Facebook Fast Delete Messages is a free Google Chrome extension that speeds up the process of deleting messages on Facebook. It couldn't be easier to use. It doesn't even come with a Help file.
UPDATE: I added some additional info to the end of this post based on all of the great comments from users. Be sure to read all the way to the end.
Over the last few weeks, there has been a lot of stink over the fact that Facebook is splitting its messaging functionality out into a new Facebook Messenger app.
A screenshot of the Windows version of the app reveals that it will look rather similar to both Skype and Apple's own Messages app on Mac. Facebook said Messenger Desktop will have many of the.
A simple app that lets you text, video chat, and stay close with people you care about.
Hang out anytime, anywhere - Messenger makes it easy and fun to stay close to your favorite people.
Some fear-mongers have been spreading rumors that Facebook plans to use your camera and microphone to listen in on your private conversations, while Facebook has sent pretty clear messages that it has no intent to do so.
The result, however, has been quite a few conversations where friends and family have asked me whether they should avoid installing the Messenger app and whether there are options to open messages sent via Messenger without using the app. The quick answer is yes…and it’s a lot easier than you think.
There have been a few changes to Messenger in the fact that there is a new app, but do you need it to view your Facebook messages?
TL;DR – For those who want the quick answer without having to read the entire post, you can read your Facebook Messenger messages by accessing Facebook through a browser, not the mobile app. Once you navigate to Facebook in your browser, you can open Messenger from within the Web view and read your messages. There is no special Messenger login that you need and there is no special Messenger login online. It’s just the standard Facebook.com interface.
Do We REALLY Think Facebook Is Spying On Us Using The Messenger App?
My response has been pretty simple. Even if it were true, and Facebook were spying…is your life really that interesting? If you’re concerned with Facebook listening in on your conversations, maybe you should rethink what activities you’re engaged in.
No…Facebook is not really interested in your rants during your kids soccer game.
Surprise…they don’t want to hear you use the terms “ping”, “strategize” and “leverage” in your corporate meetings.
It’s true…Facebook is not interested in any of your embarrassing bathroom noises while you play Candy Crush Saga on the toilet.
Believe it or not, Facebook does not care that you're playing Candy Crush Saga on the toilet. Click To Tweet
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but installing the Messenger app isn’t going to place your privacy in any more risk than the already embarrassing photos and “woe is me” posts that you’re putting on Facebook yourself.
So calm down, don’t believe the fear-mongers….just relax.
Facebook Messenger Doesn’t Represent The End Of Our Personal Privacy
Installing Facebook Messenger is not the end of your privacy…unless we want it to be. You can still use the phone to call people. You can still text. You can still email.
If you choose not to use Facebook Messenger, great!
It’s one less communication channel that you need to check while you’re sitting at the stoplight holding everyone else up in line when the light turns green and you’re fixated on your phone.
{STOP THAT, PEOPLE!!}
But if you don’t believe me and you NEED your Facebook messages, yet are terrified that adding it to your phone will require you to wear a foil hat for the rest of your life so Facebook doesn’t steal your thoughts, then here are the instructions on how to get them. How to delete the mail app from mac.
NOTE: No…it’s not optimal. Yes, it’s kind of cludgy…but if you want the best experience, simply install the app and get over it.
Viewing Facebook Messages On Your Mobile Device Or Tablet Without Using The Facebook App
Install Chrome on your device. If you are an Android user, it’s already on your phone.
Open Chrome and navigate to http://www.facebook.com (don’t log in yet)
Open the context menu within Chrome and check the box next to “Request Desktop Site”
Reload the page and you should see the Facebook.com desktop site.
Log in.
Click the Messages link in the left nav under your profile photo to see your messages and respond to them.
You can still view your Facebook messages on your mobile device by viewing the desktop version of Facebook in your mobile browser. Just be sure to use the “Request desktop site” feature in Chrome to make sure you see the desktop version of Facebook, not the mobile version.
Again, not the best user experience, but it gets you to your messages without ever having to bow to the privacy will of Facebook and their desire that you download their second, stand-alone Facebook Messenger app.
If you don't want to install the Messenger app, you can still view your Facebook messages on your mobile device. Click To Tweet
Except for the fact that you basically gave away all privacy expectations when you “Agreed” to the Facebook terms of use by creating your account.
Oh yeah…that small detail.
I hope this helps. I also hope this post gets zero traffic because people aren’t silly enough to Google “how can I view my Facebook messages on my phone without installing the Messenger app”.
Update – I am astonished by the responses to this post…AND I apologize for being a snarky SOB.
Wow…just wow.
First, let me apologize to my readers for the high-level of snark in this post. I probably went a little overboard and if it offends folks, sorry. Not my intent.
Multi viewer mac app. Second, I cannot believe the traffic this post is generating.
What that means to me is there are lots of real, legitimate reasons that people want to view Facebook Messenger messages without installing the mobile app. If you read the comments below, you’ll see that my readers have (once again) done a great job chiming in and sharing their reasons.
Some of them include:
Privacy
Not wanting to give away all of your private information, although I don’t see how viewing the messages in the desktop version vs the mobile app makes any difference on that front. Facebook still has all your messages and can still read them, regardless of the platform.
Resources, mainly storage on your phone
This one is SUPER valid.
On my Samsung Galaxy, the Facebook Messenger app is a bloated whale on an app.
The current version of the app takes up 408 MB of storage. That’s nearly half a gig of storage for a single app.
By comparison, What’s App Messenger only takes up 19MB of storage and is a very similar type of messenger app. If you’re short on storage or your phone doesn’t allow you to move apps to your SD card, I can see why you would be unhappy with Messenger.
A loathe for chat applications
If you hate chat apps, then you should love the fact that Facebook split Messenger out, so you don’t have to install it. I completely get it.
Battery Life
Again, a very fair and valid point.
Facebook Messenger Mac Os App
Now, instead of one app checking for Facebook messages, you have two. Two apps essentially performing a very similar function on a similar schedule could really impact your battery life.
The solution? Look at the settings for both the Facebook and Messenger apps and adjust how frequently the apps are searching for new messages or data.
Data Consumption
Not everyone has unlimited data on their mobile phone plan, I get it.
But in the single Facebook app that included Messenger, you didn’t have a choice as to whether you wanted to get messages on your phone or not. You either installed the Facebook app and got the messages, or you didn’t install the app and got nothing.
With the division of Facebook the app and Facebook Messenger, you can save data by choosing not to install the Messenger app. For those that want the best of both worlds, Facebook even included a “Data Saver” feature in Messenger to reduce the amount of data that the app uses by not automatically downloading images and videos.
To access the data saver feature, open Facebook Messenger and then click your profile photo. There should be a “Data Saver” menu item in the options that appear.
The Facebook Messenger data saver feature can limit the automatic downloads of images and videos
The Facebook Messenger App Crashes
It has gotten better, but at the beginning, Messenger was a hulking piece of $hit. I certainly expected more from Facebook (which I probably shouldn’t have). I feel like it’s a lot more stable, so maybe this has been worked out. That is, until they try to add more advertisements in ?
So, there you have it. An apology and an update. Just like every other human blogger out there, I sometimes let my opinion and snark get in the way of the fact that my goal is to actually help folks navigate social media.
If my sarcasm got in the way of doing that, sorry. But keep the great comments coming. I can take the criticism, it’s okay ?
Just to show you that I try not to take myself too seriously, here’s me with my foil hat. Yes, I understand that it will now live on the Internet forever.
I try not to take myself too seriously
Cheers!
–Sean
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[Updated 2020] Viewing Facebook Messages Without Installing The Messenger App was last modified: July 25th, 2020 by
With Messages for Mac, you can send unlimited messages to any Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch that uses iMessage, Apple's secure-messaging service. iPhone owners can use it for SMS and MMS messages, too.
Set up iMessage
iMessage is the Apple messaging service you get automatically with your Apple ID.If it's not already set up, you're asked to sign in when you first open the Messages app. Sign in with same Apple ID that you use with Messages on your iPhone and other devices. It's usually the same Apple ID that you use for iCloud, the iTunes Store, the App Store, and the account you created when you first set up your Mac.
Have a conversation
Click at the top of the Messages window.
Address your message by typing the recipient's name, email address, or phone number. Or click and choose a recipient. If they're in your Contacts app, Messages finds them as you type. To start a group conversation, just add more recipients.
Type your message in the field at the bottom of the window, then press Return to send it.
To include emoji, click.
To include an image or other file, just drag or paste it into the message field. Or use Continuity Camera to capture a photo or scan directly from your iPhone or iPad camera.
To include an audio recording, clickand record your message.
After starting a conversation, click Details in the corner of the window to take other actions, including:
Choose not to be disturbed by notifications about this conversation.
Use FaceTime to start an audio call or video call .
Share a screen .
See the recipient's location—if they're sharing their location with you.
Review all of the photos and files that were exchanged in the conversation.
Add a group name, add members to a group, or leave a group. If the group has four or more members, you can remove members: Control-click the member's name, then choose Remove from Conversation.
With macOS Sierra or later, you can also use Siri to send, read, and reply to Messages:
”Send a message to Susan and Johnny saying I'll be late' or ”Tell Johnny Appleseed the show is about to start” or ”Text a message to 408 555 1212.”
”Read the last message from Brian Park” or ”Read my new messages.”
”Reply that's great news” or ”Tell him I'll be there in 10 minutes.”
Add a Tapback to a message
macOS Sierra introduces Tapback to the Mac. A Tapback is a quick response that expresses what you think about a message, such as that you like it or think it's funny. In the image above, the heart next to ”See you then!' is a Tapback. Here's how to do it:
Control-click a message bubble to open a shortcut menu.
Choose Tapback from the menu.
Click a Tapback to add it to the message bubble.
Facebook Messenger App For Mac
Your Tapback is visible to everyone in the conversation who is using iMessage with macOS Sierra or later or iOS 10 or later. Other iMessage users see 'Liked' or 'Laughed at' or 'Emphasized,' for example, followed by the text of that message.
iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch also have Tapback, as well as other message effects available only on those devices. Most such affects look the same on your Mac when you receive them. Others appear as a description of the effect, such as ”(sent with Loud Effect).”
Send text messages to anyone from your Mac
If you have an iPhone with a text messaging plan, learn how to set up text message forwarding so you can send and receive SMS and MMS messages from your Mac.
Delete a message or conversation
When you permanently delete a message or conversation, you can't get it back. So make sure that you save important information from your messages.
To delete a message:
Open a message conversation.
Control-click the blank area of a message bubble that you want to delete.
Choose Delete.
Click Delete.
To delete a conversation:
Control-click a conversation.
Choose Delete Conversation.
Click Delete.
Facebook Messenger App Microsoft Surface
Learn more
To learn more about Messages, choose Messages Help from the Help menu in Messages.
If you get an error when trying to sign in to iMessage, learn what to do.
FaceTime is not available in all countries or regions.