How to remove Messenger from your phone or computer

Deleting Messenger depends on what you want to do. If you want to stop using the app but keep your Facebook account, you can uninstall it from your phone or sign out on your computer. If you want to delete your Messenger account entirely — which also removes your Facebook account — that's a separate, permanent step that takes 30 days to complete. Most people uninstall the app; fewer delete the account itself.

The steps differ between iPhone, Android, and desktop, and the outcome is different too. Uninstalling removes the app from your device but your messages stay on Facebook's servers. Deleting your account removes everything tied to that account across all platforms, and Facebook gives you 30 days to change your mind before the deletion becomes permanent.

Key Takeaways

  • Uninstalling the Messenger app from your phone or signing out on your computer stops you from using it but keeps your account and messages intact.
  • Deleting your Messenger account also deletes your Facebook account, and you have 30 days to cancel the deletion before it becomes permanent.
  • On iPhone, uninstall Messenger by pressing and holding the app icon, then selecting Remove App; on Android, long-press the app and tap Uninstall.
  • On desktop, you can sign out of Messenger without uninstalling anything, or deactivate your account through Facebook Settings.
  • Downloaded messages and photos are not automatically saved when you delete Messenger, so download them first if you want to keep them.

Uninstalling Messenger on iPhone

On iPhone, press and hold the Messenger app icon on your home screen until a menu appears. Tap Remove App, then select Remove from Home Screen if you want to keep it in your App Library, or Delete App to remove it entirely. Tap Delete to confirm.

This removes the app from your phone but does not delete your account or messages. You can still access Messenger through the Facebook app or by visiting messenger.com in a web browser. If you reinstall the app later, your messages will be there.

Uninstalling Messenger on Android

On Android, long-press the Messenger app icon until a menu appears. Tap Uninstall, then confirm by tapping OK or Uninstall again, depending on your device.

Like iPhone, uninstalling on Android removes only the app, not your account or message history. You can still message through the Facebook app or messenger.com. Some Android phones let you disable the app instead of uninstalling it — this stops it from running but keeps it on your device. To disable it, go to Settings > Apps, find Messenger, and tap Disable.

Signing out or deleting Messenger on desktop

On a computer, go to messenger.com and click your profile picture in the top left corner. Select Sign Out. This logs you out but leaves your account active — you can sign back in anytime.

If you use Messenger through the Facebook website, you can also sign out of Facebook itself, which logs you out of Messenger at the same time. To do this, click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook, then select Log Out.

Permanently deleting your Messenger and Facebook account

Deleting your account is permanent and affects both Messenger and Facebook. Go to facebook.com, click your profile picture in the top right, and select Settings and Privacy > Settings. On the left side, click Deactivation and Deletion. Choose Delete Account (not Deactivate), then click Continue to Account Deletion.

Facebook will ask you to enter your password and solve a CAPTCHA. After you confirm, your account enters a 30-day deletion window. During this time, your messages, photos, and profile are hidden from other people, but the data is not yet gone. If you log back in during these 30 days, the deletion stops and your account returns to normal. After 30 days pass, Facebook permanently removes all your data.

Some information tied to your account — like messages you sent to other people — may remain on their accounts even after you delete yours. Facebook also keeps certain data for legal and safety reasons, though it is no longer tied to your account.

Saving your messages and photos before you delete

If you want to keep copies of your Messenger conversations or photos, download them before you uninstall or delete your account. On Facebook, click your profile picture, go to Settings and Privacy > Settings, then click Your Information and Permissions > Download Your Information. Select the date range and data types you want — choose Messages and Photos and Videos — then click Request a Download.

Facebook prepares a file of your data, which can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours depending on how much you have. You will receive a notification when it is ready, and you can download it as a ZIP file. This file contains your messages in a readable format and all your photos organized by date.

What happens to your messages after you delete Messenger

If you only uninstall the app, your messages stay on Facebook's servers and you can read them again by logging back in through the website or reinstalling the app. If you delete your account, your messages are hidden from your view after the 30-day window closes, but messages you sent to other people may still appear in their inboxes.

Group chats work the same way — your messages remain visible to other group members even after you delete your account, though your name may appear as "Facebook User" or be removed entirely depending on the group's settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete Messenger without deleting Facebook?

No. Messenger and Facebook are linked to the same account. You can uninstall the Messenger app or stop using it, but deleting the account removes both. If you want to stop using Messenger but keep your Facebook account, uninstall the app or sign out instead of deleting your account.

What if I change my mind during the 30-day deletion period?

Log back into your Facebook account during the 30 days and your account will return to normal. The deletion will stop immediately. After 30 days have passed, you cannot undo the deletion.

Will my contacts know I deleted Messenger?

If you only uninstall the app, no one knows. If you delete your account, people will see that your profile no longer exists, but Facebook does not send them a notification about it. Your name may disappear from group chats or show as "Facebook User" depending on the group's settings.

Can I download my messages before I delete my account?

Yes. Go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Your Information and Permissions > Download Your Information, select Messages, and request a download. Facebook will prepare a file you can download as a ZIP. Do this before you start the account deletion process.

Does uninstalling Messenger delete my messages?

No. Uninstalling the app only removes it from your device. Your messages stay on Facebook's servers. When you reinstall the app or log in through messenger.com, your messages will be there.