If you want to stay in touch with friends and family, learning how to use Facebook Messenger is one of the most useful skills you can pick up, because it connects you to billions of people through free text messages, voice calls, and video chats. Messenger works as a standalone app on your phone, inside a web browser, and through Facebook itself, so you can reach people wherever they are.
This beginner’s guide covers everything you need: setting up the app, sending your first message, starting voice and video calls, creating group chats, sharing photos, and using fun extras like reactions and stickers. You do not even need a Facebook account anymore, since you can sign up with just a phone number.
What Is Facebook Messenger?
Facebook Messenger is a free messaging app made by Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. It lets you send text messages, photos, videos, voice notes, and files, and make voice and video calls over Wi-Fi or mobile data. Because calls travel over the internet rather than your phone plan, you can talk to people around the world at no extra cost.
Messenger recently added end-to-end encryption as the default for personal chats, meaning your messages are scrambled so only you and the person you are talking to can read them. This makes it both convenient and private.
Setting Up Messenger
Getting started takes only a few minutes on any smartphone. You can also use Messenger on a computer through messenger.com.
- Download the app. Install Messenger free from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
- Open it and choose how to sign in. Log in with your existing Facebook account, or tap “Create new account” to sign up with just your name and phone number.
- Verify your details. Enter the confirmation code sent to your phone or email to secure the account.
- Allow permissions. Grant access to your contacts, microphone, camera, and notifications so calls and alerts work properly.
- Sync your contacts (optional). Let Messenger find friends from your phone contacts, or search for people manually by name.
- Set your profile photo by tapping your picture in the top-left corner so friends recognize you.
- Start your first chat by tapping the compose icon and picking a contact.
Sending Messages and Sharing Media
To send a message, tap the pencil or compose icon, search for the person you want, and open the conversation. Type in the text box at the bottom and tap the send arrow. To share a photo or video, tap the image icon next to the text box and pick from your gallery, or tap the camera to take a new one. You can also record a voice message by holding the microphone icon, and send your location, files, or GIFs from the same menu.
Making Voice and Video Calls
One of Messenger’s best features is free calling. Open any conversation and look at the top-right corner. Tap the phone icon for a voice call or the video camera icon for a video call. During a video call you can switch cameras, mute yourself, and add fun AR effects. You can also call several people at once in a group conversation, making it a solid free alternative to other video apps.
Perfect for private conversations. Messages are end-to-end encrypted by default, and you can call, share media, and react to messages with a single tap.
Create a group to coordinate with family, friends, or a team. Name the group, add members, and everyone can message and join a group call together.
Creating a Group Chat
Group chats are ideal for planning events or keeping a family in one place. Tap the compose icon, select “Create a new group” or add multiple people, then give the group a name. Everyone in the group sees each message and can reply, share photos, and join group video calls. As the creator, you can add or remove members and change the group name or photo.
| Icon | What it does |
|---|---|
| Pencil / compose | Start a new chat or group |
| Phone | Start a voice call |
| Video camera | Start a video call |
| Image | Send a photo or video |
| Microphone | Record a voice message |
| Smiley | Add stickers, GIFs, and emoji |
Reactions, Stickers, and Extras
To react to a message, press and hold it and choose an emoji like a heart or thumbs-up. You can send stickers and GIFs from the smiley menu, play games, and share your active status so friends know when you are online. If you prefer privacy, you can turn off your active status in Settings so no one sees when you are using the app.
Managing Notifications and Privacy
Tap your profile picture to open Settings, where you can mute conversations, control who can message you, and manage notification sounds. You can archive old chats to tidy your inbox, and block anyone you would rather not hear from. Reviewing these controls early keeps Messenger comfortable to use. For more app tutorials, browse our collection of how-to guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Facebook account to use Messenger?
No. You can create a Messenger account using just your name and phone number. However, linking a Facebook account makes it easier to find friends and sync your contacts.
Is Facebook Messenger free?
Yes. Messenger is free to download and use. Messages and calls travel over Wi-Fi or your mobile data, so the only cost is any data your plan charges, with no per-message or per-call fees.
Are Messenger calls really free internationally?
Calls made through Messenger use the internet, so there are no long-distance or international calling charges. Both people simply need the app and an internet connection, wherever they are in the world.
Can I unsend a message?
Yes. Press and hold a message you sent, tap “More,” then choose “Remove for everyone” to delete it for both people. There is a time window during which this works, so act quickly if you made a mistake.
How do I know if my messages are private?
Personal one-on-one and group chats now use end-to-end encryption by default, shown by a lock icon. This means only you and the other participants can read the messages, not even Meta.
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