Official Facebook app for Windows Phone gets updated, hopefully makes it better

By now you should know that we’re not big Facebook users around here. Hey, if everyone can critique the stupidity of Instagram, we can do the same for Facebook. Regardless, we know many of you love the service and rely on it to stay in touch with friends, family and colleagues. So it’s exciting to see the app get a nice 0.1 update to version 4.2 today (last update was for 7.8 in December).

Unfortunately there is no change log with this update, as it instead relies on the old update info from when the app got some Windows Phone 8 features. Also a cursory look around the app did not reveal any major new features but figuring out the labyrinth like feature-set of the world’s largest social network is never easy to begin with.

Feel free to grab version 4.2 of the official Facebook app here in the Windows Phone 8 Store and for Windows Phone 7.x users, you should be on v2.9 today. Note that this update is fresh off the presses, so some of you will only see 2.8 or 4.1 for now. Sit tight and try again later as we’re ahead of the curve on this one today.

Anyway, please let us know in comments if the app, which gets a lot of complaints, has improved at all. Fingers crossed.

Thanks, Jorge S. and Chad F., for the tip!

Daniel Rubino is the Executive Editor of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft here since 2007, back when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Microsoft Surface, laptops, next-gen computing, and arguing with people on the internet.

198 Comments

holy crap tons of stuff happening for the MS ecosystem today! Hopefully this brings some much needed stability fixes
I know, right!? So many ports, new apps and updates!
and its only Tuesday I can tell tomorrow will be another day...
What's so special about today?
Still use Facebook on a probably daily basis. But admittedly through my phone I rarely use the app, usually just the OS integration
I am the same. but checking in with friends can only done by the app.
You can do that with Social Scout.
Social Scout what's that? Another of those WP features found only in the USA?
No, it's an app, and I'm in Canada. Look for it in the store.
I too prefer using the integrated OS experience but sometimes like while checking in with photos or tagging friends on a checkin, we require the app.
Same here. The OS integration meets all my needs. I don't even see the point of this app.
Use the Facebook app to add photos to my albums,can't do it thru the baked in version.
Groups and messaging between several recipients are missing from the integrated stuff.
Your needs are not the same as everyone else's.
Considering there are functions not available in the OS integrated version, I am not sure how that can be said
I purposely don't use OS-integrated FB, because I don't want FB to have access to my entire contact list.
It's the other way round, you give Microsoft access to your Facebook profile. However, Microsoft owns part of Facebook already.
In order to post full quality photos or in an album of your choosing you need to use the app. Also tagging friends in status updates/check ins, liking comments, offline messaging, posting to groups, sharing links to groups (in fact, group functionality in general)... I could go on. Facebook integration in WP is barebones, and that's fine. But if you're a poweruser, you need the app.
Even the App for WP8 hasn't got all the features from the Android or iOS app... One thing that I miss is the possibility to quoting someone in a post (or a comment). I mean, on Facebook i can write just like this: "I'm going to the cinema today, @friend1 do you want to go"? But on the app I can't do that, I only can tag someone that is with me. And the same in a comment. Also I can't share something I saw in my timeline (or in another friends timeline) And yet the app still better than the phone integration, one thing that Microsoft should implement very quickly is the possibility to choose a list for sharing a pic or post.
Facebook JDB allows sharing - looks and feels similar to Android.
Ditto. I use the app to add new friends.
Same here...90% reliance on OS integrated fb...use the app only for viewing certain pages I follow and messages..
Why doesn't Facebook take any interest after all supporting Bing
FINALLY!! I'm engulfed in flames of excitement!
We need one bucket of water over here, I repeat one bucket of water!
Haha!!
Lol..
HAHA
Haha! Nah, I'm fine. XD
Okay, crisis avoided. Move along folks, nothing to see, give the man some room to breath. :D
If they fixed the annoying habbit where it jumps to the top of the news feed after you return from going to an external link i'll be happy.
^This
It jumps to the top of my news feed even if I'm not returning from a link. I could be reading a status update and then POP right to the top
yes they fix that haha ... fantastic
Finally! Now, if they would appropriately apply the Facebook filters I use for my news feed (some people post way too many game junk and useless graphics), then I would be extra ecstatic.

I can definitely deal with this though. At least I don't have to rapidly scroll through my whole news feed out of fear of being jettisoned back to the top at any time.
+1
Pretty sure they did. I just tried it on a few posts and it didn't jump back to the top. Hoping this version also make the notifications more reliable too.
They do seem to have done this, happy times.
Yup its fixed :) , that was one of the most annoying thing.
This is very annoying!
Happens all the time and it very annoying.
Haha that's what I was going to say and it looks like they did! Fing finally!
This was the first thing I checked after update and it seems they have fixed it
^^ Me too. That was annoying indeed!
may hold off and see what other users say about it, I mean.. a .1 version upgrade is typically pretty minor and that FB app is abyssmal...
Why wouldn't you just update? Its free
and only for the better...
Updating it now... Lets see what has changed :)
The annoying bug where the content of posts are invisible until you scroll seems to be fixed (Win 7.x version)! Yay!
not on mine... :( still have to scroll to see what's happening out there
Why won't Facebook just give us the original iOS/Android look? Just like Twitter did. I really can't do anything with this app..tooo limited and useless. Was hoping this update will bring the new look but guess I've to dream on :'(
Because it's NOT iOS its Windows Phone.
Precisely. I for one think we have the most aesthetically pleasing version here on wp8. Everyone I've shown it to says they're blown away at how fluid and nice it looks.
it looked nice and thats it. We're missing tons of features. no point it looking nice without the features.
Me personaly love the look, but want the features from iOS and Android version brought over.
I 100% agree! I also like the look of the IOS android one more :/
Well this is the first update in a long time, so hopefully it means they've not got someone working on it again full time. This will be lets push out some bug fixes, and then they'll start adding missing features. Lots of good momentum for WP the last couple of weeks, good to see the platform improvements snowballing.
Our version is like a hamlet, without the hamlet.
My understanding is that Microsoft actually does this app under license from Facebook.
Microsoft run this app, not Facebook. But it will change if Facebook own it.
It's like the Twitter app, it now looks like iOS/Android, because they own itself.
Because it is using the metro design language which is far more attractive than iOS's or android's design languages. If all windows phone apps just looked like ios/android apps then I would personally be very disappointed as metro UI is beautiful.
Functionality > design, and our "metro" app is severely lacking in functionality.
But over coming that lack of functionality shouldn't just involve copying over the design of an app on another platform. There is no reason a "metro" facbook app can't be as functional as it's iOS and Android counterparts.
^This!
Finally somebody gets it!
You do have a point. Some features are missing and it does take a while for it to load. But I have to agree with everyone else it is one if the better looking FB apps, at least better looking than android/ios versions. My other substitute is Facebook Pro which has some of the functionality in it.
touch.facebook.com You can put it in your favourites so you won't complain anymore.....
I use that instead of the app.
https://touch.facebook.com
After giving this a test, and after waiting so long for an update, this is all they give us? All it appears to have changed is making it look like there has been no update for so long.

Its simply an on paper update meaning, it looked bad saying "last updated 15th December 2012" so they just pushed out some crap update. Doesn't appear to have added any of the features we requested.
A load of crap
Seems a little faster to me
it took them 4 months to make the app a little faster? what a complete joke!
They fixed the screen hopping thing too. Realize this is Microsoft. They have other things to worry about and Facebook limits what they can do with the application.
Relax. This is what you get when you have a windows phone. Deal with it that many app developers take half a year to tweak there app just a bit. I'm not saying every developer does it, but many apps are last updated about a year ago. It surprised me that Facebook actually did come up with an update before may...
The problem is this app is developed by Microsoft themselves, so it shouldnt be taking months just to do minor fixes. it took them over 6 months to fix the news feed refresh bug.
yes, that's the problem with Microsoft i think. They still didn't fixed the other storage leak too and left us with a suggestion which everbody didn't used anyway (skydrive auto-upload). But that's my point, Microsoft can be awesome, but sometimes they are very slow. Maybe because they have other important business in mind or because they wan't to deliver an good product, but still it takes way too long with updates.
Update your firmware through 'Phone Update', 'Other' storage has been fixed (by Nokia I think). Latest is 1232.5957.1308.0020
Why do you assume I have a Nokia? I have a HTC 8X so all the Nokia updates won't help for me :P
The updates,will come they have address bugs first. Plus windows needs to increase there following
I used Facebook to vote for Jay.
I was hoping for a completely redesigned app kind of like what they did with the Twitter app.. :/
+1. Love the Twitter app now!
+2
No update yet for me.
if you're just staring at the Store tile, youll have to wait a full day-ish. Open Store, search the app that has an updated release...and you'll see it blink and BAAAM! Update please!
You think you are smarter then me hea? I am aware of the fact that the live tile of the store doesn't update automaticly and i always check for updates manually. And I did that when I wrote my comment and there was still no update. There was an update just a few moment's ago, but because there was an error code, the update is pulled from the store here. Very weird...
How do you look for updates manually?
Only by searching the app? or by another option? :(
Yes, by searching the app. Unfortunately there is no easier way :(
From what I can tell so far, the 4.2 update fixes the (rather annoying) issue of the app staying blank after the lock screen timeout. Before if you locked your phone while inside the app it would open to a black screen until you closed the app, but the update seems to have resolved that. Hopefully I'm not the only one relieved by this!
oh great
this was the worst bug on wp facebook
A simple option that would allow you to send pictures/media to your friends via PM would be very welcome.
Not sure why there is so much surprise that the app is crap, its not made by Facebook but by Microsoft via a 3rd party.
I normally just use the People hub but I use the app for checking bands
I'm so happy I joined the WP bandwagon a few days ago. So many new and exciting things going on
welcome onboard! More to come my friend!
Welcome!
Welcome! The cake has arrived.
Man people whine even when we get an update and fixes, yikes
You said it. It is stunning how much pissing and moaning there is about everything. Some people refuse to be happy about anything.
The part that kills me is the constant crap about MS, MS, MS! They don't do anything, they don't give use anything, they are the reason the OS is dead. With wp 7, NODO, Mango 7.5, 7.8, 8.0, portico, GDR1, GDR2, and Blue WP is further along in maturity than any other OS was at the same points in time, and the marketplace has more apps. Keep in mind that it was released in November 2010.
I understand wanting more, and believing they should be better. But again, WP is further along than the other two were at just over 2 years in. But hey, WP doesn't have instagram, so yeah... must be dead.
SMDH
Nothing major in this update, but agree, some people will never be happy! Lol
Nice to see an update. Played with it a bit but so far I can't tell what's changed. Probably just a stability/bugs update which is nice
You can now delete YOUR OWN post from your wall.
I was able to delete my posts from my wall and my comments on the previous version, so this is not a new feature.
Have you found something new in WP 7.8??
Yes it disabled the double wide tiles
No it did not,
Still can't share
They fixed THE major issue I had with it. The Feed no longer jumps to the top anymore. If you scroll down in the feed and then tap something and go back to the feed it picks up where you left off. NICE!!
They definitely fixed some general annoyances. Good Job MS!
I have no issues with the Facebook app. What is everyone complaining about?
Finally, doesnt revert back to top of news feed after checking any pic or link,,
It still doesn't let you attach pictures in messages, nothing I wanted is updated. Still love WP
Nice update. Faster smoother and fixed the page jumping to top as most requested. Thanks!
I still dont recieve notifications :|
If your in a group, notifications still dont take you to the post. Everyone mention all the other problems
They need to kick this fb app to the curb and make a new one.
Honestly, as good as I love metro, Facebook app need to lose the metro design and go with Facebook's own design. Just like what Twitter did. Just like how Blackberry recently just cloned the iOS FB app for its BB 10.
Also, I'm not going to use this unless it allows Facebook's own popular posts algorithm sorting of news feed in addition to the most recent sorting. Just hate seeing different posts in mobile and desktop. It needs to be same.
I agree to a full 100%, although its not Facebook its Microsoft who made the app. And really I like the ios/android version of the app, its pleasing to the eye and easily navigated. And really I wouldn't even call it the ios style since its the style of the mobile website just refined.
Live tile not working on my 920 for a start
Facebook is no longer appear in blockable background app list anymore. I wonder if this's a change
I use an app called Facebook JDB. Does everything the official app doesn't do. You can share posts, the notifications & tile counts are reliable, doesn't jump back to the top when backing out of a post. Its a little slow and has some minor bugginess from time to time but its worlds beyond this one.
Has the newsfeed filter always been there?
Yea, I believe so
Anyone who's used the iOS and Android apps knows how horrible this app is. As a fairly heavy Facebook user for communicating with my friends the lack of any messaging notifications is embarassing, and the broken OS support doesn't make up for that ommission (e.g messages not sending with no way of knowing they didn't, and if anyone messages you who's appearing offline you don't get it).
Our Facebook app SUCKS! Due to the lack of features... Plain & simple..
If it's so plain and simple - please list each feature that our Facebook app is lacking compared to the iOS/Android version?
We're not going to list over and over again the features missing. try checking yourself. you are clearly not a proper facebook user if you dont know already.
Thank you Afgzee, that guy don't have a clue to what's going on so I chose to just ignore him..
THANK YOU for fixing the news feed jumping back to the top after viewing a post.
Still no option to "Share", like on IOS or Android,...buttheads!!!
Update pulled from the marked place in Holland on my HTC 8X. It wouldn't let me download it, got error code every time. Now I even can't try it anymore, the update button is gone and the app is still on 4.1...
So far it seems as though the app loads a lot faster, very nice!
The guy who's phone was used for the picture has a friend request, just FYI :)
With the limited amount of use, I've updated it on my 7.8 device. I have yet to experience anything new, perhaps there's something hidden - but performance-wise, it's not very much improved.
Updates are always more than welcome though. Updates are awesome. :)
It loads faster and doesnt jump up anymore. Can't believe it took 5 months to fix that. The rest is pretty much its usual awfulness. Love WP. Hate that app and hate fb more for not making an official app.
Seems a bit faster, but still android/iOS versions beat the crap out of the Windows phone one.
We need new features.
And also I like the UI of the iOS/Android.
Still can only see 100 photos per album. When are they going to fix this!!!!!!!
My Facebook set-up:
1) Me/People Hub: view newsfeed, post status, check in
2) <m.facebook.com> - I pin this on my screen to access my FB Groups. Much better/faster than the app.
3) FB App. My last resort for anything the top two can't handle.
This will do for now until they release a worthy app..
Instead of m.Facebook.com I use touch.facebook.com nicer and I don't have any problems with it :)
Facebook makes most of its profits through mobile apps. I know the wp community is still small compared to iOS and Android, it represents only 5% of the mobile market but that'd mean a potential of 5 more % of profits for fb...Suppose they're not interested in those. Pity.
Still no message push notification! Biggest mistake in my opinion.
You can now like the comments. And its fast now. Seamless.
I have Facebook update my lock screen. Before the update it never changed the lock screen picture. Now, it looks like they fixed that. Can anyone else confirm this?
It seems when you back out of a post, it doesn't return you to the top of the feed.
Looks like you can like individual comments now, not just the entire post
They added that a loooong time ago friend.
I noticed minor speed improvements. It no longer takes you to the top of your News Feed everytime you press "back." Additonally, notifications, messages (chat), and general News Feed loading all work much better. While not the update WP users were looking for, it's still an improvement!
I found the same enhancement frish!
And the newsfeed is still crap. I see all those stupid games people are playing, even though I have that blocked from my feed. I also still see the people that are my friends but who I don't need to see in my newsfeed, so the filter that is in effect in the browser, on iOS, on Android, in de wrappers, apps, etc still isn't available in this app :(
In UK Nokia 920 Facebook 4.1 the link provided on this topic says my device isn't able to have this update.
banner image stil doesnt show up for me. it never has.
same here...when I clicked on "change banner image" nothing happen.
As long as the official app doesn't support uploaded files it's almost useless. Facebook next is a good alternative, wich adds some useful things to the touch Facebook website. And all things work great with that app. E.g. Videos, other files, etc.
ever notice showing Samsung atvi s and yes sprint will be getting it soon! Also first US carrier to get. Nice high end wp8 phone
I noticed two things:
first it doesn't jump to top of the news feed after viewing a link, image, ... unless you shake your device to refresh the news feed.
second change is on very long posts. when statuses or photo captions were too long, facebook app couldn't handle it properly, but now it's fixed. It's a good day for windows phone :) let's hope it continues for a week at least, or a month :P