This morning (Dec 11, 2024) when I tried to access Facebook on my laptop in the Firefox web browser, I was surprised to see an error instead. The title of the webpage was “Error” and the message read, “Sorry, something went wrong. We’re working on getting this fixed as soon as we can”.
Encountering the “Sorry, something went wrong” error while accessing Facebook can be frustrating, especially when it works fine on other devices. This issue can arise due to two main reasons: corrupt local browser cache or temporary server-side issues with Facebook. Here, we will outline steps to resolve this error and regain access to Facebook on your laptop or desktop web browser.
Fixing web browser cache issues
Steps for Firefox
- Visit Facebook: Open Firefox and navigate to https://www.facebook.com/.
- Clear Cookies and Site Data:
- Click on the lock icon next to the address bar.
- Select “Clear cookies and site data.”
- Confirm the action by clicking “Remove.”
- Reload Facebook: Refresh the page or reopen Facebook. If the login screen appears, sign in with your credentials.
Steps for Chrome
- Visit Facebook: Open Chrome and go to https://www.facebook.com/.
- Clear Cookies and Site Data:
- Click on the lock icon next to the address bar.
- Choose “Cookies and site data” or a similar option.
- Click “Manage on-device site data”
- Click on the “Bin” icon next to facebook.com and www.facebook.com to remove the cookies and site data for these two domains.
- Reload Facebook: Open Facebook again and log in with your credentials.
What if the issue still persists?
Sometimes, the issue is not with your web browser but with Facebook itself. Facebook periodically performs server maintenance or upgrades, which can cause temporary disruptions. If clearing the browser cache does not fix the issue, consider the following two things:
- Check social media updates: Platforms like X (formerly Twitter) or online forums like BleepingComputer often report Facebook outages.
- Wait and retry: Server-side issues are typically resolved within a few hours. We can retry accessing Facebook later in a few minutes or hours.
Conclusion
The “Sorry, something went wrong” error on Facebook is usually a minor inconvenience caused by corrupt browser cache or server maintenance. Following the steps to clear cookies and site data in your browser often resolves the problem. If not, waiting for Facebook to complete any ongoing maintenance is the best course of action. By keeping your browser clean and updated, you can ensure a smoother experience while accessing Facebook.