iPhone, then go to General > Background App Refresh to enable it and select the option of Wi-Fi & Cellular Data. This will allow apps to fresh their content when in the background.

Turn Bluetooth Off and On Again

You can also try to turn Bluettoth off and on again to reset the connection between your iPhone and Apple Watch. To do this, go to Settings on your iPhone and find "Bluetooth". Turn it off and wait for 10 seconds, then turn it on again.

Change One or More of Your Default Replies

Another tricky way to fix this issue is changing 1 or 2 default replies on Facebook Messenger. Here's how to do it:

• Open the Facebook Messenger app on your iPhone and tap on your profile picture.
• In the Settings page, tap on the "Apple Watch" and manually change 1 or 2 replies.
• Then tap on "Me" to save the changes.

After that, re-launch the Facebook Messenger app on your Apple Watch, and it will work normally again.

Uninstall and Reinstall the FB Messenger App

Uninstalling and reinstalling the Facebook Messenger app from iPhone proves to be effective for some users：

• Keep pressing the FB Messenger app on the home screen until the X icon appears.
• Just tap the X icon, and the app will be deleted.
• Then, try to reinstall the app on your iPhone and Apple Watch. Click on Messenger and make sure that it is turned on on Apple Watch.

Update iOS, watchOS and Facebook Messenger App

Usually, updating the iOS and WatchOS helps to fix various tough nuts. Do remember to make a full backup before updating. Furthermore, please update the Facebook Messenger app as well. Here's how to do that:

• Update iOS: Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for updates. If an update is avaulable, follow the onscreen instructions to download and install it.

• Update WatchOS: On the iPhone that is paired with the Watch App, click on the My Watch tab and go to General > Software Update to check for an update on the Apple Watch.

• Update Facebook Messenger App: Open the App Store on your Apple Watch and tap on Updates. Locate the Facebook Messenger app and check for an update.

Delete Music and Add Them Back

Another simple tip that is reported to be effective is removing all songs and adding them back on the iPhone. However, it is workable in rare situations.

• To delete all songs, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Music > Edit > Delete All Songs.
• Now restart the iPhone and Apple Watch to check whether the FB Messenger runs smoothly.

Note

Remember to back up the music files before deleting them so that you can re-add them after verifying that you have fixed the issue.

Fix iOS Issues on iPhone (No Data Loss)

Users always neglect that iPhone issues could also cause apps on Apple Watch to malfunction. You'd better fix the iOS system issues on your iPhone for the Facebook Messenger app to run properly.

When it comes to fixing iOS issues, FoneGeek iOS System Recovery is one of the best tools that is worth trying. Download the iOS Repair tool on your computer and follow the steps below to proceed.

Step 1. Launch FoneGeek iOS System Recovery on your computer and choose "Standard Mode" on the main interface.

Step 2. Connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable. Once the device is detected, click "Download" to download the corresponding firmware for it.

Step 3. When the program has downloaded the firmware package, click on "Fix Now" and it will start to repair your iPhone system without affecting the data saved on the device.

Write By the End

Please note that the Facebook Messenger app has already been removed from the Apple Watch. Meta didn't provide any explanation in its statement to Engadget. Instead, it directed users to use Messenger on "iPhone, desktop, and the web." If you're looking for an alternative messaging app on your Apple Watch after Messenger stops working, consider checking out WeChat or Glide.