How to Use Messenger Without a Facebook Account

All you need to do is deactivate Facebook. You can still log in to Messenger

By
Elise Moreau
Elise Moreau
Elise Moreau
Freelance Contributor
  • University of Ontario
  • George Brown College
Elise Moreau is a writer that has covered social media, texting, messaging, and streaming for Lifewire. Her work has appeared on Techvibes, SlashGear, Lifehack and others.
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Updated on April 23, 2024
Reviewed by
Michael Barton Heine Jr
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Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr
    Michael Heine is a CompTIA-certified writer, editor, and Network Engineer with 25+ years' experience working in the television, defense, ISP, telecommunications, and education industries.
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    What to Know

    • You must have a Facebook password to use Messenger. But, you can pause/deactivate Facebook and keep Messenger.
    • If you've already deactivated your Facebook, simply log in to Messenger. Facebook will remain disabled.
    • If you're new to Messenger, make a Facebook account first, deactivate Facebook, and then sign in to Messenger.

    This article covers how you can stop using Facebook but keep using Messenger. We'll go over how to get Messenger back if you've already deactivated Facebook and how to sign up for a new Messenger account if you don't yet have Facebook.

    Use Messenger With a Deactivated Facebook Account

    If you've deactivated Facebook, you can keep using Messenger by logging in to Messenger with your Facebook account information. This works on Messenger.com and through the Messenger app; just enter your Facebook login details and then press Log in.

    The login screen for Messenger

    There was a time when you only needed a phone number to get on Messenger, but a Facebook account is necessary these days.

    How to Make a New Messenger Account Without Facebook

    Did you permanently delete Facebook or have you never had a Facebook account? It's easy to make a Messenger account because you get one automatically when you create a Facebook account. Then, you can turn off Facebook and keep using Messenger. Here's how:

    1. Make a Facebook account. You can do this through the website, the Messenger app, or the Facebook app. Select Create new account and then follow the on-screen steps.

      The new account creation screens for a Facebook account through the Messenger app

    2. Deactivate your Facebook account. This is like a pause, so you can reactivate any time. Messenger will still work if you do this, but nobody will be able to find you on Facebook and your timeline will be inaccessible.

      Deleting your account is very different. Play close attention to the option you choose. Deleting Facebook will delete Messenger.

      The 'Taking a break from Facebook' prompt when deactivating an account

    3. Log in to Messenger with your Facebook email and password. This will not reactivate Facebook.

      If you want to reactivate Facebook in the future, just log in to Facebook with the same password you used to use.

    FAQ
    • Can you contact someone on Messenger without being friends?

      Yes, you can send a message to someone on Facebook Messenger if you're not friends. However, your message may arrive in their message requests, and they will only see it if they check there. To add phone contacts to Messenger, select the People tab and then tap the contacts button.

    • How many Messenger accounts can you have?

      You can add up to five Messenger accounts provided they follow Facebook's name policies and Community Standards. To add a Messenger account in the app, open the menu, tap your profile picture, and then choose Add account.

    • Can people find me on Messenger without Facebook?

      Yes. People can search for you by name, email address, or phone number in the Messenger app. To control your privacy settings in the app, tap the menu and then tap the settings icon. Go to Privacy & safety > Message delivery and choose who can send you message requests.

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