A Facebook feed that will not load, a Reel that freezes, a button that does nothing, a payment that fails: technical glitches are frustrating, and many people do not know where to send them. Facebook, like most Meta products, does not offer a general public customer-service phone number, so the in-app report form is the main route that actually reaches the team. This guide shows you every current way to report a bug or technical problem in the Facebook app, what to write so your report is useful, and what to do while you wait.
- Technical problem vs. reporting content: know the difference
- Before you report: 2-minute checks
- Method 1: Report a problem from the menu (Android and iPhone)
- Method 2: Shake your phone to report
- Method 3: Report from a computer
- How to write a bug report Facebook can act on
- After you submit: what to expect
- Other official support routes
- How to turn shake-to-report on or off
- Frequently asked questions
1. Technical problem vs. reporting content: know the difference
Facebook has two completely separate reporting systems, and mixing them up is the most common mistake.
| What you want to report | Where it goes | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Technical problem / bug (the app or a feature is not working) | Help & support > Report a problem | Photos will not upload, app crashes, Marketplace button missing, notifications broken |
| Harmful or rule-breaking content (posts, profiles, comments) | The three-dot menu on that post, profile or comment > Report | Spam, harassment, impersonation, scams |
Shaking your phone only opens the technical reporting dialog. It does not send a report about another person's post, and it cannot get a friend's account restricted. Fact-checkers have debunked the viral claim that shaking your phone sends friends to "Facebook jail"; the shake menu only lets you report problems with how the app works, and nothing is submitted until you complete the form.
2. Before you report: 2-minute checks
These checks fix a surprising number of "bugs" and also make your report more accurate if the issue remains.
- Test another network and device. Try Wi-Fi vs. mobile data, and the same account in a browser or on another phone. If it only fails in one place, tell Facebook that.
- Update the app. Install the latest Facebook version from Google Play or the Apple App Store. Meta points users to their phone's app store for the current version.
- Restart the app and your phone. Fully close Facebook, reopen it, and restart the device if needed.
- Check for a wider outage. Meta Status covers business and platform products (such as Facebook Login, Ads Manager and Messenger Platform) but not every consumer feature, so also look at outage trackers like Downdetector, which are crowdsourced and not official confirmation.
- Note the exact error message and time. You will use these in your report.
3. Method 1: Report a problem from the menu (Android and iPhone)
This is the standard, always-available route.
- Open the Facebook app and tap Menu (the three-line icon or your profile picture, depending on your version and device).
- Scroll to Help & support and tap it.
- Tap Report a problem.
- Tap Continue to report a problem (some versions show this as "Report a problem" followed by a short prompt).
- Choose the area that is affected if asked (for example Feed, Groups, Marketplace, Notifications, Messenger, Video or Payments).
- Describe the issue in detail (see the writing tips below).
- Attach a screenshot or screen recording if the form offers it, then tap Submit.
On an iPad, open Menu in the bottom right corner, then follow Help & support > Report a problem > Continue to report a problem.
4. Method 2: Shake your phone to report
Facebook introduced "shake to report" in 2019 so people could report bugs at the exact moment they see them. It is often the best method because you are already on the screen that is broken.
- Go to the screen where the problem happened.
- Shake your phone firmly.
- Tap Report a problem in the pop-up.
- Choose whether to include or not include technical details/logs with the report. Including them usually helps engineers diagnose the issue.
- Describe what went wrong and tap Submit.
If shaking does nothing, the feature may be turned off on your device, or may not be available in your app version or region. Use Method 1 instead, or turn it on (see section 9).
5. Method 3: Report from a computer
If the problem happens on facebook.com, or the app is unusable and you have a laptop nearby:
- Log in at facebook.com.
- Click your profile picture in the top-right corner.
- Choose Help & support, then Report a problem.
- Follow the prompts, add details and a screenshot, and submit.
6. How to write a bug report Facebook can act on
Vague reports like "Facebook is broken" are hard to investigate. Use this simple structure:
- What you were trying to do: "Upload a photo to a Marketplace listing."
- What you expected: "The photo should appear in the listing."
- What actually happened: "The upload bar reaches 100%, then shows 'Something went wrong' and the app closes."
- How often: "Every time since yesterday, around 6 PM."
- Your setup: phone model, Android or iOS version, and Facebook app version (found in your phone's app settings).
- What you already tried: updated the app, restarted the phone, tested on Wi-Fi and mobile data.
- Evidence: a screenshot or a short screen recording that shows the error.
Sample report you can copy and adapt
I tap "Post" on a Reel and the screen freezes on "Posting..." for several minutes, then the app closes. Happens every time since Oct 14. Samsung Galaxy A-series, Android 14, latest Facebook app version. Works on Wi-Fi in a browser but not in the app. I updated, restarted and reinstalled with the same result. Screenshot attached.
7. After you submit: what to expect
- Do not expect a personal reply. Technical reports are generally used to help Facebook find and fix problems, and you may not receive an individual response.
- Check the Support Inbox. For eligible items, open Menu > Help & support > Support inbox in the app (on desktop: profile picture > Help & support > Support inbox) to see the latest status Facebook provides.
- Avoid duplicate spam. Submitting the same report many times will not speed things up. Report again only if the problem changes or you have new details.
- Keep the app updated. Fixes are often delivered through app updates or server-side changes.
8. Other official support routes
| Situation | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Cannot log in or account hacked | Facebook account recovery flow (use a device you have logged in from before) |
| Checking the status of a report or restriction | Menu > Help & support > Support inbox; Account Status in Help & support |
| Meta Verified subscribers | Facebook mobile app: Menu > Accounts Center > Meta Verified > select profile > Get support |
| Ads, Pages, business tools | Meta Business Help Center and Meta Status |
| Developers and API issues | Meta for Developers > Support > Report a Bug, plus the Platform Status Dashboard |
| Help articles and self-service fixes | Facebook Help Center (facebook.com/help) |
Some users also see a Meta AI support assistant chat option in the Help Center, depending on account and region. Be careful with websites or social media accounts claiming to offer Facebook phone support or "account recovery for a fee"; Meta says there is no general public customer-service phone number, and these are common scams.
9. How to turn shake-to-report on or off
If your phone keeps opening the report dialog by accident (or you want it on and it is not working):
- Open any screen in the Facebook app and shake your phone to open the report menu, or go to Menu > Help & support > Report a problem.
- Find the switch labeled "Shake phone to report a problem" (some versions say "Shake device to report a problem").
- Toggle it off to disable, or on to enable.
On iPhone, turning it off also frees the shake gesture to undo typing in text fields.
10. Frequently asked questions
How do I report a bug in the Facebook app?
Open the app, tap Menu, choose Help & support, tap Report a problem, then Continue to report a problem. Describe the issue, attach a screenshot and submit. You can also shake your phone on the broken screen and tap Report a problem.
Does shaking my phone report a person or a post?
No. Shake-to-report only opens a form for technical problems with the app. It does not report content or people, and nothing is sent until you complete and submit the form.
Will Facebook reply to my bug report?
Usually not individually. Reports help Meta identify and fix issues. For eligible cases, check your Support Inbox for status updates.
Is there a phone number for Facebook support?
No. Meta says Facebook does not have a general public customer-service phone number. Use the Help Center, Support Inbox, in-app reports and account recovery tools instead.
Why can't I find "Report a problem" in my app?
Menu layouts vary by app version, device and region. Update the app, scroll through Menu to Help & support, or use the search icon. If it still is not available, use the desktop route at facebook.com or the Help Center.
Should I include logs or diagnostic information?
Including technical details generally gives engineers more to work with. Choose "Don't include" only if you are uncomfortable sharing that data.
How is a technical report different from reporting a post?
Technical reports are for app malfunctions. To report abusive or rule-breaking content, tap the three dots on the post, profile or comment and choose Report.
Final thoughts
The fastest way to get a Facebook glitch noticed is to report it from the exact screen where it happens, with clear steps, your device details and a screenshot. Start with the quick checks, use Help & support > Report a problem (or shake to report), and keep your app updated. If Facebook is down for everyone, wait for the fix instead of resubmitting reports.
Did this guide solve your problem? Tell us in the comments which Facebook issue you ran into and we will add it to our troubleshooting series.
Sources and further reading
- Facebook Help Center: Report a Problem and Support Inbox pages (facebook.com/help)
- Meta for Developers: Support and Platform Status Dashboard (developers.facebook.com, updated June 30, 2026)
- Lead Stories fact check on "shake to report" (leadstories.com)
- Technobezz guides on contacting Facebook support and fixing Facebook problems (2026)
Menu names and features can change with app updates and vary by region. App World is not affiliated with Meta or Facebook. Facebook is a trademark of Meta Platforms, Inc.
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