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Facebook’s “Error performing query” message is a generic failure notice. It can appear when you comment, search, open Marketplace, edit a post, use Messenger, change an account setting, or try to log in. It does not, by itself, prove that your account has been hacked.
Start with the quick checks below, then use the section that matches the feature producing the error. Avoid repeatedly clicking Post, Send, or Try again: if Facebook is having a temporary problem, repeated attempts can create duplicate comments or messages after service returns.
1. Refresh Facebook and retry once
Refresh the page or screen where the error appears. On a phone, close the message, pull down to refresh the affected Feed, Group, Marketplace, or profile page, and repeat the action. If that does not work, fully close Facebook, reopen it, and try again.
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If a Marketplace item came from an old notification or browser tab, open Marketplace and find the listing through Marketplace search instead. The original listing may have been removed, sold, or changed.
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2. Check the connection, VPN, and Facebook outage possibility
Facebook may load normally while a particular request—such as a comment, search, or Marketplace message—fails because the connection is filtering or interrupting it.
- Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data, or from mobile data to Wi-Fi.
- Try Facebook on another device using the same network.
- Temporarily disable a VPN, proxy, private-DNS filter, ad-blocking DNS profile, or antivirus web filter.
- Retry the action once.
If the error affects several devices, networks, or people, the problem is more likely to be a Facebook-side outage or a failure in one feature. Other parts of Facebook can continue working during a feature-specific outage. In that situation, wait and try later instead of repeatedly submitting the same action.
3. Clear Facebook’s local data
Corrupt cached files, cookies, or local session data can prevent Facebook from completing a request. Use the instructions for your device.
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Android
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps or Apps & notifications.
- Select Facebook.
- Tap Storage or Storage & cache.
- Tap Clear cache.
Open Facebook and test it again. If the error remains, return to the same screen and choose Clear storage or Clear data. This resets the app and signs you out, but it does not delete your Facebook account, posts, photos, friends, or server-stored messages. Android menu names vary by manufacturer and version.
iPhone or iPad
iOS does not provide a universal Clear cache button for Facebook. To reset its local data:
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- Open Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Tap Facebook.
- Tap Offload App, then reinstall it from the same screen.
If offloading does not help, press and hold the Facebook icon, tap Remove App > Delete App, then reinstall Facebook from the App Store. Reinstalling may sign you out, but it does not delete your account or content stored on Facebook.
Chrome or Edge
- Open Facebook.
- Click the lock or tune icon beside the address bar.
- Open Site settings.
- Choose Delete data or Clear data.
- Reload Facebook and sign in again.
Clearing only cookies may not be enough if cached Facebook files are damaged, so clear the site data rather than deleting one individual cookie.
Safari on Mac
Go to Safari > Settings (or Safari > Preferences on older macOS versions), open Privacy > Manage Website Data, search for facebook, select the Facebook data, and click Remove. Reopen Facebook afterward.
4. Update Facebook, your browser, and the operating system
An outdated app or browser can fail when Facebook changes the request or authentication flow.
| Software | Update path |
|---|---|
| Facebook on iPhone/iPad | App Store > profile picture > available updates, then tap Update beside Facebook. |
| Facebook on Android | Google Play Store > profile icon > Manage apps & device > Updates available, then update Facebook. |
| Chrome | Three dots > Help > About Google Chrome. |
| Edge | Three dots > Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge. |
| Firefox | Menu > Help > About Firefox. |
| Safari | Update macOS through System Settings > General > Software Update. |
Also check the device itself: use Settings > General > Software Update on an iPhone or iPad, or Settings > System > System update on Android. Android labels can differ between manufacturers.
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5. Start a fresh Facebook session
A stale login session can cause errors after a password change, security check, expired session, or long-running browser session.
- Open Facebook and open your profile picture or menu.
- Choose Log out.
- Close the app or browser tab completely.
- Reopen Facebook and sign in again.
On a computer, also test Facebook in an incognito or private window. You can alternatively try another browser. If Facebook works in the private window or a different browser, disable extensions in the affected browser—especially ad blockers, script blockers, privacy tools, shopping extensions, translation tools, and antivirus web extensions. Blocked third-party cookies or aggressive tracking protection can also interrupt Facebook authentication and feature requests.
6. Simplify the action that fails
If the error happens only when creating or editing something, the request itself may be triggering a validation, file-processing, or permission problem. Reduce it to the smallest possible action.
For posts, profiles, Pages, and listings
- Try plain text without decorative Unicode characters, unusual symbols, excessive emojis, repeated hashtags, or copied formatting.
- Remove shortened URLs and external contact details temporarily.
- When editing a listing, change one field at a time: price first, then description, then photos.
- For Marketplace, remove phone numbers, payment handles, and external contact information while testing.
For photos and videos
Submit the text without media first. If it works, add photos or videos one at a time. A damaged, oversized, or difficult-to-process file can produce the same generic query error. Re-exporting an image or video and trying the new file can help.
For comments and messages
Try a short, ordinary sentence rather than pasted text containing links, unusual formatting, or many repeated characters. If you have performed many similar actions quickly, stop for several hours. Temporary limits on rapid posting, messaging, or other activity can generate this message.
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7. Check feature-specific restrictions
The location of the error is an important clue:
| Where it occurs | What to check |
|---|---|
| Marketplace | Confirm the item is still available, your location and eligibility are supported, and the listing or seller has not been restricted. |
| One Group | The post may have been deleted, comments may be closed, your membership may have changed, or administrator approval may be required. |
| One Page or profile | Check whether you still have permission to edit or publish and whether the content violates a posting restriction. |
| Ads or business tools | Look for account, payment, policy, or access restrictions in the relevant Meta business tools. |
| Login or security settings | Expect possible identity confirmation, login approval, two-factor authentication, or recent-activity review. |
If every other Facebook action works but one listing, Group, or post fails, clearing the app cache is less likely to solve it. The object may no longer exist, or your permission to use it may have changed.
8. Secure the account only when the symptoms justify it
“Error performing query” does not mean that an account was hacked. Investigate security when you also see unfamiliar posts, messages, friend requests, logins, password changes, or email and phone-number changes.
For account-related errors, open Settings & privacy > Settings > Accounts Center > Password and security > Change password. Review Where you’re logged in and sign out unfamiliar devices. If you cannot access the account or suspect compromise, use facebook.com/hacked.
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Report the problem when it continues after testing another connection, device, browser, or session—particularly if it affects an important account function.
- Open your profile picture or the Facebook menu.
- Choose Help & support > Report a problem.
- Select the affected feature.
- Describe the exact action that fails and the message shown.
- Attach a screenshot if possible.
Include your device model, app or browser, whether you were on Wi-Fi or mobile data, the affected feature, and the approximate time of the failure. That information is more useful than reporting only “Facebook is broken.”
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Best troubleshooting order
For most people, this sequence finds the cause with the least disruption:
- Refresh Facebook and retry once.
- Switch networks and disable VPN or filtering tools.
- Try a private window, another browser, or another device.
- Sign out and back in.
- Clear Facebook’s local data or reinstall the app.
- Update Facebook, the browser, and the operating system.
- Simplify the post, listing, file, comment, or message.
- Wait if you made many rapid attempts, or report the issue if it persists.
FAQ
What does “Error performing query” mean on Facebook?
It means Facebook could not complete a particular request, but the message does not identify the cause. Common causes include stale app data, an expired session, network or VPN interference, browser extensions, feature restrictions, temporary activity limits, malformed content, or a Facebook-side outage.
Will clearing Facebook data delete my account?
No. Clearing Android app data, offloading Facebook on iPhone, or reinstalling the app removes local data and may sign you out. Posts, photos, friends, messages, and the account itself remain stored on Facebook.
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Why does Facebook work except for Marketplace?
Marketplace can fail independently because of an unavailable listing, location or eligibility rules, seller settings, account restrictions, or a Marketplace service problem. Reopen the item through Marketplace search instead of an old notification link.
Should I change my Facebook password to fix this error?
Not normally. Change the password when the error occurs during account security actions or when you see signs of compromise, such as unfamiliar logins or posts. A password change is not a general fix for comments, Groups, Marketplace, or browser-only errors.
Why does Facebook work in an incognito window but not my normal browser?
The normal browser profile likely has stale cookies, damaged site data, an extension conflict, blocked cookies, or an aggressive privacy setting. Clear Facebook site data and test extensions individually.
The Bottom Line
Refresh first, then test another network or browser before deleting anything. If the error is limited to Marketplace, one Group, one listing, or one type of action, investigate permissions, content, availability, and temporary limits rather than assuming the whole account is broken. Clear local data or reinstall only after those quick tests, and report the failure with a screenshot and exact feature details if it continues.
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