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Facebook Reels/Videos Not Playing? How to Fix “Sorry, We’re Having Trouble Playing This Video”
Many users on Samsung Galaxy phones, Android devices, Windows PCs, and even browsers like Microsoft Edge are reporting a frustrating Facebook error:
“Sorry, we’re having trouble playing this video.”
In some cases:
- Facebook videos open but do not play,
- Messenger opens the wrong reel,
- uploaded reels stay stuck loading,
- or videos refuse to load completely.
The issue has affected:
- Facebook Reels,
- linked Messenger videos,
- self-posted reels,
- and shared video content.
Here are the most effective fixes users found.
Why Facebook Reels or Videos Stop Playing
The problem can happen because of:
- corrupted app cache,
- browser hardware acceleration,
- Messenger linking issues,
- Android app permissions,
- gaming optimization apps,
- or Facebook app bugs.
Some users also noticed the issue started suddenly after recent Facebook or Messenger updates.
How to Fix Facebook Reels/Videos Not Playing
Below are the fixes that helped users across Android, Samsung Galaxy phones, Windows PCs, and browsers.
Fix 1: Reset Microsoft Edge Settings
Several Windows users fixed the issue by resetting Microsoft Edge settings.
Steps:
- Open Edge
- Type:
edge://settings/reset- Select:
- Restore settings to their default values
Many users reported this immediately fixed Facebook video playback.
Fix 2: Disable Hardware Acceleration in Edge
Hardware acceleration can sometimes break Facebook video playback.
Steps:
- Open Edge
- Visit:
edge://settings/system- Turn OFF:
- “Use hardware acceleration when available”
- Restart the browser
This solved reel loading problems for many users.
Fix 3: Disable Browser Extensions
Ad blockers or privacy extensions may interfere with Facebook video playback.
Try:
- disabling extensions one by one,
- restarting the browser,
- and testing reels again.
Fix 4: Repair Microsoft Edge
If resetting does not work:
Steps:
- Open:
- Settings
- Apps
- Apps & Features
- Find Microsoft Edge
- Click:
- Modify
- Repair
This reinstalls core browser components without deleting personal data.
Fix 5: Turn Off Android “Open Supported Links”
One of the most successful Android fixes was disabling supported links.
On Samsung or Android:
- Open Settings
- Go to Apps
- Select Facebook or Messenger
- Tap:
- Set as default
- Open supported links
- Turn OFF the option
Many users reported Facebook reels started working instantly afterward.
Fix 6: Reinstall Messenger Properly
Some Samsung Galaxy users fixed the issue with a full Messenger reinstall process.
Steps:
- Uninstall Messenger
- Completely power off the phone
- Reinstall Messenger
- Before opening Messenger:
- restart phone again
- Log back into Messenger
This reportedly fixed video playback on devices like the Samsung Galaxy S22+.
Fix 7: Disable Razer Cortex Auto-Boost
Users with gaming PCs found that Razer Cortex caused Facebook videos to stop working.
Steps:
- Open Razer Cortex
- Go to:
- Game Booster
- Disable:
- Auto-Boost
After disabling optimization features, Facebook reels started playing normally.
Fix 8: Clear Facebook and Messenger Cache
On Android:
- Open Settings
- Apps
- Storage
- Clear Cache
Repeat for Messenger.
If necessary:
- clear app data,
- then log back in.
Fix 9: Check if Only Your Own Reels Fail
Some users found:
- regular Facebook videos work,
- but reels they personally upload get stuck loading.
This may be a temporary Facebook server issue affecting creator uploads rather than device settings.
In such cases:
- waiting for app updates may be necessary.
Why Messenger Opens the Wrong Reel
Some users noticed:
- tapping a reel link in Messenger opens Facebook video feed instead,
- or loads a random reel at the top of the feed.
This appears linked to Messenger-Facebook integration bugs introduced in recent updates.
Reinstalling both apps helped some users temporarily.
