User profile for user: FormerChicagoan
FormerChicagoan Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Cannot install Facebook app

I'm trying to install the Facebook app from the app store.


When I find the app and tap Install, I get a screen that prompts me to log in When I do so, it returns me to the page for installing the Facebook app. I tap Install again, and it returns me to the log-in screen. I'm in an endless loop: install, log in, install, log in, install...


There's no message saying that anything went wrong when I log in. I know my password is valid because I just used it to log in to this web site. And I watched the characters as I entered it on my phone to avoid typos.


I searched the support forum for "cannot install facebook app" and found a person who had exactly the same problem about a year ago. He had a iPhone 6, as do I. He was told that the iPhone 6 can only be updated to iOS 12.5.7 and the Facebook app needs iOS 13.4 or higher. I checked my phone's Update option and found that it is running iOS 17.4.1, making the answer useless.


So, what is going on?

Earlier iPhone models

Posted on Apr 13, 2024 10:07 AM

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User profile for user: -Bubba-
-Bubba-
User level: Level 6
10,950 points

Posted on Apr 13, 2024 11:16 AM

FormerChicagoan wrote:

I'm trying to install the Facebook app from the app store...I searched the support forum for "cannot install facebook app" and found a person who had exactly the same problem about a year ago. He had a iPhone 6, as do I. He was told that the iPhone 6 can only be updated to iOS 12.5.7 and the Facebook app needs iOS 13.4 or higher. I checked my phone's Update option and found that it is running iOS 17.4.1, making the answer useless.

So, what is going on?

Good question- I don't think you have an iPhone 6 though. The iPhone 6 can only be updated to iOS 12.5.7 as you read. Even the 6S can only get iOS 15. The earliest model that can get iOS 17 is the iPhone XR and XS.


Are you sure the details in Settings > General > About say 'iOS 17.4.1' and 'iPhone 6'? Is your phone jailbroken/rooted?

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User profile for user: -Bubba-
-Bubba-
User level: Level 6
10,950 points

Apr 13, 2024 11:16 AM in response to FormerChicagoan

FormerChicagoan wrote:

I'm trying to install the Facebook app from the app store...I searched the support forum for "cannot install facebook app" and found a person who had exactly the same problem about a year ago. He had a iPhone 6, as do I. He was told that the iPhone 6 can only be updated to iOS 12.5.7 and the Facebook app needs iOS 13.4 or higher. I checked my phone's Update option and found that it is running iOS 17.4.1, making the answer useless.

So, what is going on?

Good question- I don't think you have an iPhone 6 though. The iPhone 6 can only be updated to iOS 12.5.7 as you read. Even the 6S can only get iOS 15. The earliest model that can get iOS 17 is the iPhone XR and XS.


Are you sure the details in Settings > General > About say 'iOS 17.4.1' and 'iPhone 6'? Is your phone jailbroken/rooted?

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User profile for user: MrHoffman
MrHoffman
User level: Level 10
147,833 points

Apr 13, 2024 11:33 AM in response to FormerChicagoan

if you have iOS 17.4.1, then you have an iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or iPhone SE 2nd gen, or later, not iPhone 6.


(On no evidence, I’d guess iPhone SE 2nd or 3rd.)


Ensure you have enough free space on your iPhone. The app claims to need somewhat less than 350 MB.


Force-restart the iPhone, and try the install again:


If you’re on your own Wi-Fi and have enough data, try cellular to download. Or restart your Wi-Fi router, and try again.


If that fails, and if any add-on security apps or VPN apps are installed here, remove all of those and restart and try again.


If all that fails, you’re headed for a factory reset:


That last link also links to backup and restore sequences.

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User profile for user: MrHoffman
MrHoffman
User level: Level 10
147,833 points

Apr 14, 2024 12:59 PM in response to FormerChicagoan

FormerChicagoan wrote:

…it's a 12 mini…

Anyway, I force-restarted the phone and tried to install the app again, but the same thing happened.

I didn't completely understand your suggestion about WiFi. I think "your own network" means the WiFi network provided by my (Comcast) Internet interface. I turned off Cellular Data for the App Store, and tried to install again. The same thing happened.


So you have your own Wi-Fi network. (And your ISP has a reputation for having issues, too.)


My suggestion was to turn off your Wi-Fi connection on your iPhone, and try downloading the app via cellular, if you have a sufficiently large cellular data cap. That to see if your ISP Wi-Fi link is having issues.


…


If that cellular download fails, then remove any add-on security apps or add-on VPN apps installed here, restart, and try again.


If all that fails, you’re likely headed for a factory reset. This if local storage is somehow corrupted, such as storage having been overfilled. The factory reset is described here:



That factory-reset article links to the backup and restore sequences.


Or you can make an appointment with an Apple Store (if there is one local), and bring your iPhone 12 mini in for a discussion with them.

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User profile for user: FormerChicagoan
FormerChicagoan Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Apr 14, 2024 12:39 PM in response to MrHoffman

When I said I had iOS 17.4.1, I was relying on the Updates screen, which does not show the device model. I wrote that from memory, and knowing my memory, I should have known better. It's not an iPhone 6 at all -- it's a 12 mini. 12×½=6, so I can say I was half right. :)


Anyway, I force-restarted the phone and tried to install the app again, but the same thing happened.


I didn't completely understand your suggestion about WiFi. I think "your own network" means the WiFi network provided by my (Comcast) Internet interface. I turned off Cellular Data for the App Store, and tried to install again. The same thing happened.


I tried intentionally entering a bad password and got a different response: the phone stayed on the username/password screen, went ding, and cleared the Password field. So a bad password is not the problem.


I thought the phone might be doing an "instant install' because the app was already installed. I used the home screen's search box to search for Facebook, but it just led me back to the App Store page for installing the app.


So I'm stumped.

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User profile for user: FormerChicagoan
FormerChicagoan Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Apr 15, 2024 11:40 AM in response to MrHoffman

I turned Cellular > App Store back on, turned WiFi off, force-restarted again, and tried to install. Same result.


The idea of a factory reset is very unappealing to me. I'm not confident that I could go through that process without losing data. I read the documentation on how to back up an iPhone to the cloud a couple of years ago when it was recommended that I do that. As I recall the procedure was very poorly documented and ambiguous, and there was no way to verify that I had a viable backup except to try to use it -- at which point it would be too late if I didn't.


There is an app store in my area (Sacramento). It's not conveniently located for me and I don't know how soon I could get there. I may try installing the Facebook app on another (Android) phone, although it would be very inconvenient to have to use a second phone for one purpose.


Thanks for your help. I'll check back in case you or anyone else has more suggestions.

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Cannot install Facebook app

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