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.
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
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Rafiuzzaman says
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Felippa says
Unfortunately this is outdated desktop notification is no longer available.
Kevin Tipa says
I think that setting is for the operating system level popups. What about the annoying chat pop up in the corner of the browser? Is there a way to make it so you have to go the messenger “page” instead of having that little chat feature on the facebook feed page?
Ted says
that option is GONE now – you should delete this article because it is bogus but shows up in searches for solution to the problem
Kevin O'Heany says
My wife’s Facebook for Android has suddenly gone screwy. When she presses and selects “Send in Messenger” FB takes her to a “Switch Account” dialogue with her existing account checked. And two options: a back arrow ( <– ) and . The back arrow takes us to a “Login to Messenger” screen, that does what it says, but the item to be shared is lost. A similar set of events occur whenever the she clicks the Messenger . I’ve tried clearing cache and data for both FB and Messenger with no luck. Very frustrating. Any ideas?
Mark says
Ted is correct. The “Desktop notifications enabled” check box isn’t there anymore.
hadil says
Thank you
Norma says
Every time I try to view a message on FB, or click to show more details, an annoying ‘box’ pops up on the right hand side of my screen (iPad).
The text is so small and the photos are tiny, so it is pointless trying to read them for instance, I got an email message that my friend had put a photo on afB, so I press to see it and I get a tiny like photo and cannot read the text.
Same thing if I try to look at something in detail on Groupon, os M&S – you just cannot see anythingproperly. If you touch the ‘x’in the top right hand corner, it doesn’t cancel it – it just refreshes it!
This only appeared after the last update I did.
Anyone else come across this, or have a solution?
KatR says
I’m curious if you ever figured this out I’m having the same problem. Both apps are up to date.
Barbara A Fischer says
This doesn’t work with NEWEST FB version. There is no settings in Messenger. Disappointed with the new layout when things like this keep happening.
Paul Stunzi says
It did not work. I can not turn them off in my messenger settings
Eric W says
Unfortunately, this option is no longer available.
Robin says
I followed all your instructions which did work last time I tried them but now when you click messenger, there is nothing on the pop-up box to clear all messages anymore – where have FB moved it to?
pjcamp says
This is great right up to the point where you look for the nonexistent gear icon. There is a preferences on the three dot menu but it doesn’t do this.
Gary Kimes says
equally as maddening are the cursor pop ups where ever your mouse pointer happens to land with absolutely no concern to the obscurement of what you happen to be typing.. is there a way to turn THAT off? And every time you start typing and you type the first letter or letters of a friend it pops up with a pop up of THEM ALSO making it impossible to type normally!!
JEAN says
I would like help on steps on how to Disable or get rid of, in any way, the Facebook Notification pop up box – (not in messenger –
has to do with desktop pop up for FB Notification for posts/replies / also showing when you click the bell at top/right with # of notifications listed in a dropdown) – that shows on the left bottom side of my PC desktop page when in Facebook ? It says you have a new notification (that a friend left a post or reply on your FB page or another Friends FB page.) It lasts about 10 to 20 seconds and disappears. But the box is a good size and is Distracting. I have followed some steps from Google search with the same problem, but don’t work. Not sure if this is a Google Chrome Or Windows (10) problem. Thanks, Jean / 9/2/2021