How to Make a Poll on Messenger (Group Chat Steps)

Choosing a date, a venue or a name is where group chats go to die. Fifteen replies, three thumbs-up and still no decision. A poll fixes that, and Messenger has one built in. Here's how Messenger's help centre says to make one, how voting works and what to do if the option isn't there. I'll also cover a few ways small-business owners and community admins can use polls, because a one-tap question gets far more answers than an open one. Menus vary by app version, so use the steps as a guide.

Make a poll on Messenger in a group chat

The first thing to know is that polls are for group chats. Messenger's help article is titled Polls on Messenger and describes creating a poll in a group chat, not in a one-to-one conversation. The steps it gives on the web are:

1. Go to the Messenger website, or open your messages on the Facebook website, and open the group chat.
2. Click Options near the bottom left of the chat.
3. Choose the poll option from the menu.
4. Type your question.
5. Enter the choices people can pick from.
6. Submit the poll.

An older version of the article describes the same idea with a click near the bottom left of the chat and then Create a poll, which is why wording differs between pages. Look for the word Poll.

Make a poll on Messenger from the phone app

On the phone app, Messenger's own posts describe the flow like this: open a group conversation, tap the plus icon, select Polls, add your question and the answers, then submit. That description comes from a Messenger post rather than the step-by-step help article, and app menus change, so if you don't see a plus icon, look through the chat's options for Poll.

If nothing resembling Polls shows up, update the app first. I've written up how to update Messenger for every device.

Vote in a Messenger poll or add your own option

Once a poll is in the chat, voting is quick. The help centre says to click Vote to pick an option, or click Add option to suggest a new one, then submit. You can change your answer later, and the person who created the poll can vote too.

• Vote: choose the option you prefer and submit.
• Add an option: useful when none of the choices suits you, though it also means the list can grow, so keep the question tight.
• Change your vote: reopen the poll and choose differently.

Why you can't see the poll option on Messenger

If you can't find it, here are the causes to check, in the order I'd try them:

1. Are you in a group chat? Polls don't appear in one-to-one chats.
2. The help centre notes the feature may be unavailable in countries located in Europe, so it might not be offered where you are.
3. Is the app up to date? An old version may be missing newer chat options.
4. Try the chat on a computer. The web steps are the ones the help article spells out.

If none of that helps, report the problem through Messenger's help centre so the team can look into it. Don't install a third-party add-on promising polls. It isn't needed and it's a risky way to hand over account access.

Messenger poll versus a Facebook group poll

These get confused a lot. A Messenger poll lives inside a group chat conversation and only people in that chat can see it. A Facebook group poll is a different feature, with its own help article, created in the group's feed for members to answer. If you run a community with both a Facebook group and a Messenger chat, pick the one where your members already talk. Asking in two places splits your votes.

Smart ways to use a Messenger poll in a group chat

• Event admins: offer three possible dates and let the group decide in a tap.
• Clubs and teams: settle a venue or kit colour without a long thread.
• Small businesses with a customer or community chat: ask which product, topic or opening time people want most, then act on the answer.
• Families: pick the holiday week. Nobody enjoys scrolling back to count thumbs-up emojis.

Keep the question short, keep the choices to a handful and say when you'll close the decision in a normal message. If your group chat is busy and people want quiet, mute notifications rather than leaving; my guide to muting a chat on Messenger shows how.

New to Messenger polls: what the app can and can't do

If you're still getting your bearings, my explainer on what the Messenger app is covers the basics. For polls specifically, the help article describes creating them, voting and adding options. It doesn't list advanced features such as hiding who voted or setting a closing time, so don't promise your group anything the help pages don't say the poll can do.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a poll on Messenger?

Open a group chat, find the poll option in the chat's menu (Options near the bottom left on the web, or the plus icon on the app), type your question, add the choices and submit.

Can I make a poll in a one-to-one Messenger chat?

Messenger's help article describes creating polls in group chats. If you want a decision from one person, a normal message is the simplest route.

Why don't I see the poll option on Messenger?

Check that you're in a group chat and that the app is up to date. The help centre also says the feature may be unavailable in countries located in Europe.

Can people add their own options to a Messenger poll?

Yes. According to the help centre, members can click Add option to add another choice, then submit.

Can I change my vote in a Messenger poll?

Yes. The help article says you can change your answer later.

Is a Messenger poll the same as a Facebook group poll?

No. A Facebook group poll is created in the group itself and has its own help article. A Messenger poll lives in a group chat.