How to Fix "Could Not Load Results" on Facebook: The Ultimate Troubleshooting Guide

Have you ever tried searching for something on Facebook only to be greeted by the dreaded "Could Not Load Results" error message? As a fellow tech geek and avid Facebook user, I totally get how frustrating that can be.

Not being able to search and find what you need on Facebook is a real productivity killer. But don‘t worry, I‘ve got your back!

In this comprehensive troubleshooting guide, I‘ll walk you through all the possible causes of the Facebook "Could Not Load Results" error and give you step-by-step solutions to fix it.

Why Does the "Could Not Load Results" Error Happen on Facebook?

Before we dive into the troubleshooting, let‘s first understand why this error happens in the first place.

There are a few key reasons you might see the "Could Not Load Results" message when trying to search on Facebook:

Facebook is Down or Experiencing an Outage: The most common reason for the error is that Facebook‘s servers are down or overloaded. Major outages that affect most users happen once every few months.
Buggy App Update: Facebook frequently rolls out app updates to fix bugs and add new features. Sometimes these updates inadvertently introduce new bugs that cause search issues.
Connectivity Problems on Your End: Weak internet connectivity, either due to poor Wi-Fi or mobile data signals, can prevent the Facebook app from loading search results properly.
Corrupt App Cache/Data: Over time, the cache and app data for Facebook can get corrupted and cause all sorts of glitches including search problems.
Outdated App or Phone Software: If you‘re running a very outdated version of the Facebook app or phone software, you may experience compatibility issues leading to errors like this one.

Now let‘s go through each of these causes in more detail and the steps you can take to get Facebook search working again!

Step 1: Check if Facebook is Having an Outage

Before you waste time troubleshooting on your end, it‘s a good idea to check if the issue is actually with Facebook‘s servers.

Here are a couple quick ways to check if Facebook is down:

Visit Downdetector.com: Downdetector tracks outages and issues across popular websites and apps. Just search for "Facebook" to see if users are reporting any outages.
Search Twitter for Reports: Searching "Facebook down" on Twitter will show you the latest tweets from users running into issues.
Check Facebook‘s Status Page: Facebook has an official status page that shows if any of their services are experiencing degraded performance or outages.

If there are widespread reports of outages across these sites, just hang tight until Facebook resolves the problem on their end. Major outages typically don‘t last more than an hour or two.

Once Facebook‘s services come back up, the "Could Not Load Results" error should disappear as well.

Step 2: Update or Reinstall the Facebook App

If Facebook seems to be up and running fine, the next thing to try is updating the Facebook app on your phone:

On Android:

Open the Google Play Store
Search for "Facebook"
Check if there are any pending updates and install them

On iPhone:

Go to the App Store
Tap your profile icon in the top right
Scroll down to see if the Facebook app needs an update and install it

Updating to the latest version can fix any bugs that are causing search issues.

If updating doesn‘t work, your next step should be uninstalling and reinstalling the Facebook app. Here are the steps:

On Android:

Go to Settings > Apps
Tap Facebook
Tap Uninstall

On iPhone:

Press and hold the Facebook app icon until it starts wiggling
Tap the X icon to delete it

Reinstalling the app gives you a clean slate which often resolves persistent glitches like the "Could Not Load Results" bug.

Step 3: Try Downgrading to an Older Facebook App Version

Sometimes the latest Facebook app updates introduce new bugs that weren‘t present in previous versions.

If you started seeing search errors after updating, consider downloading an older version of the Facebook app:

On Android:

Go to websites like APKMirror.com which host old app versions
Download and install a Facebook version that was working properly before the issues began

On iPhone:

Unfortunately you can‘t download older versions of apps on iOS
You‘ll have to stick with updating or reinstalling the current version of the app

Do keep in mind older app versions eventually lose support, so use this solution temporarily until Facebook releases a fixed update.

Step 4: Switch Between Wi-Fi and Mobile Data

Slow or spotty internet connectivity is one of the most common reasons for Facebook errors like "Could Not Load Results."

Try these steps to check if the issue is being caused by your network:

If connected to Wi-Fi, turn it off and switch to mobile data instead
If on mobile data, connect to a stable Wi-Fi network
Turn on Airplane mode for a minute before turning it off to refresh the connection
Move closer to your Wi-Fi router to get a stronger signal

Switching networks essentially forces the Facebook app to re-establish the connection which often resolves loading issues.

Step 5: Clear the App Cache and Data

Over time, the cached data and temporary files stored by the Facebook app can become corrupted and cause functionality issues.

Clearing the app cache and data gives the app a clean slate, often fixing problems like the search error.

Here are the steps:

On Android:

Go to Settings > Apps
Tap Facebook > Storage
Tap Clear Cache and Clear Data buttons

On iPhone:

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage
Select Facebook
Tap Offload App to clear data and cache

This will wipe all temporary data and sign you out. Just re-enter your login info after clearing the cache.

Step 6: Check for Facebook App Restrictions

Some third-party apps like parental control tools impose restrictions on the Facebook app, which could cause issues like failing searches.

Check if you have any such apps installed that might be limiting Facebook‘s functionality. Removing those restrictions can help fix search problems.

Step 7: Update Your Phone‘s Software

Having an outdated version of your phone‘s operating system can also create compatibility issues with the latest Facebook app resulting in bugs.

Updating your phone‘s software is straightforward:

On Android:

Go to Settings > System > System update

On iPhone:

Go to Settings > General > Software update

Install the latest OS updates available for your device. Using the most recent iOS or Android version improves stability and ensures optimal Facebook app performance.

When to Contact Facebook Support

If you‘ve tried all troubleshooting steps and the "Could Not Load Results" error persists, it‘s time to contact Facebook support:

In the Facebook app, tap Menu > Help & Support and tap Need More Help
Explain the issue and steps you‘ve tried in detail
Or visit the Facebook Help Community

Providing error details helps Facebook Support diagnose if there are bugs on their end causing the search issues. They can also suggest any other workarounds or solutions you haven‘t tried yet.

In Conclusion…

I hope this detailed troubleshooting guide helps you get to the bottom of the frustrating "Could Not Load Results" Facebook error. Here are some key tips to remember:

First check if Facebook is down before wasting time troubleshooting
Update or reinstall the Facebook app to resolve bugs
Downgrade to an older app version temporarily if needed
Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data to test if it‘s a connectivity problem
Clear app cache/data to wipe corrupt temporary files
Make sure your phone OS is up-to-date
Contact Facebook support if all else fails!

Using these smart troubleshooting techniques, you should be able to get Facebook search working properly again in no time. Let me know if you have any other questions – I‘m always happy to help a fellow technology enthusiast!