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Facebook for Android: How to Turn Facebook Chat On or Off

Mitch BartlettAugust 21, 2018 Comments (11)
Gear Icon Header

If you’re using Facebook for Android, you may want to control whether Facebook Chat is turned on or off. Here’s everything you need to know about enabling or disabling the feature.

Contents

  • 1 Enable or Disable Chat/Messaging
    • 1.1 Facebook App
    • 1.2 Facebook Messenger
  • 2 Chat/Messaging Notifications
    • 2.1 Facebook App
    • 2.2 Facebook Messenger

Enable or Disable Chat/Messaging

There are mainly two ways you can turn Facebook Chat on or off from your Android. One involves the standard Facebook app. Another involves the separate Facebook Messenger app.

Facebook App

You can turn Facebook Chat on or off from the standard Facebook app using these steps:

  1. Open the “Facebook” app.
  2. Tap the Menu icon Menu Button located at the upper-right corner of the screen to expand your options.
  3. Tap “Messenger” in the “Apps” section.
  4. Tap the Gear icon located at the upper-right corner of the screen.
  5. Check the “On” box to turn Facebook Chat on. Uncheck the box to turn it off.

Facebook Messenger

If you have Facebook Messenger installed on your Android device, use these steps:

  1. Open the “Messenger” app.
  2. Tap the “Menu” Menu Button icon located at the upper-right corner of the screen.
  3. Tap the “Active” selection at the top of the screen.
  4. Toggle your name to “On” or “Off” as desired.

Note: Facebook Chat is off when using Facebook Messenger.


Chat/Messaging Notifications

What you should probably know is the above settings only control your visibility for other users. Turning the setting on or off will only show or not show you online respectively. People can still send you messages and you will still get notifications when somebody sends you one.

Facebook App

If you wish to receive or not receive Facebook Chat notifications, use these steps:

  1. Open the “Facebook” app.
  2. Tap the “Menu” Menu Button icon, located at the upper-right of the screen.
  3. Select “App Settings“.
  4. Scroll down to the “Messages” area and toggle “Facebook chat” to “On” or “Off” as desired.

Facebook Messenger

If you wish to turn Notifications off from the Facebook Messenger app, use these steps:

  1. Open the “Messenger” app.
  2. Tap the Person icon located at the upper-right corner of the screen.
  3. Select “Notifications & Sounds“.
  4. Slide the “Notification previews” setting to “On” or “Off” as desired. You can also check or uncheck “Vibrate“, “Light“, or “Sound” if you wish to turn certain types of notifications on or off.
Categories: Android

Author Mitch Bartlett

Through my career that spans over 20 years I have become an expert in Microsoft Systems Administration, Android, and macOS. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful knowledgebase for everyone.

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Comments

  1. Lorri says:
    January 24, 2022 at 3:32 pm

    How do I turn the notification bar off that pops up with their photo and 1 message but leave on the notification number where the symbols just pops up and not the whole box? Using an Android phone.

  2. Catriona says:
    December 7, 2021 at 3:26 pm

    I want to chat to my friend on Facebook Messenger but he has the chat turned off can I turn it back on or does he have to do it

  3. Kanika Smith says:
    September 8, 2021 at 7:56 pm

    I need help with my Facebook page

  4. Elizabeth A Reid says:
    December 26, 2020 at 12:19 pm

    While using messenger, the person I contacted tried to call. But when I tried to answer I got a message That I had to give permission and I can’t find where I do that.

  5. Arif says:
    August 16, 2019 at 10:27 pm

    I only see messages when I turned on the messnger app.. no msg is displayed on the screen when the phone is in locked mood

  6. Pedro A DIEZ says:
    January 30, 2019 at 7:33 pm

    No! I don’t want chat. I want my old messenger. How?

  7. Peggy Whipple says:
    December 1, 2017 at 11:08 am

    I would like my old IB message back, how do I get it please!

  8. David Carpenter says:
    October 7, 2017 at 10:05 am

    I was using the latest Facebook Messenger and had no problems. Recently when I pressed ‘Active’ to see friends online nothing would load and just got a rotating blue circle. Downloaded an older version of ‘Messenger’. Works OK

  9. tanio lewis says:
    September 2, 2017 at 12:44 am

    i need to message my facebook friend on my smartphone but im having difficulties. please help

  10. bob says:
    December 9, 2016 at 11:14 pm

    The right pane of my Facebook “Chat” is one; continuous loop symbol and I’ve been unable to get it to reappear. I’ve followed all these instructions. All settings are activated yet chat won’t show.

  11. MD ESRAFIL says:
    June 16, 2016 at 3:51 pm

    Hi
    My Facebook software got some problem my phone..I go to dirrect Google Facebook I can delete my facebook page all comments edit and delete…but I use my phone software I can’t delete any comments or edit..please help me what I do

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My name is Mitch Bartlett. I've been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.

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Last Updated on August 21, 2018 by Mitch Bartlett