- Where you can log in to Messenger
- Logging in to Messenger on your phone or tablet
- Logging in to Messenger on a computer
- What to do if you can't log in to Messenger
- If the Messenger app won't install or update
- Using Messenger without a Facebook account
- Logging in to Messenger safely for business
- When to ask Messenger for help with logging in
- A quick recap on logging in to Messenger
- Frequently asked questions
To log in to Messenger, open the Messenger app on your phone or tablet and sign in, or visit facebook.com/messages in a web browser on a computer. If you can't get in, Messenger's help centre says to install the most up-to-date version of the app first.
Logging in to Messenger sounds like the simplest job going until the day it won't work. Maybe you've got a new phone, maybe you're on a work laptop, or maybe the app has just thrown you out. I'll cover the places you can use Messenger, what Messenger's help pages say to do when a login fails, and the safe habits that matter most if you use it for business. One thing first: the help pages are short on exact sign-in screens, so I won't invent any steps they don't give.
Where you can log in to Messenger
There are two routes, according to Messenger's help centre. The first is the Messenger app on your phone or tablet, which you download from the App Store on an iPhone or iPad, or from the Google Play Store on Android. The second is a web browser. The help pages say that to use Messenger on a computer you should visit facebook.com/messages, and other help pages also mention messenger.com for the web version. If you're not sure what the app does in the first place, my guide to what the Messenger app is and how it works explains it.
The help centre also states that the Messenger desktop app for Mac and Windows is no longer available. If you're hunting for a download for your laptop, that explains why you can't find one. Use the browser instead.
Logging in to Messenger on your phone or tablet
- Download Messenger from the App Store (iPhone and iPad) or the Google Play Store (Android) if it isn't installed.
- Open the app and follow the sign-in screen with the details you use for your Facebook account.
- If the app asks you to confirm anything, follow the prompts on screen.
Menus vary by app version, and Messenger's help pages don't walk through the individual fields, so follow what your own screen shows. If a step asks for something unusual, such as a code you didn't request, stop and check you're in the real app.
Logging in to Messenger on a computer
- Open a web browser.
- Go to facebook.com/messages, the address Messenger's help pages give for using Messenger on a computer.
- Sign in with your account details if you're asked.
This also works as a back-up if the phone app is misbehaving. The help pages say that if you can't use the mobile app, you can still chat by visiting facebook.com/messages in a browser.
| Where | How to get in, per Messenger's help pages |
|---|---|
| iPhone or iPad | Install Messenger from the App Store, then sign in |
| Android | Install Messenger from the Google Play Store, then sign in |
| Computer | Visit facebook.com/messages in a web browser |
| Mac or Windows desktop app | No longer available |
What to do if you can't log in to Messenger
The help centre has a short article on this exact problem, and it gives the quick checks in order. Start with the first one, because it fixes more than you'd expect.
- Install the most up-to-date version of the Messenger app. Go to your app store and download any updates. My guide to updating Messenger on iPhone, Android and computer has the steps.
- If you can't log in to Messenger or your Facebook account, use the help pages on account login and password issues.
- If you've forgotten your password, the help centre also points to its steps for how to reset your Facebook password.
If the Messenger app won't install or update
An out-of-date app is a common reason for a login failing, so it helps to know what to try when the update itself won't go through. The help pages list these checks:
- Check your internet connection and see whether other websites work.
- Check your device has enough storage space to install the app.
- Check for system updates in your device settings.
- Confirm that the app is available for your device.
- Delete the app, then reinstall it.
Work through them in that order. Reinstalling is the last resort, so make sure you know your Facebook login details first, because you'll need them again.
Using Messenger without a Facebook account
Some people want Messenger but not Facebook. Messenger's help centre has a separate article called Options to use Messenger without a Facebook account. Its steps aren't covered here, so I won't guess at them. If that's what you need, search for that article title in the Messenger help centre, and read it before you rely on any shortcut.
Logging in to Messenger safely for business
If you answer customers on Messenger, a few habits protect you. Only enter your details in the official app or on the official address. Don't share a login code with anyone, however friendly they seem. Be cautious with messages that claim your account is in trouble and ask you to log in through a link. If you're not sure, go to the app or the address yourself rather than tapping a link. And if you share a device with a team, log out when you're done, so nobody can read your chats.
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When you've logged in, finding someone on Messenger is a sensible next job if you want to reach a customer or contact.
When to ask Messenger for help with logging in
If you've updated the app, tried the browser and checked your password and it still won't work, stop repeating the same attempts. The help pages point to account login and password help, and you can report that something isn't working inside the app or through the Messenger help centre. Keep notes of what you tried so you can explain it clearly.
A quick recap on logging in to Messenger
Use the app on your phone or tablet, or visit facebook.com/messages in a browser on a computer. If it won't let you in, update the app first, then use the login and password help.
Related guides live in the Facebook Help: 80 Guides to Pages, Groups, Ads, Stories and Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I log in to Messenger?
Open the Messenger app on your phone or tablet and sign in, or on a computer visit facebook.com/messages in a web browser. Messenger's help pages say the desktop app for Mac and Windows is no longer available.
Why can't I log in to Messenger?
The first thing Messenger's help centre suggests is installing the most up-to-date version of the app from your app store. If you still can't log in, use the help for account login and password issues.
Can I use Messenger on my laptop?
Yes, through a web browser. The help pages say to visit facebook.com/messages.
Is there a Messenger desktop app for Mac or Windows?
No. Messenger's help centre says the desktop app for Mac and Windows is no longer available.
What if the Messenger app won't update?
Check your internet connection and storage space, check for system updates, confirm the app is available for your device, or delete the app and reinstall it.
