FB Messenger will not open on Apple Watch

This order worked for me!

• Open the Messenger app on your phone
• Go to Settings (tap on the upper-left picture to load the Settings Menu)
• Tap on Apple Watch
• Change one of the default replies to anything and close the app (double press Home and swipe up on Messenger app preview to close)
• Open Messenger > Settings > Apple Watch again and delete that entry you just changed

• Close the app again (double press Home and swipe up on Messenger app preview to close)
• Good luck!

Hi

As you have already followed these steps:

Update your iPhone and Apple Watch to the latest compatible software versions, starting with your iPhone:

• Update the iOS on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
• Update your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Update Messenger to the latest version:

• Messenger on the App Store

And if the suggestions here also do not help:

• Use apps on your Apple Watch - Apple Support
• If an app unexpectedly quits, stops responding, or won’t open - Apple Support
• If you can’t download or update apps, or if apps get stuck - Apple Support

  These tips are also helpful for Apple Watch.

Then, for assistance with issues concerning Messenger (a third-party app), I suggest that you consult the developer's support resources and/or contact the developer for assistance.

I agree and I sent Apple words to this affect. You should do the same: Feedback - Apple Watch - Apple grousing here does nothing. It really doesn't bother me as much as you, I just ignore it, but I think they should do like Google did with Instagram and just pull it.

Hi Iwc1an,

I have tried all your steps, it did work for a moment, but then I got the same apple watch screen as yours where the profile photo of people are grey, when you click on a specific conversation, the same problem occurs again, constant buffering.

Then, I restart my apple watch series 3, and now it is the FB messenger apple watch is buffering forever.

My FB used to work fine before, with minor glitches, however since I updated the messenger FB app on the actual iphone, it occurs all the buffering problem.

I saw the new ios update, stating

iOS 11.2.6 includes bug fixes for your iPhone or iPad. This update:

• Fixes an issue where using certain character sequences could cause apps to crash
• Fixes an issue where some third-party apps could fail to connect to external accessories

I hope this second line is direct toward the FB messenger app for apple watch, I am very reluctant to update my current IOS, but for me it is ridiculous to not been working, I believe I am out of options.

Thank you,

Emily

So disappointed. But someone’s have working messenges on their apple watch.

Sorry about the question but I’m just crying :( do you think can they fix this issue in the near future? It would be absolutely necessary for me :(

Hello Emilly,

Now that ios 11.3 is out and watchOS 4.3 as well try adding a part for the instructions above, the following: while you have opened the app on your iPhone open as well the app on the watch. Remember: this is the last step you should do!

Hope it helps.

This order indeed worked for me (and mind you I tried everything, including restarting phone and the watch, quit forcing the app, adding quick replies etc).

Now the only annoyance is those blank profile photo icons in the watch app.

With the last update of Messenger app (version 166.0, three days ago), the workaround does not seem to be working anymore, no matter what order you follow, or if you reboot iPhone and Watch, or even uninstall and reinstall the app on both...

Totally agree. Workaround doesn't make any difference anymore since the last update. Even if you change default replies on the Messenger app on iPhone these don't alter on the watch itself. Epic fail by Facebook. Gutted!

I’m in the same boat - bought the watch just a few weeks ago. Used the ‘default answer’ trick and got messenger loaded - then a messenger update set it ‘loading’ again and nothing worked. I hoped that a further update this morning may help - but no. Sent numerous reports to Facebook Messenger ‘report a problem‘ - no reply - and Apple say it’s nothing to do with them. We spend our money - but we don’t count for much do we?? So, so, SO angry that we get get sweet FA respect or response. Disgusting.

To be fair, Facebook and its messenger are free. I agree they should fix the problem, but about spending the money, one cannot blame Apple for the FB Messenger app on the watch not working, that's just not reasonable. I share your anger and frustration at Facebook, however. This is their problem and they should fix it.

Of course I appreciate that - the app is ’free’ though it is it‘s use by ourselves in conjunction with Facebook that creates their massive revenues through advertising - but I’m not sure it’s relevant. I would rather something wasn’t available - than available and fail. And not being even acknowledged by the Messenger ‘problem’ team is irksome - how much resource would it take simply to respond - even if it were to say ‘Tough - we can’t be bothered - the app was free right? So why should we make it work??’. As for Apple - they are a massive corporation - they grant licences for the use of their platform - I can’t see why they can’t send an email or two on behalf of the thousands (hundreds of thousands?) who are sharing this frustration.

I would like to make a suggestion - I have copied a message to ‘report a problem’ within the Mesenger app simply saying ‘Are you going to make this work on Apple Watch’. When I’m bored enough and have time - I send it as many times as I can. It probably won’t help - but if enough of us do it ...???? 😂

Facebook is too busy on stealing our private information and isn't going to fix this until majority of Apple community starts using Watch. Fixing Messenger Watch app simply isn't profitable enough I guess. 😟

None of these work, I am going to contact Apple and ask them to either fix the problem or remove messenger from being an option to install on the Apple Watch it is June 11th 2018 and the problem hasn’t still yet to be resolved, what a waste of space on my watch, I’m erasing it :(