How to Leave a Group Chat on Messenger (Phone and Computer)

Group chats are brilliant until they aren't. The family chat that pings all night, the old project group nobody has the heart to close, the networking chat that turned into constant promotions. Messenger lets you walk out of any group conversation, and the steps are quick. Before you do, though, there are a few things Messenger's help pages are clear about, including who gets told and what you can't leave.

How to leave a group chat on Messenger from your phone

Leave a group chat on Android

According to Messenger's help pages, the steps on Android are:

1. From Chats, open the group conversation.
2. Tap the names of the people in the conversation at the top.
3. Scroll down and tap Leave group.
4. Tap Leave group again to confirm.

Leave a group chat on iPhone

The iPhone steps are almost identical, with slightly different button wording:

1. From Chats, open the group conversation.
2. Tap the names of the people in the conversation at the top.
3. Scroll down and tap Leave chat.
4. Tap Leave to confirm.

Menus vary by app version, so if the button says something a little different on your phone, look for the leave option at the bottom of the group's details screen.

How to leave a group chat on Messenger from a computer

Messenger desktop app

1. Open the group conversation.
2. Click the icon at the top right.
3. Click Leave chat.
4. Click Leave chat again to confirm.

messenger.com

1. Below Chats, hover over the group conversation.
2. Click the icon that appears.
3. Click Leave Group.
4. Click Leave Group again to confirm.

What happens when you leave a Messenger group chat

Messenger's help pages say the other people in the conversation will be notified that you left, and you will no longer receive messages from the conversation. So the exit isn't silent. Everyone in the group will see that you've gone, which is worth knowing if the group is your boss, your in-laws or a client team.

If that bothers you, think about whether leaving is the right tool. Which brings us to the next option.

Mute a Messenger group instead of leaving it

Messenger's help pages mention that you can also mute the conversation instead of leaving it. Muting stops the constant alerts without telling anyone you've gone, and you can still read the chat when you choose. For a group you want to keep a foot in, that's usually the gentler choice. I've explained how in my guide to muting people and group chats on Messenger.

Messenger also has a separate help article on turning group chat notifications on or off, if you only want to change how often the group alerts you.

Hide a group chat on Messenger without leaving

Archiving is another option if the chat is just cluttering your inbox. Messenger's help pages say archiving hides a chat from your inbox until the next time that person chats, and you can find it again in the archive. For a group, the same applies when someone posts a new message. It isn't leaving, so you'll still receive messages. If that sounds like what you want, read how to archive chats on Messenger.

Messenger one-to-one chats: why there's no leave button

Messenger's help pages say you can only leave group conversations. You can't leave a one-to-one conversation. If the person on the other end is a problem, you can't exit the chat the same way. The help centre has separate articles on blocking and reporting, which you'd use instead. If someone threatens you or you feel unsafe, report the conversation to Messenger and, if you're in danger, contact the police.

Before you leave a Messenger group chat: a quick checklist

Leaving takes seconds, but it's hard to undo gracefully. Run through this first so you don't have to ask to be added back:

• Save anything you'll need later, such as an address, a link or a file someone shared.
• Decide whether muting would do the job, since it doesn't tell the group you've gone.
• Think about who'll notice. Everyone in the group is told, so a quick message to the organiser can soften it.
• Check you're in the right chat. Several groups can share similar names, and the leave option applies to the one you have open.

Added to a Messenger group you don't know?

It happens: a stranger or an acquaintance adds you to a chat full of people you've never met. You can leave using the steps above, and the group is told you've gone. If the conversation is abusive, spammy or makes you uncomfortable, Messenger has a help article on reporting a conversation, and it's sensible to use it as well as leaving. If you feel you're in danger, contact the police.

Can I rejoin a Messenger group chat after leaving?

Messenger's help pages that cover leaving don't say how to rejoin, so I won't invent a route. A group chat has its own help articles for adding someone to a group chat and for starting a group chat, so the usual way back is that someone in the group adds you again. If you left by accident, ask a member to add you.

Leaving a group chat you run for a business or community

If you're the person who started the group, think before you leave. Messenger's help pages mention an article on removing a group chat admin, which suggests groups can have admins, and I'd suggest making sure someone else is looking after the group before you step away. Otherwise a customer group or community can end up with nobody in charge. A short goodbye message before you leave is a nicer way out than silence.

Before leaving a busy group, it also helps to save anything you need, such as a link, an address or a document.

I keep every related walkthrough in the Facebook Help: 80 Guides to Pages, Groups, Ads, Stories and Fixes.

Frequently asked questions

How do I leave a group chat on Messenger?

Open the group, tap the names at the top, scroll down and tap Leave group (Android) or Leave chat (iPhone), then confirm.

Will people know if I leave a group chat on Messenger?

Yes. Messenger's help pages say the other people in the conversation will be notified that you left.

Can I leave a one-to-one chat on Messenger?

No. Messenger's help pages say you can only leave group conversations, not one-to-one conversations.

Is there a way to stay in a group but stop the alerts?

Yes. Messenger's help pages say you can mute the conversation instead of leaving it.

How do I leave a group chat on messenger.com?

Below Chats, hover over the group, click the icon, click Leave Group, then click Leave Group again to confirm.

Will I still get messages after I leave?

No. Messenger's help pages say you will no longer receive messages from the conversation.