How to Mute Someone on Messenger (Chats and Group Chats)

Sometimes you don't want to block someone or leave a group. You just want the pinging to stop. That's what muting is for on Messenger, and it's one of the kindest tools in the app, because nothing is lost. If you run a business or manage a community, it's also how you keep a lively customer chat from taking over your day. Here's what Messenger's help centre says about muting a single chat, a group chat and everything at once. Menus vary by app version, so treat the labels as a guide.

Mute someone on Messenger from a computer

The help centre gives clear steps for messenger.com and the desktop app. There are two routes, depending on whether you're looking at your chat list or inside the conversation.

From your chat list

1. Under Chats, hover over the conversation with the person.
2. Click Options (the three dots), then click Mute notifications.
3. Choose how long you want to mute them for.
4. Click Mute.

From inside the conversation

1. Open the conversation.
2. Click the icon in the top right.
3. Select Mute notifications.
4. Choose a duration and click Confirm.

Mute someone on Messenger from your phone

On Android, Messenger's help pages describe it from the chat list. Press and hold the conversation, tap Mute, choose what you'd like to mute where it asks, pick how long, then tap OK. On iPhone the options for a chat appear in a similar way, so look for Mute among the choices. Because the layout changes with each app version, search for the word Mute rather than relying on an icon.

If the option is missing altogether, update the app. My guide to updating Messenger takes a minute and fixes more oddities than you'd expect.

Mute a Messenger group chat, messages, calls or both

Group chats are usually the noisiest, so Messenger gives you more control there. For a group chat on a computer, the help centre says you can choose to mute message notifications, call notifications or both. Turning notifications off for a group stops alerts for messages, message reactions and mentions in that chat.

That last part matters. If you've muted a group but still want to know when someone names you, check how your own notifications are set, because the help centre says mentions are covered by the mute.

What Messenger mute does and doesn't do

• It silences alerts. Messages still arrive, and you'll see them when you open Messenger.
• Messenger's help pages don't describe any notice going to the other person.
• It isn't a block. They can keep sending messages and you can still reply whenever you like.
• It isn't the same as hiding the chat. If you want the conversation out of your inbox, that's archiving, which I cover in my guide to archiving chats on Messenger.

Mute all Messenger notifications with Do not disturb

If one person isn't the problem and the whole app is, there's a wider switch. On messenger.com, click your profile picture in the bottom left, click Preferences, and below Notifications turn on the Do not disturb toggle. This silences alerts across all your conversations for the time you choose, which is handy during a client call or a workshop.

You can also control alerts from your phone's own settings. The help centre notes that on iPhone you can find the Facebook app under Notifications in Settings, and on Android the app's notification settings sit in your device settings. Turning them off there stops every alert from the app, so use it with care.

Mute a business or customer chat on Messenger

For conversations with a business, the help centre describes a slightly different route on the Messenger app for iOS and Android: open the conversation, tap Manage, then Manage Messages, then Notifications. If you're the business, remember that your customers can do the same to you. A chat that sends one useful update beats one that sends five, so keep your own automated messages short and relevant.

Messenger mute versus block versus restrict

Option	Alerts stop?	They can still message you?	Good for
Mute	Silenced	They can	A chatty friend or busy group
Archive	No, until they message again	Yes	Clearing a finished conversation
Block	Yes	No	Someone you don't want to hear from at all

If you've decided a person has gone beyond chatty, blocking is the stronger step. If anyone has threatened you, report the conversation to Messenger and, if you're in danger, contact the police.

If you can't mute someone on Messenger

Work through these in order. Update the app and restart it. Try the same chat on a computer, where the steps are described most fully. Check you're opening the right conversation, since a person can appear in a one-to-one chat and in several groups. And remember that muting one chat doesn't mute another, so a person who's in three groups needs muting in each of them.

Frequently asked questions

How do I mute someone on Messenger?

On a computer, hover over their chat under Chats, click Options, click Mute notifications, choose how long and click Mute. On Android, press and hold the chat, tap Mute and choose a duration. Menus vary by app version.

Does the person know if I mute them on Messenger?

Messenger's help pages don't describe any message being sent to them. Muting only changes the alerts you receive.

Can I mute a group chat on Messenger?

Yes. The help centre says you can mute message notifications, call notifications or both, and that muting also covers reactions and mentions in that group.

Will I still get messages from someone I've muted?

Yes. They still arrive in the chat. You just won't get alerts for them.

Is muting the same as blocking on Messenger?

No. Muting silences alerts, and the person can still message you. Blocking stops them contacting you.

How do I mute every conversation at once?

On messenger.com, click your profile picture, then Preferences, and turn on Do not disturb under Notifications.