Are voice messages on Facebook Messenger not playing?
Are they loading endlessly when you tap on the play button?
Messenger allows you to record and send voice messages.
You can do this after you’ve allowed the app to access your microphone.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to fix Facebook Messenger voice messages not working, not playing, or not loading.
Why won’t Messenger play or load voice messages?
Messenger won’t play or load voice messages because your internet connection is unstable.
If you’re using Wi-Fi, try switching to mobile data (and vice-versa) and check if it solves the issue.
If voice messages are still not playing, Facebook Messenger might be down.
It can also be caused by a bug/glitch on the app that will be addressed in a future update.
How to fix Messenger voice messages not working
To fix Messenger voice messages not working, you must first check if the app is down on metastatus.com/messenger.
If it’s not down, you need to make sure that you’ve allowed Messenger to access your microphone.
You can also try clearing the app’s cache, using the Messenger desktop app, or downloading an older version of the app.
If all else fails, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the app to fix potential bugs and glitches with the voice message feature,
Fix 1: Allow Messenger to access your microphone
For iOS:
- Open the Settings app, scroll down, and select “Messenger”.
- Enable the “Microphone” option.
For Android:
- Open the Settings app, select “Apps”, and select “Messenger”.
- Select “Permissions” and enable the “Microphone” option.
Fix 2: Clear the app’s cache
For iOS:
- Open the Settings app and select “General”.
- Select “iPhone Storage” and select “Messenger”.
- Select “Offload App” and select “Reinstall App”.
For Android:
- Open the Settings app, select “Apps”, and select “Messenger”.
- Select “Storage” and tap on “Clear cache”.
Fix 3: Download the Messenger desktop app
- Download the Messenger desktop app: www.messenger.com.
- Open the app and sign in to your account.
- Open an existing chat or start a new one.
- Try sending or playing a voice message.
Fix 4: Download an older version of Messenger (Android only)
- Uninstall the Messenger app.
- Go to facebook-messenger.en.uptodown.com/android/versions.
- Download an older version (APK) of Messenger.
- Open the app and sign in to your account.
- Open an existing chat or start a new one.
- Try sending or playing a voice message.
Fix 5: Uninstall and reinstall the app
- Tap and hold the Messenger app and delete it.
- Reinstall Messenger from the App Store or Google Play Store.
- Open the app and sign in to your account.
- Open an existing chat or start a new one.
- Try sending or playing a voice message.
Further reading
How to Disable End to End Encryption on Messenger