recently made an announcement over a billion people are using Messenger every month, so GeeksModo is rounding up some of the most exciting stuff you can
do with the messaging app that’s noticeably taken over the world.
In this round up, we shall not cover simple stuff like how to send a message, photo, video, sticker, or emoji – neither shall we discuss how to place a
video/voice call. Those are stuff that everyone knows how to use. Rather, this convenient guide, which is for both Android and iOS Facebook app, is all about those
concealed tips and tricks, which includes how to start a game of chess or interact with a bot.
Notify us in the comments in case you are aware of other tips and tricks worth including in this round up, as we plan to update this article from time to time. Also, check GeeksModo’s
Facebook tips and tricks round up
for more handy tips and tricks.
Facebook Messenger tips and tricks
Share your location
iOS and Android
Initiate a chat with your friend, then tap the More button (four dots in a square) located at the toolbar above the text field, then choose Location. You may need to allowaccess to your location. From this screen, send your current location. Your friend will instantly get a map showing your precise location.
Give your friend a nickname
iOS
Initiate a chat with your friend, then tap their name located at the top of the chat window, then tap on Nicknames. You can then tap your friend’s name one more time to start setting
a nickname. Your friend will view their brand new nickname in the chatbox.
Android
Initiate a chat with your friend, then tap the “i” button located at the top of the chat window, then tap on Nicknames. You can then tap your friend’s name to start setting a
New nickname. Your friend will view their brand new nickname in the chatbox.
Change the name of group chats
iOS
Launch a group chat, then tap the names located at the top of the chat, and select the names at the top. You can then change the name of the group chat the way
you want. All your friends in the chat will see the brand new name.
Android
Launch a group chat, then tap the “i” button located at the top of the chat, then select the names at the top. You can then change the name of the group chat the way
you want. Now all your friends in the chat will see the brand new name.
Change the photo of group chats
iOS
Navigate to a group chat, then tap the names located at the top of the chat, then tap on the names at the top again. From here, you can change the photo of the group chat by
taking a new photo or adding a photo photograph your camera roll. Now, all your friends in the chat will see the brand new photo.
Android
Navigate too a group chat, then tap the “i” button located at the top of the chat, then tap on the Extra Settings button (three vertical dots) button found at the top. You can
then change the photo for the group chat to the way you want. Now, all your friends in the chat will see the brand new photo.
Customise your chat theme
iOS
Launch a chat with your friend or group, then tap on the name located at the top of the chat window, from here, you will see a list of options that allows you to do stuff like mute notifications
for a specified period of time, add a nickname, select a colour or emoji for the conversation, and add more people. Tap the nickname, colour, or emoji options
to customise the appearance and theme of the chat.
Android
Launch a chat with your friend or group, then tap the “i” button located at the top of the chat window, from here you will see a list of options like mute notifications for a specified
Period of time, add a nickname, choose a colour or emoji for the conversation, and add more people. Tap the nickname, colour, or emoji options to customise the
Appearance and theme of the chat.
Send a voice message
iOS and Android
In some instances, it is just simpler to say something instead of typing it up. To send a voice message, simply tap and hold the microphone located at the left of the text
field on your chat. Once you record your message, it will be sent when you release the microphone, however you can drag it away to discard it. Anyway, say what
you’re too lazy to type, and then release your finger to automatically send to the chat.
Play basketball with a friend
iOS and Android
Launch a chat with your friend, then find and send them a basketball emoji from your keyboard. From there, long-press on the emoji to bring up a new screen where
you can shoot hoops. Your friend will get a message requesting them to play.
Send a bigger thumb-up
iOS and Android
Launch a chat with your friend, then tap on the thumbs-up button located at the toolbar on top of the text field. Now, if you tap that button, you will send a quick thumbs-up
to your friend, however, if you hold down on it before letting go off your finger , you will enlarge the thumbs-up and can send that instead. This works with whatever emoji you
have choosen for the chat.
Change the color on your thumbs up emoji
iOS
Navigate to the Messenger home menu that shows all of your chats, then tap on your photo displayed in the top left on top of the search bar. Scroll down toselect emoji from the options. From here, you will be able to select from various options besides the default yellow thumbs up.
Android
Head over to the Messenger home menu that shows all of your chats and click your photo displayed in the top left corner on top of the search bar. Scroll down to choose
Photos and Media. From here, you will be able to select emoji from the available choices besides the default yellow thumbs up.
Open an app
iOS and Android
Launch a chat and tap on the More button (four dots) in the toolbar located at the left of the text field. That will display two rows, with the bottom row holding
applications you can open to easily share with the person in your chat. For example, you can easily share music across Apple Music, news stories from
the Wall Street Journal, and your favorite pins from Pinterest, together with a other stuff.
Send or request money
iOS and Android
Launch a chat with a friend, then tap the More button (four dots) in the toolbar located at the left part of the text field, and select tap on . From here, you can choose
between pay or request to either send money or ask for money, respectively. Simply enter the amount, add a note, and click next/request to send. You can
also swipe left in this section to choose the theme (to, like, a Christmas theme, for example).
Make sure you have a payment card setup, though. Launch Messenger, then tap on the Me/profile button in the menu bar, then tap on Payments. You will
then see options to add a new debit card. In addition, you will see your transaction history, which you can cancel sent requests.
Play a game
iOS or Android
Launch a chat then tap the More button (four dots) in the toolbar located at the left side of the text field. Frome here, you will see a games option with a controller icon.
Tap on it, then you will be able to choose from the huge list of available games. The person you are chatting with will get a notification spontaneously
to join you, or you can simply keep playing on your own.
Adjust notification preferences
iOS
In case you have participated in an active group chat, you have been bombarded with a multiplicity of notifications for every single message sent. Address This problem by muting the
Whole group chat (In addition, you can do this for particular friends). Simply launch a chat with a friend or group, then tap the name located at the upper part of the chat window, then
Tap on the mute button located at the left hand side. You can select muting options like 15 minutes, one hour, eight hours, 24 hours, or until you turn notifications
back on.
Also, you can also fine-tune sound and vibration settings. Launch Messenger, then tap the Me/profile button in the menu bar and tap on Notifications. You will see a
Notifications in Messenger option. Tap on it, and from this screen, you can activate/deactivate sound and vibrations.
Android
Launch a chat with a friend or group, then tap the “i” button located at the upper part of the chat, then tap on Notifications. You can select muting options like 15 minutes,
one hour, eight hours, 24 hours, or until you turn notifications back on.
Also, you can fine-tune sound and vibration settings. Open Messenger, then tap the Me/profile button in the menu bar and choose Notifications and Sound. You’ll
then see various options to adjust your sound and vibration preferences.
Remove notification previews
iOS
To discontinue notifications from displaying on your lock screen, launch Messenger, then tap the Me/profile button in the menu bar and click Notifications. From here, you should
see a Show Previews option that allows you to show or hide message previews in alerts and banners.
Android
Launch Messenger, then tap the Me/profile button in the menu bar then click Notifications and Sound. From here, you should see a Notifications Previews option that
Allows you to show or hide message previews.
Draw on your photos
iOS
Launch a chat with your friend, then tap the Camera button in the toolbar located at the left side of the text field, and browse through the photos in your camera roll. Select
a photo of your choice, then long-press on it, and tap on Edit. You will see options from the bottom part of the photo preview that allows you to add text or doodles.
Android
Launch a chat with your friend, then tap the Gallery button in the toolbar located at the left of the text field, and browse through the photos in your camera roll.
Select a photo of your choice and tap on the edit button. You will see options in the photo preview that allows you to add text or doodles located at the top right.
Set a reminder
iOS and Android
Launch a chat and tap on the more option (four dots) located at the left part of the text field. From here, you will see two rows of options, with the reminder symbolized by a bell
in the top row. Tap on it, and you can select a name, time, and location for the reminder. Anyone in the chat with you will see the reminder.
Search in conversation
iOS
In case you are searching for a particular message in a chat, you can search for it.
Simply begin by tapping the name of the person or group you’re chatting with located on the upper part of the screen. From here, tap on “Search in Conversation” from the menu
that opens and a text field will show up . Therefore, say in case you are searching for the Netflix login you know you’ve already received in an old chat, try typing “Netflix”
into the search field, then tap on search. You will see any mention of it in the history of that particular chat.
Android
Click the “i” icon in the top left of a chat. Then, select “Search in Conversation” from the menu and a text field will come up . Type what you want to
search into the search field, tap on search, and you will see any mention of it in the history of that particular chat.
Turn on dark mode
iOS and Android
Head over to the Messenger home menu that shows all of your chats, and tap your photo displayed in the top left side on top of the search bar. This will show a menu
– with the first option being to toggle the dark mode on or off for all of your chats.
Save photos in the Messenger camera
iOS
Head over to the Messenger home menu that shows all of your chats, and tap on your photo displayed in the top left hand on top of the search bar. Scroll down to choose
Data and Storage. From here , you can toggle whether you want photos taken in the app saved to your device.
Android
Head over to the Messenger home menu that shows all of your chats and click your photo on top of the search bar. Scroll down to choose Photos and Media. From here ,
you should turn on Save on capture to automatically save any photos you take in the app to your gallery.
Add filters to a photo
Android
This feature is only available on Android. Launch a photo in messenger by tapping on the gallery button to open your camera roll, from here, tap on the edit button.
A list of options will show up on the top right side of the window. Tap on the magic wand-shaped icon located at the bottom part of the window, and you can select from
any of the available Snapchat-like filters that are available.
Create a shortcut
Android
This feature is only available on android again. If there is a Messenger conversation you want to access swiftly , you can create a swift -access shortcut on your home
screen. Simply long-press on any chat under the Home tab to prompt a pop-up menu, where you will see the option to Create shortcut. Tap on that to
create a shortcut on your phone’s home screen. It makes that Messenger conversation just a click away.
Interact with a bot
iOS and Android
If you go to the main Messenger screen on your iPhone or Android device, you can access the Discover menu by clicking the compass icon on the bottom right
of the screen. There, you’ll be able to choose chatbots that will interact with you.
Use the standalone Messenger site
Desktop
If you work in front of a computer in the better part of the day, you can use Messenger without heading over to the Facebook homepage. Just head over to
Regrettably, this web app doesn’t contain all the cool features of the mobile app.
Also, check geeksmodo’s
Facebook tips and tricks round up
for more handy tips and tricks.
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