Top 9 Ways to Fix Facebook Not Showing Reels on Mobile
Facebook has followed in the footsteps of TikTok by introducing Reels into its mobile apps and web interface. This feature provides users with a convenient way to create and share short videos with their friends and followers. You can find shared reels on your main Facebook feed or access the Reels menu to explore trending ones. However, there are times when Facebook fails to load reels. In this article, we will discuss the best ways to fix the problem of Facebook not showing reels on mobile.
These days, people tend to prefer reels over standard videos on Facebook. With reels, you can easily add music, effects, and fun backgrounds with just a single tap. Moreover, you can also check out the creative short reels shared by others on Facebook for inspiration.
1. Check Your Network Connection
Let’s start with the basics. The first thing you should do is check the network connection on your phone. If your phone is experiencing internet connectivity issues, you can try resetting the network using the Airplane mode trick.
- For Android users, swipe down from the home screen and enable/disable Airplane mode from the quick toggles menu.
- iPhone users can accomplish this by swiping down from the top-right corner to access the Control Center and enabling/disabling Airplane mode.
If you are still facing network issues on your phone, you can try resetting the network settings and then attempt to play reels on Facebook.
2. The Reel May Have Been Removed by the User
If you saved or liked specific reels on Facebook but cannot find them in your account, it is possible that the person who posted them has removed them from their account.
3. Restart the Facebook App
You can try completely closing the Facebook app on your phone and then opening it again to access reels. To do this:
- Swipe up and hold from the home screen to open the recent apps menu.
- Next, swipe up on the Facebook app card to close it.
4. Check Facebook’s Status
If Facebook’s servers are down, the app may not show pictures, videos, or reels. You can visit Downdetector and search for Facebook to confirm if there is an issue. If you notice high outage graphs and user comments reporting the same problem, it is likely a server-side issue. In such cases, you will have to wait for Facebook to fix the problem with its servers.
5. Enable Mobile Data Permission (iPhone Users)
If you have disabled mobile data permission for the Facebook app on your iPhone, it will not show trending reels when you are using cellular data.
Follow these steps to enable mobile data permission:
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Scroll down and tap on “Facebook”.
Step 3: Enable the toggle for “Mobile Data”.
6. Disable Low Data Mode
Facebook offers an option to optimize video playback when you are on a cellular connection. By reducing video quality, the social media giant claims to save up to 40% of your data. However, this may cause issues with loading reels. To disable this option, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the Facebook app on your phone.
Step 2: Go to your profile by tapping on the top-right corner.
Step 3: Expand the “Settings & Privacy” menu.
Step 4: Open “Cellular Data Usage” (or “Mobile Data Use” on iPhone).
Step 5: Enable the checkmark next to “Optimize” under the “Video Quality” menu.
After making this change, restart the Facebook app and try loading reels again.
7. Clear Facebook Cache
Facebook collects cache data on your phone to improve loading times and overall performance. However, sometimes this cache can become corrupted, leading to issues such as the failure to load reels. Follow the steps below to clear the Facebook cache:
Step 1: Long-press the Facebook app icon on your Android device and tap on the ‘i’ icon to open the App Info menu.
Step 2: In the App Info menu, select “Storage and cache”.
Step 3: Tap on the “Clear cache” button and then try loading reels in the Facebook app.
8. Reinstall the Facebook App
If none of the aforementioned methods work, you may need to reinstall the Facebook app on your phone. Open the Facebook app info menu (refer to the steps above) and select “Uninstall” to delete the app.
iOS users can long-press the Facebook app icon and select “Remove app” to complete the uninstallation process.
After uninstalling, reinstall the Facebook app, log in with your account details, and try loading reels once again.
9. Try Checking Facebook Reels on the Desktop
In addition to the mobile apps, Facebook reels are also available on the desktop version of the platform. If you are unable to see reels on your mobile device, you can use the web version on your desktop instead.
Step 1: Visit Facebook’s website on your desktop and log in with your Facebook account details.
Step 2: Click on the “Reels” tab to explore all the trending short videos.
Conclusion: Facebook Reels are a Fun Way to Pass Time
In most cases, a poor network connection can be the main reason behind Facebook not showing reels on mobile. Additionally, you can also browse Facebook on your mobile browser to check out the latest reels. Which method worked for you? Share your experience in the comments below.
