Why Can’t I Deactivate My Messenger?

Messenger is a useful app that enables you to connect with family and friends all over the world. It’s engaging and convenient, but it can sometimes be a distraction. You may have tried deactivating Messenger but found yourself unable to do so. Read on to find out the reasons why and how to fix it. This article includes a detailed guide on Why Can’t I Deactivate My Messenger.

The Reason

Messenger is directly linked to your Facebook account; you can’t disable or deactivate it entirely while your account is still active. This means that if you want to get rid of Messenger completely, you must also deactivate your Facebook account.

How to Deactivate Facebook?

Before deactivating Messenger, you first need to go through the step of deleting your Facebook account. Here are the steps to deleting your Facebook account:

1. Launch Facebook.

2. Login to the account you want to deactivate.
3. On the upper left, tap your profile picture.
4. Select Account Settings.
5. Scroll down and select Access and Control.
6. Tap Deactivation and deletion.
7. Select Delete Account.
8. Tap Continue to account deletion.

9. Input your password in the designated textbox.
10. Tap Submit.

After that, the deletion process will take 90 days before Facebook cleans your data. You are given 30 days after your account deletion request to cancel your decision. Once you do, your account will be restored. 

How to Deactivate Messenger?

Now that you have deactivated Facebook, you now do the same for Messenger. All it takes is these few simple steps:

1. Open Messenger.
2. Sign in to your account.
3. On the upper left, tap your profile picture.
4. Select Account Settings.
5. Tap Account Ownership and Control.
6. Select Deactivation and deletion.
7. Select Delete account.
8. Tap Continue to account deactivation.
9. Follow the onscreen instructions to finalize your Messenger account deactivation.

Note that deactivating your account will remove all content, like photos and messages. Before deactivating your account, make sure to download any important content you want to keep with you. 

How To Temporarily Turn Off Messenger?

If you’re not willing to part with your Facebook account and simply want to avoid the distractions from the constant chats and calls, your alternative is to mute your Messenger. You can do this by tagging yourself as inactive and turning off notifications to catch that much-needed break. 

Here are the steps to make your account appear inactive to others:

1. Open Messenger.
2. Sign in to your account.
3. On the upper left, tap your profile picture.
4. Select Active Status.
5. Tap the toggle button and turn off Active Status. This way, you will be shown as inactive to your contacts even if you’re online.

To turn off your Messenger notifications, do the following: 

1. Go to your phone’s Settings.
2. Go to Notifications and Sounds or the equivalent kind of settings on your device.
3. Turn on Do Not Disturb.

Alternatively, you can also follow these steps on some phones:

1. Go to Settings.

2. Go to the Notifications & Status bar or a similar setting.
3. Select Manage Notifications.
4. Scroll down and tap Messenger among the list of apps. 

5. Turn off Allow Notifications using the toggle button.

FAQs On Why Can’t I Deactivate My Messenger

Read another article on How To Deactivate Facebook Messenger.