Facebook Messenger: How to delete and deactivate in 2024

Facebook Messenger is a popular instant messaging service owned by Meta. Back in the day, if you wanted to send someone on Facebook a message, you would simply go to the Facebook website to do so. But in 2011, Facebook launched Messenger as its own application. The two apps—Facebook and Messenger—are still heavily interconnected, but you can control their individual settings.

When it comes to deactivating or deleting Messenger, you’ll find that you’ll have to alter your Facebook account, too, as it’s not exactly possible to have one account without the other. We’ll show you how to do so.

What data does Facebook Messenger collect? 

Facebook Messenger offers end-to-end encryption, meaning your messages can only be read from the intended recipient. Hackers and even Messenger itself can’t read them. It’s important to note that end-to-end encryption is not enabled by default for all users; you might have to opt in.

However, Facebook Messenger still manages to collect a wide range of data about its users, including the following.

In its privacy policy, Meta says it uses this data to provide you with the services you expect from Messenger, such as sending and receiving messages, making calls, and using stickers and other features. It also uses this data to improve the app and target you with personalized advertisements.

While you can choose what data to share with Facebook and control how your data is used in your account settings, deactivating or deleting your Facebook Messenger account might be your preferred course to protect your privacy. After all, Meta is known as one of the most data-hungry companies in the world, in its efforts to target you with ads.

How to deactivate Facebook Messenger

If you just want to take a break from Messenger, you can simply deactivate it. Deactivating it means you won’t be able to send or receive new messages, your profile won’t appear in searches, and you won’t be able to read your past messages—but your contacts will be able to read any past messages between you. Messages will be in view-only mode, meaning your friends can’t modify them.

To deactivate your Facebook Messenger account, you’ll have to deactivate your Facebook account first. Follow this easy guide to deactivate Facebook before using the steps below to deactivate Facebook Messenger. 

Once you’ve done that, follow these steps to deactivate your Facebook Messenger account on Android and iOS devices, as this can only be done on a mobile device. 

1. After launching the Messenger app, tap the three horizontal lines, followed by the gear icon

2. Scroll all the way down and select See more in Accounts Center 

3. Go to Personal details, and tap Account ownership and control

4. Tap Deactivation or Deletion

5. You’ll then be asked to choose which Facebook-associated account you want to deactivate or delete:

6. Once you’ve made your choice, you’ll be asked to enter your password and click Continue

To reactivate Messenger, simply log in with your username and password.

How to permanently delete your Facebook Messenger account 

If you’ve decided you want to delete your Facebook Messenger account permanently, you can do so by deleting your Facebook account. It’s not possible to have a Facebook account without a Messenger account. When you delete your Facebook account, Messenger will be deleted with it.

Log in to your Facebook account and follow the steps above (on the mobile app), but instead of deactivating the account, you’ll choose to delete your Facebook account instead:

How to delete messages on Facebook Messenger 

If you’re not ready to deactivate and delete Facebook Messenger but want to delete specific messages sent on Facebook Messenger instead, here’s what you can do: 

To delete an entire conversation on desktop:

1. Right-click on the conversation you want to delete
2. Choose Delete Conversation
3. Confirm by clicking Delete

To delete a message or photo on desktop:

1. Open the conversation you want to delete
2. Right-click on the message or photo you wish to remove
3. Choose Remove for You and confirm by clicking Remove

To delete an entire conversation through the smartphone app: 

1. Open Facebook Messenger and look for the conversation you want to delete 
2. Tap and hold on the conversation, and a small menu will appear like this 

3. Then confirm by tapping Delete

To delete a message through the smartphone app: 

1. Open Facebook Messenger then look for the message in a conversation that you want to delete 

2. Tap and hold on the message, a menu will appear, then click More

3. Tap on Remove

Keep in mind that deleting a conversation or message on Facebook Messenger only deletes it for you and not the other parties involved in the conversation or message.