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Facebook Messenger tips and tricks: from notifications to locations

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The Facebook Messenger app for Android provides far more than just a simple messaging service. Today we’re going to look at some of the cool things you can do with Facebook Messenger, as well as how to remove some of the more annoying aspects of it. Here are our best Facebook Messenger tips and tricks for Android. 

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Using Facebook Messenger

Turn off notification alerts for Facebook Messenger 

You know how it is: someone starts a group conversation asking if anybody wants to buy their leather sofa, and before you know it you’re getting non-stop buzzes about upholstery. If you’ve ever found yourself in a similar situation, here's a couple of tips for how to stop receiving those notifications without actually leaving the conversation. 

How to turn off Facebook Messenger notifications for a single conversation:

  1. Launch the Facebook Messenger app
  2. In your conversations tab (the far left tab), tap and hold on the conversation you wish to mute
  3. Tap Mute notifications
  4. Select the length of time you want the notifications to be muted for
androidpit facebook messenger mute one
Tap and hold on the conversation you want to mute, and select for how long / © NextPit

How to turn off Facebook Messenger notifications for all conversations on Android:

  1. Launch the Facebook Messenger app
  2. Tap the settings menu (the cog wheel)
  3. Tap Notifications & Sounds
  4. Tap the toggle at the top of the page to turn notifications On or Off
  5. Select the length of time you want the notifications to remain muted for
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Go to your settings, tap notifications & sounds, then toggle it off on the following page / © NextPit

Start an Encrypted Secret Conversation

In 2016, Facebook rolled out one-to-one encrypted communications via Facebook Messenger, AKA "Secret Conversations." Here it is using the Signal Protocol, which is specifically designed for just you and one other person. 

First, you will need to enable Secret Conversations on your device (it can only be active on one device at a time). After this, hit the chat head icon on the top right, scroll to Secret Conversations, and toggle it on. Once you've done this, open a chat with any of your contacts and click on the little "i" icon in the top-right corner. After this, just select "Secret Conversation."

As a timely reminder, the Secret Conversation mode is not to everyone's taste as end-to-end encryption breaks some features in Messenger, like using it across multiple devices, archiving past conversations, and sending things like animated GIFs. 

FB messenger secret chat
End-to-end encryption with Facebook Messenger / © FB newsroom

Make a voice call or video call in Facebook Messenger

Did you know that Facebook Messenger allows you to make free calls? Well, you probably did. But are you taking advantage of it? Simply tap on the call button (highlighted below) in one of your conversation windows and you will begin calling the person in that conversation. 

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It might be polite to warn ahead of time / © NextPit (screenshot)

Similarly, Facebook Messenger now allows video calling. Simply press the video camera icon in the top right to invite your contact to a video conversation!

Send a picture with Facebook Messenger

Did you know you can take a photo directly from the keyboard in Messenger? See that little camera icon? Tap that to turn your keyboard space into a mini viewfinder (which you can also expand). You can switch between the front or back-mounted cameras and snap a quick pic with the vertical send button rather oddly placed right in the middle of the viewfinder. Tap the little image icon next to the camera to choose from previously taken pics.

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You can try to send a nicer picture than mine, if you like / © NextPit

Send a big thumbs up with Facebook Messenger

If you're feeling a little like Miley Cyrus and have a need for a particularly big thumbs up, then just press and hold the Like button to inflate the size of your thumb. If a simple Like won't do the trick then hit that little emoji button at the end of the text entry field, hit your sticker collection or revert to your device's emoji supported keyboard for a bit more expressive flair.

androidpit facebook thumbs up tip
Tap the thumb button to do a little like, or hold it to create a bigger one / © NextPit

Send or view a location with Facebook Messenger

If you want a super-easy way to let your friends know where you are Facebook, tap the + sign on the left of your text box. One of the options you see there should be to send your location, so long as you have Live Location enabled.

Similarly, if your friend has it enabled, simply tap on a message to bring up the location from which it was sent. If you don't want to share your location at all, head to your settings and uncheck that "location" box.

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Keeping up with friends using Facebook Messenger

Find friend suggestions

Facebook Messenger helps you connect with people by providing friend suggestions based on mutual connections. You can even add a contact in Messenger without having to set things up with a new friend request. 

  1. Open Messenger and tap on the people symbol
  2. Scroll down to see which new friends have been suggested for you
  3. Tap the add button to include the person in your Messenger contacts, or hide button not to see the suggestion

You'll now be able to chat with your new contact via Facebook Messenger. In the buttons above, you should also see options to access your message requests (from people who you haven't been in touch with previously) and invite your other phone or Facebook contacts to join Messenger.

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Facebook Messenger makes it easy to find your friends / © NextPit

Create a group shortcut for Facebook Messenger

If there's a crew you talk to all the time, then why not bypass the app launching altogether and pin a group chat shortcut to your home screen? Just go to your Groups tab where you can select an existing group or create a new one and tap the little menu button on the top right of the Group tile. From here simply select ''Create shortcut'' to have a chat group shortcut added to your home screen.

androidpit facebook messenger tips
Simply go to your Groups page, hit the menu and create a home screen shortcut / © NextPit

Poll Your Friends

Getting a group - any group - to come to a decision on anything can be a frustrating process. Facebook Messenger now allows you to poll your friends when they're in a group chat. 

At the bottom of the group chat window, go to the "+" icon. Select the "Polls" option to create your own poll, and then add in your own polling selections. All you need to do then is sit back and wait for the tyranny of the majority to do the thinking for you. 

Tools and features on Facebook Messenger 

Send a GIF in Facebook Messenger

For a while now Facebook Messenger has had a dedicated GIF button in the Facebook Messenger app, which allows you to use images from outlets like Giphy and Riffsy. 

  1. Open a Facebook Messenger chat and tap the smiley icon
  2. Select GIFs and enter your search terms
  3. Tap on the image you want to send
  4. The GIF will appear in the chat and automatically play on a loop
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Facebook Messenger now comes with a handy GIFs button / © NextPit

Share your music with Spotify

We all love to share things with our friends, and sometimes there's that thumping new track that you just have to get out there for all your nearest and dearest to enjoy. Facebook and Spotify have joined forces to help make this easier for you. The people you share a song with will be able to listen to a 30-second clip directly within Messenger but will have to open up Spotify in order to listen to it in full. Due to this you'll need a Spotify app, but after that, it's all smooth sailing:

  1. Select a contact
  2. Tap on the "Plus" symbol
  3. Open the Spotify extension. This will open Spotify within Facebook Messenger, and allow you to type the name of the song, artist or playlist you are wanting to send
  4. Select your music. It will then be automatically be sent to your contact
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Spread the music love thanks to Spotify / © NextPit

Turn Facebook Messenger into Snapchat

Who says you need Snapchat? Last year, the Facebook-owned social media site Instagram introduced a "Story" feature - which for all intents and purposes looked and acted a lot like Snapchat. Facebook Messenger has gotten on board with this idea and introduced "Messenger Day."

Messenger Day allows you to share updates about your day with either all your friends or just a few specific contacts. Don't worry, you don't have to concern yourself with selecting the perfect filter or best angle; all of these messages disappear after 24 hours.

That said, you can do something to make your posts standout with the artsy selfie filters that were released in December. Begin your "Day" by hitting the photo icon at the bottom of your home screen and start recording.

Send money through Facebook Messenger

One of the many things you can now do with Facebook Messenger is send money via the app. First thing's first, you'll need to set things up. To add a card to Facebook Messenger, select your Facebook icon on the top of the app. Then go Payments > Add New Debit Card. After this, you're ready to go.

To transfer funds in the app, tap on the "+" option and then select "Payment." Select who will receive the money, enter the amount, and then add your payment information. 

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Ka-ching! Facebook Messenger has a payment option / © NextPit

Ask for a ride using Facebook Messenger

Back in 2015, Facebook started to entered into partnerships with ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft to allow users to order up a ride without leaving the Messenger app on smartphones. To access it, just click the little car icon in the bottom of your screen. In the pop-up at the bottom of the screen, pick which service you'd like to use.

Obviously, this feature is only available in cities where those services are also available. Never used Uber or Lyft? No problem. You can sign up for a new Uber or Lyft account within Messenger in a matter of seconds and start riding. 

Interact with a bot

Facebook is jumping headfirst into the chatbotosphere. Bots developed by news organizations like CNN or the Wall Street Journal, for example, deliver news links to your Messenger conversation based on your interests or queries; some allow you to place an order for something directly through Messenger, like for pizza orders or a bouquet of flowers. 

Want to talk to an algorithm? Open the app, tap that lightning bolt sign on the bottom right and start chatting or subscribe to regular updates. A list of available bots can be found on botlist.co, catering to all your information needs. 

Play the hidden basketball game on Facebook Messenger

You can play several different games on Facebook Messenger using the gamepad icon on the bottom menu, but did you know there is also a secret game hidden in your emoji? This cool feature allows you to play a game of basketball during a chat. The game is free, but it's hidden. Read below for how to access it.

How to play Facebook Messenger hidden basketball game:

  1. Open a chat with one of your contacts
  2. Send the basketball emoji to them. It's circled in red in the left-side screenshot below
  3. Once the emoji has been sent, simply tap on it to start the game
facebook messenger basketball
My best score was only one... / © NextPit

Are there any other Facebook Messenger tips or help you need? Let us know in the comments below.

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Benoit Pepicq

Benoit Pepicq
Editor

Benoit is passionate about new technologies and everything related to computers. A big Android fan since 2011, he joined the AndroidPIT team to satisfy his passion and to share his knowledge on Android with readers.

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18 comments
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  • 1
    Deactivated Account May 16, 2020 Link to comment

    I can never get sound to alert me there is someone wanting to video chat on Facebook messenger ! The volume is up but it does not ring to alert me


  • 3
    Kimberley M. Williams Dec 26, 2019 Link to comment

    wow amazing information.


  • marco sarli 39
    marco sarli
    • Admin
    Nov 21, 2019 Link to comment

    There are lighter options


  • 27
    Sorin Mar 26, 2018 Link to comment

    It's convenient and easy to use Messenger, especially for changing feelings with friends.


  • Kayla Roark 1
    Kayla Roark Jan 15, 2017 Link to comment

    Hey, I need help I know you can add group shortcuts from messenger to homescreen but I was wondering is it possible to make shortcuts for each of your friends on messenger chat and add it to homescreen ? Cuz I really don't won't a group shortcut on my homescreen I would wether have a individual chathead shortcut for each of my friends! Please reply back I really need help !


  • 1
    Kayla Roark Jan 15, 2017 Link to comment

    Um I'm having problems with making shortcuts on messenger I don't want to add a group shortcut to my homescreen I want to make individual shortcuts for each of my friends on messenger. I did it one time but when I tried it a second time it did not work. I don't know if my friends have to be online in order for me to make the shortcut or what? But I would really like a answer please it would be so helpful. Thank you!


  • Patrick Menzies 1
    Patrick Menzies Dec 6, 2016 Link to comment

    Is it really "true" that there is no way of increasing the "writing space" in Android?


  • Shelly Benson 1
    Shelly Benson Oct 29, 2016 Link to comment

    How do I disable the thumbs up on messenger? It is by far the most annoying feature on my phone


  • Alex 17
    Alex Apr 25, 2016 Link to comment

    I loved the inbuilt basket ball game in messenger!

    Sorin


  • Ravindu Thimantha Gamage 8
    Ravindu Thimantha Gamage Mar 29, 2016 Link to comment

    The location function is invalid now! You have to manually send the location and each message is not embedded with the location now! And the setting to turn location on or off is not found in the 'settings' section as well! ;) Update it!


  • Diptangshu M. 15
    Diptangshu M. Mar 27, 2016 Link to comment

    Nice basketball trick. Although quite unnecessary.

    Sorin


  • Earlena Lee 1
    Earlena Lee Mar 15, 2016 Link to comment

    I text him on messenger then deleted conversation. Will he be able to still see what I sent to him?


    • Diptangshu M. 15
      Diptangshu M. Mar 27, 2016 Link to comment

      Yes.


    • Angie Bigham 1
      Angie Bigham Nov 11, 2016 Link to comment

      Yes, unless you delete on his account as well.. He will see the message /messages.


  • 1
    Jeaneen Moore Nov 4, 2015 Link to comment

    Get rid of the freakin' thumb! It's stupid, annoying, in the way.


  • 4
    Dan Cedar Oct 12, 2014 Link to comment

    Fb messenger doesn't respect device notification profiles, you have to turn vibrate on and off separately in the app, how poop is that!


  • 7
    william koffke Aug 16, 2014 Link to comment

    Don't chat; don't miss it; don't need message app


  • 5
    kss imkum Aug 16, 2014 Link to comment

    For me a very good trick. By today got fedup with this horrible app. It is called "uninstall"

    Mark G.

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