Facebook Pictures Not Loading? Here Are the Fixes

Facebook has become ubiquitous in today’s world. It’s something you expect to always be there working, ready to service your need to snoop on people from your distant past and get involved in whatever strange Facebook groups you’re part of. If pictures are not loading on Facebook, then that defeats a big point of the social site’s appeal. For this reason, we’ve put together a list of reasons your Facebook pictures might not be loading and what you can do about it.

Also read: How to Spot a Facebook Phishing Email and Similar Scams

1. Check Facebook Server Status

Many of the reasons for Facebook pictures not loading are that it’s the result of issues on the side of the user. However, this isn’t always the case, and it’s worth checking the status of the server on Facebook’s developer website to see if they’re having issues. There is an itemized list of issues on the website that gives an idea of past and current issues.

Checking this website can let you know if there is an issue with rendering images. In a case like this, you’ll just have to wait until Facebook resolves the issue.

Also read: Facebook Not Working? Try These 8 Fixes

2. Allow Sites to Show Images in Browser

Usually, when a browser is updated, improvements are expected. However, things don’t always work out as planned. It’s possible you may run into a strange issue, like images being disabled after an update. Following the steps below to check for possible issues with your browser, dependent on the browser you’re using.

Firefox

1. Type about:config in the address bar and hit Enter.

2. Search for permissions.default.image using the bar at the top, and make sure it is set to a value of 1.

Chrome

1. Go to the browser’s settings by clicking on the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner of the display.

2. Select “Privacy and security” from the side menu.

3. On the right, click on “Site Settings.”
4. Under “Content,” make sure “Images” is set to “Sites can show images.”

Also read: How to Use Facebook’s Restricted List to Maintain Your Privacy

Microsoft Edge

1. Go to the browser’s settings by clicking on the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner.

2. From the side menu, select “Cookies and site permissions.”

3. Under “Images,” select “Show all” (if it’s not already enabled).

If you are using an outdated web browser, you should also try updating the browser. This could resolve possible compatibility issues with Facebook. In Firefox, go to “Settings -> Genera l-> Check for updates,” and in Chrome, access the three-dot menu, then go to “Help -> About Chrome” and update from there. If you’re using Microsoft Edge, click on the three dots in the upper-right corner, then hit “Help & feedback -> About Microsoft Edge.”

Also read: How to Change the Default Search Engine in Various Browsers

3. Clear Browser Cache

Sometimes the problem preventing your Facebook images from loading properly is corrupt data or cache in your browser. To solve this, clear the browser’s cache.

Firefox

1. Press on the hamburger menu in the upper-right corner and go to “Settings.”

2. From the menu on the left, select “Privacy & security.”

3. Scroll down until you reach the “Cookies and site data” section and click on the “Clear data” button.

4. In the pop-up that appears, make sure to check the “Cached Web Content” option, then hit the “Clear” button.

Also read: How to See a Password in Your Browser Instead of Dots

Chrome

1. Click on the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner to bring up the menu.
2. Go to “More tools.”

3. Select “Clear browsing data.”
4. Switch to “Basic,” in the pop-up window that appears.

5. Make sure the “Cached images and files” option is checked, then hit “Clear data.”

Microsoft Edge

1. Go to “Settings”as shown above.
2. From the side menu, select “Privacy, search and services.”
3. On the right side of the display, scroll down until you reach the “Clear browsing data.”

4. Click on “Chose what you clear.”
5. In the pop-up window that shows up, make sure you set the period for what you want to delete from the cache. We suggest “All time.”

6. Make sure the “Cached images and files” is ticked and press “Clear now.”

Also read: How to Delete Comments, Likes, and Reactions on Facebook

4. Troubleshoot Internet Problems

There is a chance that if your download speeds are slow, you may have issues loading media, such as the pictures on your Facebook page. Check your Internet speed with a speedtest to see if the speed is causing problems.

If you have a broadband service providing download speeds of less than 25 Mbps and upload speeds of less than 3 Mbps, you have a few options:

• If you are at home, you should contact your service provider and have them send over a technician to investigate the problem further. They may even be able to troubleshoot the issue remotely.
• You could also try restarting your router.
• If you are using public Wi-Fi, you may have to piggyback off your mobile data to see if that provides you with faster speeds.

5. Change DNS Settings

In most cases, your computer will acquire your DNS settings automatically from your ISP. However, it’s possible for there to be connection issues with your ISP’s DNS IP addresses. One attempt at a fix is to change your IPv4 DNS addresses to those provided by Google. Google offers the following IPv4 addresses:

• 8.8.8.8
• 8.8.4.4

The following IPv6 addresses are provided:

• 2001:4860:4860::8888
• 2001:4860:4860::8844

Google claims their DNS servers are more reliable and secure, so it may be worth a shot to try them. Here’s how to do so in Windows:

1. Open the Settings app by either pressing Win + I or using the search button in the task bar.
2. Go to “Network and Internet” via the sidebar.

3. Click on your “Wi-Fi” connection in the top right.
4. Tap on “Hardware properties.”

5. You should be able to spot the “DNS server assignment” option. Click on “Edit” to change the address.

Also read: 9 of the Best Dynamic DNS Providers You Can Use for Free

6. Your settings are probably set to “Automatic.” Click on the tiny downward arrow and select “Manual.”

7. Toggle on either IPv4 or IPv6.

8. Input Google’s specific details from there.

Also read: How to Fix the Network Cable Unplugged Error in Windows

6. Reset Network Configurations

If these methods haven’t yielded any results, and you’re still having issues with Facebook loading pictures properly, you could try resetting the network cache to see if that helps. If your network configuration and cache are, for whatever reason, corrupt or have bad data, it may also Facebook pictures to not load properly in your browser. Follow these steps to reset the network cache.

1. Click on the Search button in the Windows taskbar.
2. Search for “Command Prompt.”

3. Right-click on the application and press on “Run as Administrator.”
4. Type in the following commands in succession:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns
netsh winsock reset
net stop dhcp
net start dhcp
netsh winhttp reset proxy

5. Restart your PC to complete the process.

7. Disable Ad Blocker

While ad blockers can be incredibly useful, allowing you to enjoy a smooth browsing experience without being bombarded by ads left and right, they may interfere and not allow Facebook to run properly.

Removing or disabling these ad blockers is fortunately quite simple. Dependent on your browser, open the browser menu either by pressing on the hamburger menu (Firefox) or three dots (Chrome) and select either “Add-ons and themes” or “More tools -> Extensions.” You can remove the extensions from there.

In Microsoft Edge, simply press on the horizontal dots in the upper-right corner and select “Extensions” from the menu.

Also read: How to Fix the “err_cache_miss” Error in Chrome

8. Clear Facebook Cache (Android/iOS)

Your cache is a storage for typically lightweight temporary files that help an app remember you the next time. This helps that app load quicker and work more efficiently. However, if your cache gets cluttered, it can lead to misbehavior, such as your Facebook pictures not appearing. In this case, you should try clearing the cache.

Android

On Android, clear Facebook’s cache by following these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Dependent on your smartphone, go to either “Apps & notifications” or “Apps.”

3. You’ll see a list of your most recently opened apps. Tap “See all X apps” at the bottom.

4. Select Facebook from the list.

5. Hit “Storage & cache.”

6. Press on “Clear cache.”

Also read: How to Create Stories on TikTok

iOS

This works a little differently on iPhone, as you don’t have to go through the Settings app.

1. Open the Facebook app and tap on the hamburger menu to go to “Settings & privacy -> Settings,” then scroll down to “Permissions” and tap “Browser.”

2. On the next screen, tap “Clear” next to “Your Browsing Data.”

Also read: 5 of the Best Alternative Facebook Apps

9. Disable Data Saver (Android)

If you’re running “Data Saver” mode on your Android device, it might be the cause of your Facebook pictures not loading properly. To see if that’s the cause, try disabling the option.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to “Network & Internet.”

3. Select “Data Saver” from there.

4. Toggle on the “Use Data Saver” option at the top.

Once on, the option prevents some apps from sending or receiving data in the background. An app you’re currently using can access data but may do so less frequently.

Also read: How to Save Posts to Read Later on Facebook

Enable Unrestricted Data Usage for Facebook

Alternatively, if you don’t wish to turn the option off, you can instead enable unrestricted data usage for Facebook and have it bypass the rules of “Data Saver.”

1. Find Facebook in the list of apps on your phone, just as shown in the previous section and tap on it.
2. Select “Mobile data & Wi-Fi.”

3. Toggle on the “Unrestricted data usage” option at the bottom.

4. Facebook will now be exempt from the rule.

10. Open Facebook in Your Mobile Browser (Android & iOS)

If nothing we’ve listed in this tutorial works so far, you could try opening Facebook in your browser. Log in with your credentials and check whether it’s possible to view pictures in full this way. It may just fix the problem.

11. Try Facebook Lite (Android)

Facebook Lite (Android) is a lightweight Facebook alternative that promises longer battery life for your device, while saving on data and internal storage. If you’ve tried everything, and the issue is still not getting any better, try switching to Facebook Lite to see if pictures will load. The only problem with this method is that the app might not be available in every country and is no longer available for iPhone.

12. Reinstall the App

If you don’t wish to install a new app on your smartphone, another option is to reinstall the usual Facebook app. Download it again from the Play Store or App Store, install it once again and see if that makes any difference.

Also read: How to Create and Use an Instagram Avatar

Frequently Asked Questions

Image credit: Pexels All screenshots by Alexandra Arici

Alexandra Arici - Staff Writer

Alexandra is passionate about mobile tech and can be often found fiddling with a smartphone from some obscure company. She kick-started her career in tech journalism in 2013, after working a few years as a middle-school teacher. Constantly driven by curiosity, Alexandra likes to know how things work and to share that knowledge with everyone.