Facebook’s drop-down menus are an integral part of navigating the platform. They allow easy access to key features and customization options.
However, sometimes these menus can stop working correctly. If you find Facebook’s drop-down menus unresponsive or missing, don’t panic. In most cases, the problem is temporary and fixable with a few troubleshooting steps.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the various reasons why Facebook’s drop-down menus may not be working. We will then provide actionable and easy-to-follow solutions to resolve the problem on both desktop and mobile.
Understanding Why Facebook Drop-Down Menus Stop Working
Before jumping into troubleshooting, it helps to understand potential reasons for the drop-down menu problem:
Internet Connectivity Issues
Facebook relies on a stable internet connection for optimal performance. Weak Wi-Fi signals, mobile data fluctuations or using restrictive networks like public hotspots can disrupt connectivity. Without robust connectivity, Facebook struggles to load correctly, and advanced interactive elements like drop-downs fail.
To confirm if connectivity issues are the culprit, run an internet speed test first. Switching to a stronger connection often instantly restores functionality.
Outdated Facebook Platforms
Facebook’s developers continuously enhance the platform and user experience. However, updates mean that older app versions or browser software become progressively incompatible. Running outdated apps or browsers can lead to drop-downs and other components rendering incorrectly or not at all.
Corrupted Temporary Data
During operation, Facebook relies on temporary data like cookies, cached files and app data stored on your device. If this temporary data becomes corrupted due to unexpected shutdowns or other factors, it can disrupt expected behavior.
Software Conflicts
Other software like browser extensions, display optimizers, device cleaners and security tools can potentially conflict with Facebook. They may block resources, modify code or cause sufficient conflicts for components like drop-downs to fail.
If the drop-down problems started occurring after installing new software, conflicts may be likely. Testing by disabling other suspect software can confirm interference.
Account Restrictions
In some cases, Facebook itself restricts certain account actions as a security measure if it detects suspicious activity. Restricted accounts lose access to certain features and customization until the account owner proves legitimacy.
If your account was recently restricted, it could explain missing drop-down menus. However, account restrictions normally trigger explicit alerts from Facebook.
Now that you understand why Facebook’s drop-down menus may fail, let’s explore solutions to get them working again.
Fixes For Facebook Drop-Down Menu Not Working
Use the following comprehensive troubleshooting guide to diagnose and fix unresponsive Facebook drop-down menus on both desktop and mobile:
1. Check Your Internet Connection
An unstable internet connection is one of the most common culprits behind Facebook issues. Before troubleshooting further, ensure you have a strong Wi-Fi or mobile data connection:
- Run a speed test at SpeedTest.net to check your current bandwidth and latency.
- If speed tests fail, switch network connections e.g. from Wi-Fi to mobile data or vice versa.
- Try disconnecting and reconnecting to refresh the connection and resolve transient glitches.
- For Wi-Fi users, move closer to the router for better signal strength if possible.
Once you verify a strong, low-latency internet connection, proceed to further troubleshooting if drop-downs remain unresponsive.
2. Refresh the Facebook Website or App
One of the simplest troubleshooting steps for any Facebook problem is refreshing the browser or app. Refreshing forces Facebook to clear out old temporary data and reload the latest version:
On Desktop Browsers:
- Press Ctrl + R keys for hard refresh if menus are missing. This reloads from the server instead of cache.
- Alternatively, click the circular refresh icon in the browser toolbar to soft refresh.
On iOS Facebook App:
- Drag the News Feed down to refresh in-app.
- Double-tap the iOS home button and swipe up on the Facebook preview to force close the app entirely. Then relaunch the app.
On Android Facebook App:
- Pull the News Feed down to refresh within the Android app.
- Alternatively, head into Settings > Apps > Facebook > Force Stop to close and restart.
Refreshing resets Facebook’s temporary stored data and often restores missing menus in a few seconds.
3. Update Facebook to the Latest Version
As highlighted earlier, running outdated Facebook platforms can introduce compatibility issues causing technical problems. Ensure you run the latest Facebook app and browser software:
Check the Facebook App Version:
- On iPhone/iPad – Head to the App Store > Tap your profile icon > Scroll down and tap Facebook if any Update buttons show beside it. The latest version denotes full compatibility.
- On Android – Open Play Store > Menu > My Apps & Games > Update beside Facebook if pending.
Check Your Browser Version:
You should ideally run the latest browser versions compatible with your operating system for optimal Facebook performance:
- Chrome – Click three-dot Menu > Help > Google Chrome Info to see the version. Update through Play Store or Enable auto-updates in Settings.
- Firefox – Click three lines ≡ Menu > ? icon > About Firefox to check. Allow auto-updates in Preferences.
- Safari – Click Safari Menu > About Safari on Mac. On iPhone/iPad, head to Settings > Safari > About to check. Updates roll out via OS updates.
- Edge – Click three-dot Menu > Settings > About Microsoft Edge to see. Switch on auto-updates.
Install available updates for both the Facebook application and your web browser to prevent issues due to outdated platforms.
4. Try Facebook Lite Instead
In some cases, the full-fledged Facebook app can have issues on certain mobile devices due to hardware constraints or software conflicts.
Consider switching to the leaner Facebook Lite alternative:
- Facebook Lite offers the core Facebook experience at just over 1MB vs 100+ MB for the main app.
- It consumes far fewer device resources, still offering News Feed, status updates, profiles etc.
- If drop-downs fail only in main Facebook app, switching can isolate if it’s an app-specific conflict.
Since Facebook Lite has limited functionality, it could work better and restore menus where the main app fails. Tap the Profile Pic > Switch to Classic Facebook link at the bottom to revert anytime.
5. Log Out and Back Into Facebook
Logging out forces all your Facebook browsing sessions to close, including any instances causing interface problems. Logging back in refreshes the access token and data required for the proper working of drop-downs.
Follow these instructions to log out and into Facebook again:
On Desktop:
- Click the Profile Pic > Settings & Privacy > Scroll down to Log Out option.
- Close all browser windows and tabs. Launch fresh browser instance and head to Facebook.com site.
- Enter credentials again for a fresh login. Check if drop-downs now work.
On Mobile App:
- iOS – Tap Profile Pic > Menu > Log Out. Close the app from the app switcher after logging out.
- Android – Tap the three-line Menu > Settings & Privacy > Scroll down and tap Log Out.
- Relaunch the mobile app and sign in again with your username and password.
The fresh login process often eliminates quirky interface issues like broken drop-downs by resetting Facebook’s local data and parameters.
6. Clear Facebook Cookies and Cache
As discussed earlier, corrupted temporary data can disrupt Facebook functionality in mysterious ways. Deleting cookies and cache forces Facebook to rebuild this data required for smooth working:
On Chrome Browser:
- Type chrome://settings/clearBrowserData in the address bar.
- Select Cached Images and Files along with Cookies and Site Data.
- Use the Clear Data button for the time range “All Time.”
On Firefox Browser:
- Click Menu ☰ icon > Options or Preferences > Privacy & Security
- Scroll down and choose Cookies and Active Logins option
- Select Clear alongside Cached Web Content checkmark and confirm
On Safari Browser:
- Click Safari Menu (Windows, use Gear icon) > Preferences > Privacy
- Tick both Cookies and Website Data then press Remove All
Once you clear cache and cookies specifically for Facebook domains, refresh the page. The missing menus should now be restored in most instances.
7. Disable Browser Extensions and Addons
Some browser extensions and add-ons interact with Facebook and can potentially obstruct code, stylesheets or scripts that power drop-down functionality.
Top offenders include adblockers, Facebook downloaders, video downloaders, privacy extensions etc. Try the following to check for conflicts:
- Chrome – Click Puzzle icon > Manage Extensions to disable individual extensions temporarily. Test drop-downs between disabling each.
- Firefox – Click Menu ☰ icon > Add-ons > Extensions tab to turn off extensions and check.
- Edge – Click Ellipses … > Extensions to toggle off external extensions and test.
Enabling extensions one-by-one after isolating conflicts also helps identify problematic add-ons that need removal or an alternative solution.
8. Try Facebook in Incognito/Private Mode
Incognito or Private browsing modes load webpages without using any temporary internet data like cookies, cache and site permissions stored by browsers during normal browsing. Using this pristine mode isolates if corrupted data is causing the drop-down failure.
To enable Private Mode:
- Chrome Desktop – Ctrl + Shift + N keys or click three-dot menu
- Safari Mac – Click File menu and select New Private Window
- Firefox – Press Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows/Linux or ⌘ + Shift + P on Mac
- iOS – Safari browser only – Tap tabs icon > turn on Private toggle in bottom
- Android Chrome – Tap three dots > New incognito tab
Now access Facebook sign in the private window and check if drop-downs start working properly sans regular browser data getting in the way.
9. Try Another Web Browser
In rare cases, conflicts between Facebook site code and specific web browsers can lead to drop-down menus not rendering properly.
If you face drop-down failures consistently only when accessing Facebook via one particular browser, switching browsers isolates if that is root cause:
- Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Brave and Opera are leading alternative browser options.
- Safari can also be used on Mac desktop and iOS/iPad OS.
- Third-party Facebook apps also rely on built-in web-views that act like independent browsers.
Attempt accessing Facebook using multiple alternative browsers and apps and monitor if problem persists across the board or for specific software only. That will help zone in on incompatible platforms.
10. Change the Default Facebook Language
Facebook dynamically generates appropriate code and UI styling based on the language profile configured for your account. In exceptional cases, the configured language may have compatibility issues or lack some components like drop-downs.
Attempt setting Facebook’s display language to English United States, which is the most stable language option:
- Desktop – Click your Profile Picture > Settings & Privacy > Language > English (US)
- iOS/Android app – Tap Menu ≡ symbol > Settings & Privacy > Language > English (US)
If toggling to English restores unresponsive drop-downs, you can choose to either continue using Facebook in English or report the localization language issue to Facebook developers for your native tongue.
11. Check if Facebook Works in Desktop Mode
The desktop version of Facebook has subtle differences from the mobile app – including how menus, pop-ups and other items are coded. If your drop-downs fail only on mobile, try loading Facebook in desktop mode:
- iPhone/iPad – Tap share icon in Safari browser toolbar during Facebook access > Request Desktop Website
- Android – Enable desktop mode via Chrome three-dot menu > Desktop site when on Facebook
If the drop-downs start working when Facebook loads its desktop site stylesheet and scripts, it indicates a mobile app-specific conflict worth reporting to Facebook.
12. Reinstall or Update Facebook App
As a last resort, completely uninstalling the Facebook mobile app and reinstalling the latest version can eliminate any corrupted files or cached data responsible for the drop-down failure:
On iPhone or iPad
- Tap and hold the Facebook icon until icons shake
- Tap the X icon to delete the app
- Head to the App Store and reinstall Facebook
- Test the freshly installed app for working drop-downs.
On Android
- Go to Settings > Apps > Facebook > Uninstall
- Alternatively, long press Facebook icon and drag to Uninstall
- Open the Play Store to reinstall the app
- Check drop-down behavior in the freshly on-boarded app.
This ensures any guilty corrupted data is discarded, installing Facebook cleanly without old configurations that may be problematic.
13. Contact Facebook Support
If you have thoroughly tried all the troubleshooting steps suggested above without success, directly engaging Facebook Support is the next approach:
- Head to the Facebook Help Center.
- Browse relevant categories or use Search to find answers to your drop-down question.
- Click Need More Help? > Report a Problem to open an inquiry ticket.
- Provide details of troubleshooting attempted and exactly when drop-downs stopped working on what device under what conditions.
- Attach screenshots wherever relevant to communicate the issue effectively.
- Submit the ticket and await a personalized response from Facebook’s product specialists based on the details shared around missing drop-down menus.
Facebook Support has dedicated teams to handle website, mobile app and account-related issues faced by users globally.
Engaging them should help address persistent drop-down failures even after you complete standard troubleshooting.
