How to turn off Messenger notifications on desktop

A while back, I wrote a post about clearing the Facebook Messenger notification icon when there were actually no unread messages. The post quickly blew up, showing that there were a lot of people who were frustrated with getting  a notification when there were clearly no unread messages to be found. Just read the comments at the bottom of that post and you’ll see what I mean.

As a result of that post, though, another user mentioned that they weren’t so much frustrated with the Messenger notifications in the mobile app as they were with the annoying Facebook Messenger popups that occur when you are browsing the desktop site. Basically, she was looking for a way to turn off Facebook Messenger in the desktop view. Or at least limit how annoying it is.

If you use the desktop version of Facebook a lot AND you use Facebook Messenger, you’ll know exactly what she’s talking about. Those annoying pop-ups that show all the conversations that are going on in Messenger. It’s almost like Messenger is invading your Facebook timeline by covering up your feed, and irritating you as the conversation continues.

Please note: Some of the links in my posts are affiliate links. I get commissions for purchases made through those links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases when you buy something from those links.

Here’s the comment that the original commenter made on the other post:

My frustration isn’t the notification button, but I came across your blog while searching for a solution to this issue, “why do messenger windows keep popping up, after I have read, and responded to them?” So, while on my desktop, which is where I usually am, I go through all the new facebook notifications. Each time I click on a notification, the browser then takes me to that page, and with that navigation, the last 3, or more, messenger windows pop up again, taking up real estate on my monitor. I constantly have to “x” them out, but when I navigate to another page, they pop up again. So pissed that this issue is wasting my time. Unlike most people on facebook, I am responding to business, client questions, and trying to make a living. Oye!!!

–Lisa James

I now exactly how she feels and have had times when I just wanted to completely turn off Facebook Messenger completely. Heaven forbid you engage in a group discussion on Messenger that becomes very active. The back-and-forth between those involved in the Facebook chat can pretty much overwhelm any browsing your are engaged in via your feed.

Sure, you can go in and mute the Facebook Messenger conversations 1 by 1, but that gets really annoying. It kind of feels like that “Pop-Up Video” show from VH1 that was out a while back.

The good news, however, is there is a way to turn off that Facebook Messenger “feature” and stop Facebook from overwhelming the desktop experience with notifications. You aren’t technically turning off Facebook Messenger, but you are disabling the notifications and limiting the number of chat popups that can overwhelm the desktop site. 

To turn off the Facebook Messenger Notifications within the desktop view of Facebook:

Step 1 – Login to Facebook (I have to put this step because some people skip it)

Step 2 – Click Messenger in the left navigation

Step 3 – Next, click the Gear icon that is the settings for Messenger. It is located in the upper-left corner of Messenger

Step 4 – Click Settings

Step 5 – In the Settings box, uncheck the box next to “Desktop notifications enabled”.

Step 6 – Click Done.

Once you have unchecked that box, you will essentially turn off Facebook chat instant notifications and will no longer see those annoying pop-ups. instead, the Messenger notification icon in the top-right navigation will light up and display the number of unread messages you have waiting in Messenger.

I hope that helps alleviate some frustrations. Thanks to Lisa for sharing her frustration and I hope that the tip helped her, and you, get rid of those annoying Messenger pop-ups.

Have a frustration with the Facebook user experience or have a tip that might help someone else? Be sure to share it in a comment!

–Sean

 Side Note: Solutions To Other Frustrating Facebook Problems

Quite a few people have emailed me or reached out to me via comments/social about other frustrating issues with Facebook. If you’re experience any of the issues below, here are the links to the articles to help solve them:

• Clearing the Facebook messenger notification icon when you don’t have new messages
• Organizing Facebook Photos Located In a GROUP Photo Album
• Downloading My Facebook Personal Data
• Figure Out Who Is Following You On Facebook
• Adding Symbols To A Facebook Post
• Sharing A Facebook Post To Twitter
• Posting A Tweet On Facebook
• Switching Your Facebook Feed To Show Most Recent Chronological Posts, Instead Of Top Stories
• Searching Your Facebook Feed For A Specific Post
• Viewing Facebook Messenger Without Installing The App
• Organizing Your Photos Located In Your Personal Albums
• Changing Your Facebook View From Mobile To Desktop On A Tablet

Share This Post With A Pin!