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How to Fix "An Unexpected Error Occurred" on Facebook

Seeing the error message "An unexpected error occurred. Please try logging in again" can be incredibly frustrating when trying to access your Facebook account. As a social media expert, I‘m going to provide a comprehensive troubleshooting guide to help you get back into Facebook when this error pops up.

Why This Error Occurs

Before jumping into the solutions, it‘s helpful to understand why you may be getting this error on Facebook:

Server or App Issues

The most common root cause is that Facebook‘s servers are down or experiencing problems, preventing logins. Outages are not uncommon. Updates rolled out can also unintentionally cause temporary glitches.

Too Many Login Attempts

If you‘ve tried logging in unsuccessfully too many times, Facebook‘s automated security systems may have temporarily locked your account. This is usually resolved by waiting a while before trying again later.

Bug in a Facebook Update

Occasionally bugs introduced in app updates can lead to unexpected errors until fixed in a subsequent update. Clearing app cache and data can sometimes help in the interim.

Connectivity Problems on Your End

Issues with your internet connection, outdated app version, or device software can also contribute to login failures.

Okay, now that we know why it happens, let‘s get into the step-by-step troubleshooting!

Clear Facebook App Cache and Data

Clearing the cache and app data is one of the easiest first troubleshooting steps. Here‘s how:

On Android:

  1. Open your Settings app
  2. Select Apps
  3. Choose Facebook
  4. Tap Storage
  5. Select Clear Cache followed by Clear Data
  6. Re-open Facebook

On iPhone:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Choose General
  3. Select iPhone Storage
  4. Tap on Facebook
  5. Tap Offload App

This forces cached data and files to be deleted, essentially refreshing the app. Many users report sudden success logging back in after these steps. It‘s worth trying early on.

Try Creating New Account with Same Login Info

I know this sounds a bit odd, but stay with me. For some users, creating an entirely new Facebook account using their existing login email and password has allowed them to regain access.

Follow these steps:

  1. Open the Facebook mobile app
  2. Initiate creating a new account
  3. When prompted, input your current email and password associated with your inaccessible account
  4. Enter your name, birthday, etc. to match your original profile
  5. Set up the new account

Once finished, you should find yourself logged back into your original account! Many confirmed this solution worked for them on Reddit after being locked out for months or years. Definitely worth a shot.

Update or Reinstall the Facebook App

As mentioned earlier, app bugs can sometimes trigger these types of errors. Updating to the latest Facebook app version often squashes these bugs:

On Android:

  1. Open the Google Play Store
  2. Search for Facebook
  3. Check if there is an Update option and install it
  4. Alternatively, Uninstall and Reinstall the app

On iPhone:

  1. Go to the App Store
  2. Search for Facebook
  3. If available, tap Update, or tap cloud download icon to reinstall

Be sure your device operating systems (iOS, Android) are also updated fully. Switching wifi networks may help updates initialize if stuck. Reinstalling the app essentially clears stored corrupt data that could be causing problems.

Try Logging In from Browser or Website

When all else fails accessing Facebook mobile app, try logging in from a mobile browser or desktop website instead:

  1. Open your Chrome or Safari app
  2. Navigate to www.facebook.com
  3. Attempt logging into the Facebook site

Sometimes mobile browsers work fine when apps don‘t. Verify whether it‘s an isolated mobile app issue or overall account access issue. If browser sign-in doesn‘t work either, it‘s likely a wider Facebook problem…

Check for Facebook Outages

…Which leads us to server outages. Before anything else, always check if Facebook is currently experiencing global downtime:

Check DownDetector:

Search "Facebook DownDetector" in Google or just visit downdetector.com and look at the map for reported issues near you. Spikes indicate potential outages.

Check Twitter:

Search "Facebook down" on Twitter to see the latest reports and complaints about problems accessing Facebook. Lots of tweets confirming issues indicates Facebook is likely down.

If there is indeed an outage: Utilize patience young Padawan. Sit back and wait 24-48 hours for Facebook‘s engineers to get things back up and running. There‘s unfortunately nothing you can do but wait it out. Outages typically don‘t last longer than 2 days at most.

Summary of Fixes

To recap, here are common troubleshooting tips to resolve the "unexpected error occurred" message when trying to log into Facebook:

  • Clear app cache and data
  • Update Facebook app / reinstall
  • Try creating new account w/ current login
  • Check for Facebook outages
  • Attempt login via mobile browser
  • Wait 24-48 hours when all else fails

I hope these steps get you back into Facebook promptly! Let me know in the comments if you have any other tips I missed.

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