Can you use facebook messenger without a facebook account

Facebook made it possible to use Messenger without an account back in 2015. For a while, all you needed was a phone number, but things have changed since then. Facebook Messenger isn’t officially supported without a Facebook account anymore.

It makes sense in the grand scheme of their operations. After all, Facebook continues its ongoing attempts to get everyone to use their social network. This doesn’t mean using Facebook Messenger without a Facebook account is impossible right now, though. It just requires a workaround, and you’ll have to sign up for it at least temporarily.

The trick here is that you can continue using the chat service after you deactivate your Facebook account. This means you can sign up for Facebook, deactivate your Facebook account, and continue using Messenger like everyone else. Let’s show you how this is done!

More: 10 best alternative Facebook apps for Android

How to sign up for Messenger without a Facebook account

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Create an account:

Go to Facebook.com and select Create New Account.
Input your information and tap on Sign Up.
Confirm your Email or phone number.
This process can also be done through the Facebook app.

Access Facebook Messenger:

Download Facebook Messenger from your app store (Google Play Store, Apple App Store).
Open the app.
Sign in to your account.

Deactivate your account:

Log in to your Facebook account.
Click the arrow at the top right.
Hit Settings & privacy.
Pick Settings.
Select Your Facebook Information from the left menu.
Click Deactivation and Deletion.
Select Deactivate Account, then Continue to Account Deactivation.
Follow the instructions to confirm deactivation.

Next: How to delete your Facebook account | How to recover your Facebook account

You can now continue using Messenger. It’s even possible to sign in using the same username and password you had before deactivating the Facebook account. This won’t reactivate your Facebook account.

Facebook Messenger is one of the most popular instant messaging platforms worldwide, with over 1.3 billion monthly active users.

While the decision to create a separate app initially drew criticism, it has since matured into one of the go-to services for communicating with friends and family.

The beauty of Facebook Messenger is that it works across multiple devices, and isn’t tied to your phone number like WhatsApp.

However, Facebook now forces you to sign up or log in when you download the Messenger app.

While it has allowed you to use Messenger without an account in the past, the option was removed in December 2019. The only way you can still use it account-free if you’ve previously had a Facebook account but now deleted it.

This is great news for those who cut ties with Facebook in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, but if you’ve never had it you’re out of luck. The old method of validating your phone number will not work.

Download the free Facebook Messenger app from the App Store or Google Play.
Sign in with the account information you used to use. While this doesn’t work on the social network, it will work here.
Add new contacts by entering their phone numbers – if their Facebook account is linked they’ll show up.

Also see: How to send a Facebook message without the Messenger app

Marie is Editor in Chief, managing and leading the consumer editorial team. When she's not devising content strategy and analysing data she is a regular contributor of reviews, tips and tricks.

Marie has been writing about tech for 15 years, our resident Xiaomi and Chinese tech expert and a follower of all upcoming phones. AKA Tech Advisor's Power Ranger, she is the go-to for charging tech.