How to Stop Facebook's In-App Browser from Lagging or Freezing

Published: August 16, 2026

You are using the Facebook app and want to open a link you found there. You tap the link, but instead of opening, the page starts loading and then freezes, or keeps loading without showing the page properly.

The problem can be caused by a temporary Facebook app issue, an outdated Facebook or Android System WebView version, an internet connection problem, or the way a particular website loads inside Facebook’s in-app browser.

Start by opening the same link in Chrome or your phone’s regular browser. If it opens there without freezing, the problem is likely limited to Facebook’s in-app browser. Updating Facebook, clearing its cache, and checking for updates to Android System WebView and Chrome are some of the first fixes to try. If the same page also freezes in your regular browser, the problem may be related to the website, internet connection, or something else on your phone.

If Facebook itself feels slow while scrolling, opening posts, or switching between sections, FixerLab has already covered how to fix a slow phone and slow Facebook which makes it easier to find the proper fixes for those wider performance problems.

We will check the possible causes one by one and use the fix that matches the problem, rather than changing phone settings that are not related to it.

Table of Contents

Why Facebook’s In-App Browser Lags or Freezes

When you tap a link in the Facebook app, the page can open inside Facebook instead of switching you to Chrome or another browser. On Android, Facebook’s in-app browser uses Android System WebView to display web content inside the app. Depending on the phone and Android setup, Chrome can also provide the WebView component used by apps.

This means the page you are trying to open is being displayed through Facebook’s in-app browsing setup rather than through the full Chrome browser. If something goes wrong with that setup, the page may stop responding or remain stuck on the loading screen.

What Can Make Facebook’s In-App Browser Slow?

A few things can slow Facebook’s in-app browser down while a page is loading:

Stored browsing data: Pages you open inside Facebook can leave cached files, cookies, and other site data behind. If this stored data starts causing loading problems, clearing it can help.
Heavy websites: Some pages have large images, autoplaying videos, ads, or many scripts that need to load. These pages can take longer to open inside Facebook’s in-app browser, even when they load properly in Chrome.

Clear Facebook’s In-App Browser Data

Facebook saves browsing information from the pages you open inside the app. If this stored information starts causing loading problems, clearing it can help.

To clear it, open Facebook, go to your profile icon, then open Settings & privacy → Settings. Look for the Browser option and open it. From there, you can clear the browsing data saved for pages opened inside Facebook.

Clear Facebook’s Cache

If clearing Facebook’s in-app browser data does not fix the freezing or slow loading, clear the Facebook app’s cache from your phone settings. This removes temporary files stored by Facebook and does not delete your Facebook account or posts.

On most Android phones, open Settings → Apps → Facebook → Storage and tap Clear cache. The exact menu names can be different depending on your phone, so look for Apps, App management, or Storage if you do not see the same options.

After clearing the cache, open Facebook again and try the same link. If the page loads normally, the problem was likely related to temporary data stored by the app.

Open Facebook Links in Chrome Instead

If Facebook’s in-app browser keeps freezing, you can open the same page in Chrome or your phone’s default browser instead. After tapping the link in Facebook, look for the three-dot menu at the top of the page and select the option to open it in your regular browser.

This also helps you narrow down where the problem is:

The page works in Chrome but freezes in Facebook: the issue is more likely related to Facebook’s in-app browser.
The page is slow or freezes in both: check the website, internet connection, or other phone-related causes.

Update Facebook and Android System WebView

Outdated apps can cause different loading and performance problems, so checking for the latest available updates is a useful step when Facebook’s in-app browser starts freezing or loading slowly.

First, make sure the Google Play Store itself is up to date. Open Google Play Store → Profile icon → Settings → About → Update Play Store. If the Play Store is already updated, it will show “Google Play Store is up to date.” Tap Got it to close the message.

Now check Facebook for an available update. Open Google Play Store → Profile icon → Manage apps & device → Manage. Tap Updates available if it appears, find Facebook, and tap Update.

For Android System WebView, search for it directly in the Google Play Store and check whether an Update button is available. Android System WebView allows Android apps to display web content without opening a separate browser. On some phones, Chrome handles this role, so check Chrome for an available update as well.

I tested these Play Store steps on an Infinix Smart 7 (X6515) running XOS V12.0.0. The names or location of some options may be different on your phone because Android versions and phone interfaces can vary, but you can start from the Google Play Store and follow the available update options on your device.

You can also check Google’s official Android WebView documentation for how WebView displays web content inside Android apps.

Author
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Rehman Gul

At FixerLab, I focus on making technology easier to understand. Through well-researched, easy-to-follow guides, I explain smartphone issues, app errors, software problems, and everyday digital challenges in a simple way, helping readers find clear and practical solutions with confidence.