Facebook Messenger has over a billion monthly active users, trying to replace SMS messages.
But there are many tricks that perhaps you did not know.
Photo Pixabay
You don’t need to be on Facebook to use Messenger.
Contrary to what is believed, it is possible to use the email client, even if you do not have an account on the social network.
All you have to do is download the app from the Play Store and click «I’m not on Facebook» when you launch the app. Then just enter your name and phone number and add a photo.
Connect Messenger from a Computer
It has been possible for a long time to use Facebook instant messaging from a Computer, but only if you connected through the social network.
Now all you have to do is go to the site and log in. Then you will find an interface similar to that of the application, but in a desktop version.
Activate Dark Mode
Dark Mode is the new trend in smartphones. Dark themes not only reduce the impact of screens on the eyes, but also save battery power.
Therefore, Facebook has adopted Dark Mode in its Messenger app. And you can activate it in the blink of an eye.
Tap your profile icon in the top left corner (right on iOS). The first line indicates the famous «Dark Mode». Tap this button to turn the feature on or off.
Disable «Online» status
If you want to avoid explaining the time you were connected to Facebook Messenger or prevent someone from knowing. Disabling Online Status is your best option.
Just press your profile and scroll down to the «Profile» section. There you will find «Online Status». Touch this area and turn off the feature. That’s it, you are free of suspicion.
Use Facebook Messenger as an SMS client
It is possible to use Facebook Messenger as an SMS/MMS client. Your SMS conversations will be displayed in the middle of the messages in the messaging client and this allows you to use one application instead of two.
To activate this option, simply select Messenger as the default SMS client in Android settings.
Send a short 15 second video in a conversation
In Facebook Messenger, you can share photos in your conversations, but also videos, you just have to :
Click on the camera icon just above the message input field
Hold down the shutter button on the camera to record the video.
Send your video as if it were a photo
share your location
To allow multiple contacts to join, Facebook offers a location feature that allows you to share your location in real time.
To access it, tap on the icon with four little circles to the left of the text box. Tap on the location.
Here you can choose to share your current location and invite the person you are talking to or members of a group to join you at your current location. You can also choose how long you want to share this position.
Send GIF Images
As images become more and more important in our lives, GIFs have established themselves as a means of communication that is simple, effective and, above all, a lot of fun.
So it’s quite logical to see Facebook integrate sending GIFs into Messenger. The American giant draws its content from the Giphy library, the reference on the subject.
To send a GIF, tap the emoji in the text box. Then you can choose to send stickers, GIFs or emojis (in iOS the emojis are separated). In the GIF section, type a word related to what you want to send and a series of GIFs will appear. Touch one to send it.
Disable chat bubbles
Since iOS doesn’t support chat bubbles, this tip is for Android device users only. Chat bubbles that appear on the home screen at any time tend to be annoying.
They take up space and hide the content displayed on the screen. Imagine seeing the bubble appear just as you are about to finish Fortnite Top 1. It’s not
Luckily, Facebook makes it possible to hide these chat bubbles. To do this, just tap on your profile and scroll down to the «Chat Bubbles» section. A little push and you’re done.
Stop automatic backup of photos
You’ve probably noticed that the photos you share on Messenger end up in your smartphone’s memory.
This feature is enabled by default and can be disabled. To do this, tap the icon on your profile and then tap «Photos & Media». Here you can manage the saving of photos in your gallery.
Start a secret conversation
Since 2016, Facebook offers the possibility of communicating through secret conversations. Powered by the «Signal Protocol» system, they are fully encrypted and therefore promise greater privacy.
To activate it, simply tap on your profile and tap on «secret conversations». A list of devices on which you can start a secret conversation will appear.
To start a conversation, start a classic discussion. But before we start, he remembers to activate the function in the upper right corner (on the little lock). You are ready to reveal all your secrets.
Personalize your conversations
To make everything a little more attractive, it is now possible to personalize your conversations. You can choose a color other than the traditional blue of Messenger, assign an emoticon to the conversation, or assign yourself a nickname. To do this, you can
Quote in a conversation Click on the «i» icon in the upper right corner of the screen. Select the option of your choice and let us guide you
Disable notifications
Messenger can become a real headache when you need to focus on a specific task. As long as you have three or four group conversations going, the number of notifications per minute can reach new heights and cause irritation.
To avoid this problem, Facebook proposes to «mute» these notifications. In this way, you can block notifications for a certain time and for each conversation.
It’s very easy to do this: go into a chat and tap the little «i» icon in the top right corner. Press «Notifications» and then «Mute the conversation». Here you can choose between different durations or opt for manual reactivation.
Create a survey
To get everyone’s opinion in a group, Facebook offers a «poll» feature in group discussions in Messenger. It is an opportunity to make a majority of votes in a conversation that requires reaching an agreement.
To launch a Poll, tap the four dots icon to the left of the text box. Ask your question, propose several answers and wait for the votes. Simple, fast, efficient.
Use multiple Messenger accounts on your phone
It is not uncommon for users to manage multiple Messenger accounts. One for personal, one for work, one for your YouTube channel, your blog, etc… Therefore, Facebook allows the management of several accounts with a single application.
To add a Messenger account, tap on your profile. Scroll down to «Switch Account» and then «Add Account.» Enter your login information and you’re done.
Enable temporary messages
The app offers a new option, probably inspired by Snapchat, to send temporary messages.
Once this option is activated, the interface will change color and a message will warn you that messages sent during this period will be deleted one hour after being sent.
To turn temporary messages on, simply click the hourglass at the top of the conversation, and do the same to turn them off.
organize an event
As we know, Facebook wants to centralize the tools as much as possible so that users leave the social network as little as possible. In 2017, the American giant launched a new function in Messenger that allows you to schedule an event or appointment directly from the messaging application.
For example, to host an event, simply press the little circles to the left of the text box and tap «Schedule». There you can set the time and date of a common event. Or-ga-ni-sa-tion!
Access to filtered messages
Facebook has removed the «Others» mailbox. From now on, spam and messages deemed undesirable by the social network will land in a secret inbox.
The trick is that if the sender is not in your contacts, then the message is redirected to this secret inbox. So you can potentially miss an important message. This is how you access this box.
Open the application and enter the settings by clicking on the cogwheel in the upper right corner. Click on «Contact» to access the submenu and then on «Invitations by message». Then click «View Filtered Requests.» You will then see a list of all the people who have tried to contact you.
Share a Dropbox document
Good news! Facebook Messenger now allows you to share your documents stored in Dropbox with your friends.
All you need is to have Dropbox installed on your smartphone and be logged in (if you are logged in, you will be offered to download the app) and your friend also uses Dropbox on their smartphone. To share a document with a friend, just…:
Open the conversation Click the «More» button at the bottom right of the conversation field. open mailbox
Share a song with Spotify
Spotify is now part of the apps integrated with Facebook Messenger. Sharing a song with a friend is easy. Once you’re in the conversation, all you have to do is
Click the «three dots» button at the bottom right to open the «More» menu. Select Spotify Choose a song in the app and click send
Change the size of the «Like» in the conversation
To the right of the message input field, there is a «Like» emoticon to let a friend know that you agree with their previous message, without necessarily having to reply with a message.
But did you know that you can change the type of emoticon depending on your mood. All you have to do is press and hold the emoticon before sending it.
giving nicknames to your friends
Yes, it is perfectly possible to give nicknames to your friends and to give yourself a particular nickname in a conversation. It’s simple and it can even be fun. All you have to do is…:
Go to the conversation of your choice Click on the «i» icon in the upper right corner to open the menu. Click on «Nicknames». Set your nickname and/or your friend’s
Playing instant games
Facebook Messenger now has its own gaming platform, Instant Games. To play, it’s very simple. All you need is the latest version of the app.
Once you’re in a conversation, just click the gamepad icon in the options above the message input field. So…