How to Reactivate Messenger After Deactivating It (Phone and Web)

Taking a break from Messenger is easy. Coming back is where people get stuck, mostly because Messenger and Facebook are tied together and it isn't obvious which one you switched off. If you run a page or a small business and a customer has just messaged you, you'll want to be back in quickly. Here's what Facebook's help pages say about reactivating Messenger, in the order that makes sense.

How Messenger deactivation and reactivation fit together

Facebook's help pages explain that you have to deactivate your Facebook account first to see the option to deactivate Messenger. So a deactivated Messenger always sits on top of a deactivated Facebook account. That's why the way back is so simple. The help centre's instruction is one line: to reactivate Messenger, log in with your username and password.

There's no separate Reactivate button to hunt for. Logging in is the action. Once your chats are back, my guide to finding someone on Messenger is handy for catching up with a contact once you're back in.

Reactivating Messenger on your phone

1. Install the Messenger app if it's no longer on your phone, or open it if it's still there.
2. Enter the username and password of your account.
3. Follow any prompts on screen, such as confirming your email address or mobile number.
4. Check your chats once the app opens to make sure your conversations are back.

If the app won't open or looks out of date, updating it first usually helps. I've written up the steps in how to update Messenger on iPhone, Android and computer. Menus vary by app version, so if the wording on your screen differs, trust the prompts Facebook shows you.

Reactivating Messenger on a computer

Facebook's help pages say you can use Messenger.com instead of the mobile app. Open it in your browser and sign in with the same email and password you used for your Facebook account. The same rule applies: signing in with your account details is what brings the account back.

Reactivating Messenger and Facebook together

Facebook's reactivation article says that if you'd like to come back to Facebook after deactivating, you can reactivate at any time. To reactivate your main account, log in to Facebook, or use your Facebook account to log in somewhere else. You'll need to have access to the email or mobile number you use to log in to complete the reactivation.

There's one extra route worth knowing about. If you have an Instagram account in the same Accounts Center as your deactivated Facebook account, the help says you can also reactivate Facebook through the Accounts Center on Instagram. For an additional Facebook profile, the help describes a path through Accounts Center, then Manage accounts, then Account ownership and control, then Reactivation. That Reactivation option only shows if you have a profile that's deactivated or scheduled for deletion.

Using Messenger without reactivating Facebook

This is the part most people miss. Facebook's help pages say you can keep using Messenger after you deactivate your Facebook account. Using Messenger won't reactivate your Facebook account, and your Facebook friends can still message you. Download the Messenger app or go to Messenger.com and sign in with the same email and password.

The help centre calls this a Deactivated Except Messenger Account. It says that with one of these accounts you can still chat with friends on Messenger, your picture is visible in your conversations, other people can search for you in Messenger and send you a message, and you won't be searchable on Facebook. You'll also have a deactivated Facebook profile that you can activate at any time.

Which route suits you?

What you want	What the help pages say to do
Get Messenger back and nothing else	Log in to Messenger with your username and password
Keep Facebook switched off but keep chatting	Sign in to Messenger or Messenger.com with your Facebook email and password; this doesn't reactivate Facebook
Return to Facebook as well	Log in to Facebook, with access to the email or mobile number on the account

If you can't reactivate Messenger

• Check you're using the same email or mobile number as before. A typo or an old address is the usual cause.
• Use Facebook's own help with login and password issues if you can't sign in, rather than a third party.
• Make sure you can still receive messages or emails at the number or address on the account, because reactivation needs access to it.
• If your account was disabled rather than deactivated, that's a different situation and needs Facebook's appeal process, not these steps.

Please be careful here. Never share a login code with anyone, and don't deal with anyone offering to get your account back for you. Facebook's help centre is the only route you need.

Reactivating Messenger for a business or creator account

If your Messenger is attached to your own Facebook profile and you manage a Page from it, check the Page after you're back. Your profile coming back is what lets you reach the Page's inbox again. It's also worth reading my overview of what the Messenger app does if you're coming back to it after a long gap, since the app has changed over the years.

After you reactivate Messenger

Your old conversations should be waiting in your Chats list when the app opens. If a chat looks missing, it may have been moved out of view, so look in your archive folder before assuming anything is lost. Take two minutes to review your settings. Check who can message you, whether your notifications are on, and that your contact details are current. A quick review now saves you from missing an important message later.

If you want the full set, start at the Facebook Help: 80 Guides to Pages, Groups, Ads, Stories and Fixes.

Frequently asked questions

How do I reactivate Messenger?

Log in to Messenger with your username and password. Facebook's help pages describe that as the way to reactivate it.

Can I use Messenger without reactivating Facebook?

Yes. Facebook's help says Messenger can still be used after you deactivate Facebook, and using it won't reactivate your Facebook account.

Do I need a new account to come back to Messenger?

No. Sign in with the account details you already had.

Why can't I see an option to reactivate Messenger?

There isn't a separate option. Logging in with your username and password is how you reactivate it.

Is reactivating the same as unblocking or enabling a disabled account?

No. Reactivation is for accounts you deactivated yourself. A disabled account needs Facebook's appeal process.