The quickest way to log out of Messenger

To log out of Facebook Messenger on your phone or computer, open the app or website, tap or click your profile picture in the top left or top right corner, scroll down to find "Log Out", and tap or click it. The app will close you out immediately. On a computer, you may see "Log Out" directly in a menu; on a phone, you often need to scroll through settings to find it.

If you use Messenger through a web browser instead of the app, you can also log out by clicking the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left, then selecting "Log Out" from the dropdown. Either way takes about 10 seconds.

The reason you might want to log out is straightforward: you're using someone else's device, you're selling or giving away your phone, or you simply want to make sure nobody else can read your messages if they pick up your device. Logging out removes your account from that specific device or browser — it does not delete your messages or account.

Key Takeaways

  • On any device, tap or click your profile picture, scroll to "Log Out", and confirm — this removes your account from that device only.
  • Logging out does not delete your messages, photos, or account; it just disconnects you from that particular phone, tablet, or browser.
  • If you cannot find a Log Out button, you may be using a web version that requires you to click the menu icon first.
  • If you forget to log out before handing a device to someone else, you can log out remotely from another device by changing your password.

Logging out on iPhone or iPad

Open the Messenger app and look for your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen. Tap it once. A menu will slide up from the bottom showing your name and several options.

Scroll down through this menu until you see "Log Out" near the bottom. Tap it, and Messenger will ask you to confirm. Tap "Log Out" again in the confirmation box. You will be returned to the login screen, and your account is now disconnected from that device.

Logging out on Android phones and tablets

Open Messenger and tap your profile picture, which is usually in the top left corner of the screen. A menu will appear with your account information and settings.

Scroll down to the bottom of this menu and tap "Log Out". Confirm the action when prompted. You will return to the login screen, and you are now logged out of that device.

Logging out on a computer or laptop

If you are using Messenger through a web browser (messenger.com or facebook.com/messages), look for the menu icon — three horizontal lines — in the top left corner. Click it to open a dropdown menu.

Scroll down and click "Log Out". Your browser will redirect you to the login page, and your account is disconnected from that browser. If you use multiple browsers on the same computer (Chrome, Safari, Firefox), you will need to log out of each one separately.

If you are using the Messenger desktop app on Windows or Mac, click your profile picture in the top left, then click "Log Out" from the menu that appears.

What happens after you log out

Once you log out, nobody using that device can read your messages, see your active status, or send messages from your account — unless they know your password and log back in themselves. Your messages remain in your account and will be there when you log back in on any other device.

Logging out does not affect Messenger on your other devices. If you are logged into Messenger on your phone and your computer, logging out on your phone does not log you out on your computer. Each device is independent.

If you cannot find the Log Out button

On older versions of Messenger, the Log Out option might be in a different location. Try tapping your profile picture and looking for "Settings" or "Account Settings" instead. Log Out is sometimes nested under Settings rather than appearing as its own button.

If you are using Messenger Lite (a lighter version of the app for older phones), the process is the same: tap your profile picture and look for Log Out in the menu.

Logging out remotely if you cannot access the device

If you left a device logged in and no longer have access to it, you can log out remotely by changing your Facebook password. Go to facebook.com on any device where you are logged in, click the menu icon in the top right, select "Settings and Privacy", then "Settings". Click "Password" on the left side and enter a new password.

When you change your password, Facebook automatically logs you out of Messenger on all devices except the one you are currently using. This takes effect within a few minutes. The person using that old device will be logged out and will need your new password to log back in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does logging out delete my messages?

No. Logging out only disconnects your account from that device. Your messages stay in your account and will be there when you log back in on any device. The other person will not be able to see them unless they know your password.

Can I log out of Messenger without logging out of Facebook?

Not directly. Messenger and Facebook share the same login. If you log out of Messenger, you are also logged out of Facebook on that device. If you log back in to Facebook, you will be logged back into Messenger as well.

What if I log out and then forget my password?

You can reset your password on the Facebook login page by clicking "Forgotten password?" and following the steps. You will need access to the email or phone number linked to your account. Once you reset it, you can log back into Messenger.

Will the other person know I logged out?

No. Logging out is silent. The person using that device will only know you logged out if they try to open Messenger and see the login screen instead of your messages.

Do I need to log out of Messenger before selling my phone?

Yes. Before handing over a phone, tablet, or computer, log out of Messenger (and all other accounts). If you forget, change your Facebook password from another device, which will log you out remotely within minutes.