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Messenger Facebook Links Wont Open 16.4.1 (iPad only)

With the latest update to 16.4.1, neither of my iPads (mini or air) will open Facebook links shared with me in messenger. I understand the OS has been changed to open within the associated apps and not the browser. Thats fine however, shared Facebook links from messenger wont open in Facebook either. The Facebook app opens to the home page and that's it. Nothing else happens.


I reinstalled both the Facebook and Messenger apps multiple times with no luck. I'm not experiencing this issue on my iPhone or desktop. Only on iPads.


Any feedback appreciated.

iPad Air

Posted on May 15, 2023 9:41 AM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Sep 3, 2023 5:45 PM

Everyone, I found a fix! I know it’s only 2023 so this stuff is pretty complicated for developers. However, here’s what I did (can’t believe I figured this out):


  1. Close Facebook app on iPad
  2. Set iPad on table
  3. Walk away


Haven’t experienced the glitch yet!

132 replies

Sep 27, 2023 7:52 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

Thank you. I found somewhat a solution for now...


"...log into Facebook on Safari and then open the link. It will open it in the embedded version of the Safari browser of Messenger..." this works but I'm not a fan of Safari.


Also another one that work is log out of FB, go to messenger & open the link and it will open in FB...which to me is too many steps.

Sep 28, 2023 8:34 AM in response to CASunshine94

CASunshine94 wrote:

I believed it to be a Facebook issue as well, however, why did it seem to have happened after the Apple updates

Because FB didn't properly update their app. Developers have access to the beta software for months ahead of the release just to avoid this sort of issue.

I see that this issue have been an ongoing issue for a few years now.

Yes, it has. It's important to remember that you are not Facebook's customer. You are a source of data they can sell to their actual customer, the advertisers.

Oct 12, 2023 6:29 PM in response to WindwolfA1

I have been having the same problem with mine and my husbands iPads, we even purchased a new iPad for my husband. If we share a Facebook video to messenger, neither of us can open and play the video in messenger, and messenger kicks us back to Facebook home page. The app works perfectly on our iPhones but not on iPads. I have deleted, updated, reinstalled both apps, had a technician check out the iPads, and all I can find out is that there is a fault in the app. We are both using iOS 17.0.3. This is driving me crazy.

Messenger Facebook Links Wont Open 16.4.1 (iPad only)

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