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Messenger window blank in Facebook despite trying all fixes

  • 6 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 107 views
  • Last reply by mlcamilli

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I use Firefox on a PC to access Facebook (website, not app). This week the Messenger/Chat feature stopped working. I click the icon and it opens but nothing appears in the box, it just hangs. There is an option to open in its own window, but that also is blank - no past messages, no contact names, no ability to start new message. When I log onto Facebook in Edge, Messenger works fine in Facebook.

I've tried everything I found on the internet for this issue - updated and refreshed Firefox, cleared history/cache/cookies/site data, uninstalled and reinstalled Messenger, refreshed Facebook to initial settings, used Firefox in troubleshooting mode, reset everything, turned off browser, turned off my computer, used shift key to reload tab - nothing has worked. There are some instructions about stuck cookies, but I didn't understand them so I didn't try that one thing. I've gone into every menu I can find to try to figure out this issue, which isn't the end of the world, but I would appreciate some other ideas for what is suddenly causing this. Because now I have to redo all of my settings and preferences and logins and the problem still isn't fixed.

I use Firefox on a PC to access Facebook (website, not app). This week the Messenger/Chat feature stopped working. I click the icon and it opens but nothing appears in the box, it just hangs. There is an option to open in its own window, but that also is blank - no past messages, no contact names, no ability to start new message. When I log onto Facebook in Edge, Messenger works fine in Facebook. I've tried everything I found on the internet for this issue - updated and refreshed Firefox, cleared history/cache/cookies/site data, uninstalled and reinstalled Messenger, refreshed Facebook to initial settings, used Firefox in troubleshooting mode, reset everything, turned off browser, turned off my computer, used shift key to reload tab - nothing has worked. There are some instructions about stuck cookies, but I didn't understand them so I didn't try that one thing. I've gone into every menu I can find to try to figure out this issue, which isn't the end of the world, but I would appreciate some other ideas for what is suddenly causing this. Because now I have to redo all of my settings and preferences and logins and the problem still isn't fixed.

Chosen solution

And suddenly, just like that, Messenger is working again via Facebook on my PC. I haven't done anything differently since yesterday. It's just . . . sorted itself out somehow, knock on wood. No idea.

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All Replies (6)

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Try changing secure DNS over HTTPS (DoH) to "Off" or "Increased Protection" and in Connection Settings change "Use system proxy settings" to "No proxy".

Disable any VPN, DNS, firewall, antivirus, security software etc.

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This didn't have any effect. I don't have a VPN, and if I need to disable firewalls or security features just to get Messenger to show up on Facebook, I'll pass.

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Others have reported an issue, for example the thread below.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1411762

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Temporarily disabling third-party security software to do a test is a routine troubleshooting step. Windows has its own protection features so you are never completely unprotected.

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I understand that, but I'm not using any third-party security software other than an ad blocker, which I disabled (actually removed it) and it had no effect. This is some sort of issue with Firefox, because Messenger loads fine if I log into Facebook via Microsoft Edge. I've changed all of the options I could find with Firefox (and with Facebook) and none worked. I'll try again, but it's time consuming changing one thing then reloading everything and signing back in, etc. I updated Firefox back to default settings and it didn't help. I was hoping someone else had had this issue and solved it. One day it was working and the next it wasn't and I didn't make any changes. I did change the DNS and proxy options as you suggested and still no Messenger. Do I need to restart my computer each time or something to make them take effect?

And Terry, thank you for your reply, but I am literally in the thread you linked to saying it didn't work for me.

Modified by mlcamilli

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Chosen Solution

And suddenly, just like that, Messenger is working again via Facebook on my PC. I haven't done anything differently since yesterday. It's just . . . sorted itself out somehow, knock on wood. No idea.