You don't need to set up a full-blown profile to get access to Messenger. On desktop, open the menu and click Settings, choose Your Facebook Information. By turning your internet off, Messenger can't send out a read receipt Install third-party plug-ins for your browser For desktop users, it gets a little bit more complicated if you want to get. This is strange, but I have been able to access my messages on the mobile version of chrome without any issues, but just recently (past 2 days), i've had 'block ups' that tell me i will soon be unable to access messages unless I download messenger. Seems a bit heavy-handed to me.
Chances are if you've heard of Facebook, you've heard of Messenger. But, if the latter isn't true, you'll learn the best of the basics for using the application in this article.
In short, Messenger is the instant messaging extension of Facebook. The app was released in 2011 and has since rivaled the features and functionality of most other similar apps.
The Facebook Messenger app is designed to go well beyond standard text messaging by offering features like HD video calling, voice messaging, and group chat.
Don't have a Facebook account, you say? No worries.
Aside from its numerous cool features (which we'll discuss here shortly), what makes Messenger uber-awesome is that you do not need a Facebook account to access or use it. Rather, Messenger is a standalone app that anyone can use. There are many ways to access Facebook Messenger, whether you have Facebook or not or whether you prefer desktop or mobile.
Now for the ins and outs of Facebook's nifty little messaging app.
How to Set Up Messenger Without Facebook (5 Steps)
Setting up Messenger without Facebook is simple. However, the sign-up process must be completed using the Messenger mobile app. The first step is to download the Messenger app on your mobile device.
To create a Facebook Messenger account:
- Open the Messenger app on your mobile device.
- Click Not on Facebook? at the bottom of the screen.
- Enter your mobile phone number and click Continue.
- Enter the code that Messenger sends to the phone number you entered.
- Messenger will attempt to read your phone contacts:
To allow the app to access your contacts, click Allow.
To restrict the app from accessing your contacts, click Deny.
How to Access Facebook Messenger from Your Desktop
Once you've completed the steps above, you'll be able to access and use Messenger from your desktop without Facebook. Simply go to Messenger.com and sign in to use the app on your desktop.
Alternatively, an unofficial option would be to download a third-party app called Messenger for Desktop. Keep in mind that this is not an official Facebook app, but it will get the job done.
If you're already using Facebook and just want to access Messenger from your desktop, the process is similar: go to Messenger.com and log in using your Facebook login credentials.
How to Use Facebook Messenger on Your Desktop
Now for the fun part.
As we noted earlier, Messenger comes with a handful of really cool features.
Quick Note: For those without a Facebook account, you'll be happy to know that these features are the same as the ones available to Facebook users—so you're not missing out on anything (trust us, we double-checked).
Let's take a quick look at each of the features and discuss how you can use them on your desktop.
Use Messenger for Voice and Video Calls
Yes, you read that correctly: Messenger offers both voice call and video call options.
So, depending on what kind of mood you're in, you can place a standard audio call to your family and friends, or instead, opt for the face-to-face video call option. But perhaps best of all, these calls can be made to anyone in the world.
From Your Desktop
To use Messenger for voice and video calls on your desktop you need to:
- Click on the phone icon in the top right corner to place a voice call
- Click on the video camera icon in the top right corner to place a video call
Send Text Messages Using Messenger
Facebook introduced the option to send and received SMS text messages in 2016.
With this option, you can—as you may have already guessed—send and receive text messages.
Much like other texting platforms, your texts can include photos and videos.
From Your Desktop
To send a text message using Messenger, you need to:
Click on the settings icon in the upper left corner and click SMS
Enable Default SMS App
Quick Note: SMS messages are different than actual Messenger conversations. These are text messages that are sent and received using the Messenger app. On the other hand, Messenger conversations are just that: Messenger conversations with others who are using Messenger. The former (SMS) requires you to enter the contact's phone number, the latter (Messenger convo) does not.
Another Note: SMS messages appear in purple. Messenger conversations are shown in blue.
And Lastly: SMS messages can be archived, unarchived, and deleted.
Take Pictures and Videos Using Messenger
Another feature of Messenger is the ability to take pictures and videos.
From Your Desktop
Add Access To Desktop
To take pictures and videos using Messenger, you need to:
- Open the conversation that you want to add the video or picture
- Click on the camera icon
- Click the shutter button to take a picture
- Hold the shutter button to take a video
Search and Send Stickers, GIFs, and Emoticons
If you like to express your emotions through picture characters and other cute media, consider yourself in luck. Messenger comes chocked full of stickers, GIFs, and emojis for just about any feeling, emotion, or reaction.
From Your Desktop
To search and send stickers, GIFs, and emojis on your desktop, you need to:
- Click on the smiley face (☺) icon directly under the icon field
- Type something (e.g., food) into the Search icons field to filter stickers, GIFs, and emojis
Send Money via Facebook Messenger
Owe a friend a few dollars? Messenger can handle that too.
Sending money is super simple with Messenger and can be used with the click of one button. Literally.
From Your Desktop
To send money via Messenger on your desktop you need to:
- Click on the Send Money button, at which time you can select your recipient, input the amount you want to send, and add an optional memo to accompany the payment.
Start a Group Chat in Messenger
Sometimes the conversation is better when all of your friends are involved.
If that's the case, you'll want to take advantage of Messenger's group chat option.
From Your Desktop
To start a group chat in Messenger, you need to:
- Click the pencil-on-paper icon
- Select or type the name of each person you want to add to the group chat
- Proceed by typing your message
- When finished, click Send
Log Out of Messenger
Access To Desktop On Computer
All good things must come to an end, right?
Well, in this case, when you're ready to logout of Facebook Messenger for the day, you can do so quickly and easily.
From Your Desktop
To log out of Messenger on your desktop, you need to:
- Click on the settings icon in the upper left corner and click Log Out
Other Awesome Features
A few more awesome features of Facebook Messenger that deserve our attention include:
- Requesting an Uber or Lyft ride (using your existing account)
- Sharing your location with others (available on the mobile app only)
- Creating reminders (available on mobile app only)
- Sharing your custom scan code with others for instant adding
- Recording voice messages
Messenger also lets you know when your messages are seen by the recipient and allows you to play games inside the app—eliminating the need to visit another website.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a better multi-feature messaging app than Messenger, if we may say so ourselves.
And what's the best way to add Messenger to your daily mix without it disrupting your productivity? With Shift, of course!
That's right, your Shift Advanced account integrates with Messenger.
And the end result is quite beautiful. No more logging in and out of Messenger, or switching between multiple tabs. Add it to your Shift Advanced account and call it a day.
Click on the settings icon in the upper left corner and click SMS
Enable Default SMS App
Quick Note: SMS messages are different than actual Messenger conversations. These are text messages that are sent and received using the Messenger app. On the other hand, Messenger conversations are just that: Messenger conversations with others who are using Messenger. The former (SMS) requires you to enter the contact's phone number, the latter (Messenger convo) does not.
Another Note: SMS messages appear in purple. Messenger conversations are shown in blue.
And Lastly: SMS messages can be archived, unarchived, and deleted.
Take Pictures and Videos Using Messenger
Another feature of Messenger is the ability to take pictures and videos.
From Your Desktop
Add Access To Desktop
To take pictures and videos using Messenger, you need to:
- Open the conversation that you want to add the video or picture
- Click on the camera icon
- Click the shutter button to take a picture
- Hold the shutter button to take a video
Search and Send Stickers, GIFs, and Emoticons
If you like to express your emotions through picture characters and other cute media, consider yourself in luck. Messenger comes chocked full of stickers, GIFs, and emojis for just about any feeling, emotion, or reaction.
From Your Desktop
To search and send stickers, GIFs, and emojis on your desktop, you need to:
- Click on the smiley face (☺) icon directly under the icon field
- Type something (e.g., food) into the Search icons field to filter stickers, GIFs, and emojis
Send Money via Facebook Messenger
Owe a friend a few dollars? Messenger can handle that too.
Sending money is super simple with Messenger and can be used with the click of one button. Literally.
From Your Desktop
To send money via Messenger on your desktop you need to:
- Click on the Send Money button, at which time you can select your recipient, input the amount you want to send, and add an optional memo to accompany the payment.
Start a Group Chat in Messenger
Sometimes the conversation is better when all of your friends are involved.
If that's the case, you'll want to take advantage of Messenger's group chat option.
From Your Desktop
To start a group chat in Messenger, you need to:
- Click the pencil-on-paper icon
- Select or type the name of each person you want to add to the group chat
- Proceed by typing your message
- When finished, click Send
Log Out of Messenger
Access To Desktop On Computer
All good things must come to an end, right?
Well, in this case, when you're ready to logout of Facebook Messenger for the day, you can do so quickly and easily.
From Your Desktop
To log out of Messenger on your desktop, you need to:
- Click on the settings icon in the upper left corner and click Log Out
Other Awesome Features
A few more awesome features of Facebook Messenger that deserve our attention include:
- Requesting an Uber or Lyft ride (using your existing account)
- Sharing your location with others (available on the mobile app only)
- Creating reminders (available on mobile app only)
- Sharing your custom scan code with others for instant adding
- Recording voice messages
Messenger also lets you know when your messages are seen by the recipient and allows you to play games inside the app—eliminating the need to visit another website.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a better multi-feature messaging app than Messenger, if we may say so ourselves.
And what's the best way to add Messenger to your daily mix without it disrupting your productivity? With Shift, of course!
That's right, your Shift Advanced account integrates with Messenger.
And the end result is quite beautiful. No more logging in and out of Messenger, or switching between multiple tabs. Add it to your Shift Advanced account and call it a day.
Messaging is an important part of our lives and each platform that is offering IM services is trying to one-up the other. We've already compared how Facebook's Messenger stacks up against Hangouts in their browser avatars, but here are a few simple tricks to keep track of all the photos you've shared on Facebook Messenger with your friends, on any kind of device.
1. The Web
To get to shared photos via the web, tap the messages icon on the top panel right next to the notifications icon. Then click on See All so that you can enter the correct view to do what we need to do. If you instead directly open the chat window of your friend, then you will never find the right option.
So, once you're in the right section, click on the contact whose shared images you want to see. Then click on Actions and then on View photos in thread. This will give you access to all the pictures you had shared with that person.
2. iPhone and iPads
On iOS, things are pretty easy. Go to the Messenger app and click on the particular person's chat window. You then have to click on their name, which will give you the contact info including a section that says Shared Photos.
Easy, right?
3. Android Devices
On Android devices, running the updated app, things are a little different. You need to again open the Facebook Messenger app and tap on your contact's chat and then hunt the circled i icon on the top-right icon. This information window gives you all the data you need right there, but no separate section for shared photos.
You will, in fact, see all the shared media in one place, called Shared Content. This includes the photos you shared from your gallery, via your camera app or even gif files. They all will be neatly arranged in one corner here. Unfortunately, there is no way to separate gifs you sent via keyboards and photos on Android at the moment.
Quick Tip: By going to the Settings tab of Messenger, you can also save the incoming photos to your local gallery.How Do You Message?
Which messaging service do you normally use? Let us know in our forum if there is any that you like more than others and if there are any issues we can help you with.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.
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