5 Easy Ways to Turn Off Facebook Chat

If you’re tired of being bothered by constant notifications from Facebook Chat, then you might be wondering if there’s a way to turn it off. The good news is that there is! In this article, we’ll show you how to turn off Facebook Chat on your computer, phone, or tablet.

There are a few reasons why you might want to turn off Facebook Chat. Maybe you’re trying to focus on work or school, or maybe you’re just tired of being interrupted by notifications. Whatever the reason, it’s easy to turn off Facebook Chat so that you can have some peace and quiet.

To turn off Facebook Chat on your computer, click on the Messenger icon in the top right corner of the screen. Then, click on the gear icon in the bottom left corner of the Messenger window, and select “Turn Off Chat.” You can also turn off Chat from your phone or tablet by opening the Messenger app and tapping on the “Settings” tab. Then, tap on “Notifications” and toggle the “Chat Notifications” switch to the off position. Additionally, you can turn off Chat for specific contacts by tapping on their name in the Messenger app and selecting “Mute Notifications.”

Locate the Chat Window

Navigating to the chat window on Facebook varies slightly depending on the platform you’re using:

Desktop

1. Log in to your Facebook account and ensure you’re on the homepage (www.facebook.com).
2. Look at the left-hand side of the screen, beneath your profile picture and cover photo.
3. You’ll see a section called “Chat.” Click on it to open the chat window.

Step

Action
| — | — |
| 1. | Log in to Facebook.
| 2. | Look for “Chat” on the left side.
| 3. | Click “Chat” to open the window.
|

Mobile App

1. Launch the Facebook app on your phone or tablet.
2. On the bottom navigation bar, tap the icon that resembles two speech bubbles.
3. This will take you directly to the chat window.

Step

Action
| — | — |
| 1. | Open the Facebook app.
| 2. | Tap the speech bubble icon at the bottom.
| 3. | You’re now in the chat window.
|

Access the Options Menu

To access the Options Menu in Facebook Messenger, follow these steps:

Launch the Facebook Messenger app on your device.
Locate your profile picture in the top left corner of the screen and tap on it.
Scroll down and select the “Settings & Privacy” option.
Under “Settings,” tap on the “Chats” option.

Once you access the Chats settings, you can further explore options related to chat notifications, chat themes, and chat features.

Turning Off Chat

From the Chats settings menu, you can turn off chat functionality for individual contacts or for all contacts at once:

To Turn Off for Individual Contacts:

To Turn Off for All Contacts:

1. Locate the contact in your chat list.

2. Tap on their name to open the chat thread.

3. Tap on their profile picture at the top of the screen.

4. Scroll down and select the “Turn Off Chat” option.

1. Under “Chats,” find the “Chat Notifications” section.

2. Toggle the “Chat Notifications” switch to the “Off” position.

After you turn off chat, you will no longer receive notifications for new messages from the selected contacts or from all contacts, depending on your choice. You can always turn chat back on by following the same steps and toggling the settings accordingly.

Toggle On/Off the Chat Status

To change your chat status, first click on the Messenger icon in the top right corner of the Facebook homepage, then click on the gear icon in the bottom left corner of the Messenger window. In the “Settings” menu, click on “Chat” in the left-hand column. Under the “Chat Status” heading, you can choose to turn chat on or off. There are three options:

On: You will be visible to all your Facebook friends and can receive messages from them.
Off: You will not be visible to any of your Facebook friends and will not receive any messages from them.
Only Friends: You will only be able to receive messages from people who are your Facebook friends.

Choosing the Best Status for You

The best chat status for you will depend on your personal preferences and needs. If you want to be able to chat with anyone, you should choose the “On” status. If you want to avoid receiving messages from people you don’t know, you should choose the “Off” or “Only Friends” status.

Chat Status	Visibility	Can Receive Messages From
On	Visible to all your Facebook friends	Anyone
Off	Not visible to any of your Facebook friends	No one
Only Friends	Visible only to your Facebook friends	Only your Facebook friends

Use the Privacy Settings

Facebook’s privacy settings allow you to control who can see your online status and send you messages. To turn off chat in the privacy settings:

Click on the arrow in the top right corner of Facebook.
Select “Settings & Privacy” from the dropdown menu.
Click on “Privacy” in the left-hand column.
Scroll down to the “Messages” section and select “Edit” next to “Who can send you messages?”

Here, you can choose who can send you messages on Facebook:

Option	Description
Everyone	Anyone can send you messages.
Friends	Only your Facebook friends can send you messages.
Friends of friends	Your Facebook friends and their friends can send you messages.
Only me	Only you can send yourself messages.

Once you have selected your desired privacy setting, click “Save Changes” at the bottom of the page. Your chat will now be turned off for the selected audience.

Disable Chat Notifications

To silence all incoming chat notifications, follow these steps:

Step 1:	Click the Messenger icon in the bottom-right corner of the Facebook window.
Step 2:	Click the gear icon in the bottom-left corner of the Messenger window.
Step 3:	Uncheck the box next to “Notifications.”

You can also customize your chat notifications for specific contacts or groups by following these steps:

Step 1:	Open a chat window with the contact or group you want to mute.
Step 2:	Click the “i” icon in the top-right corner of the chat window.
Step 3:	Uncheck the box next to “Notifications.”

Temporarily Pause Chat

There are two ways to temporarily pause chat on Facebook:

1. Pause Chat for All Contacts

To pause chat for all contacts, hover over the chat icon in the bottom right corner of the Facebook window and click the gear icon. Then, select “Pause Chat” from the menu.

2. Pause Chat for Specific Contacts

To pause chat for specific contacts, hover over the chat window for the contact you want to pause chat with and click the “x” button in the top right corner. You can also click the three dots button in the top right corner of the chat window and select “Pause Chat” from the menu.

3. Turn Off Chat Notifications

To turn off chat notifications, click the arrow in the top right corner of the Facebook window and select “Settings & Privacy.” Then, select “Notifications” from the left menu and click the “Edit” button next to “Chat.” Uncheck the box next to “Notifications” and click “Save Changes.”

4. Hide Chat Window

To hide the chat window, hover over the chat icon in the bottom right corner of the Facebook window and click the “x” button. The chat window will disappear, but you will still be able to receive chat messages.

5. Disable Chat Completely

To disable chat completely, click the arrow in the top right corner of the Facebook window and select “Settings & Privacy.” Then, select “Messenger” from the left menu and click the “Edit” button next to “Chat.” Uncheck the box next to “Chat” and click “Save Changes.”

6. Turn Off Chat Temporarily on Mobile Devices

To turn off chat temporarily on mobile devices, open the Facebook app and tap the “Chats” tab. Then, tap the “More” button in the top right corner and select “Pause Chat.” You can choose to pause chat for 15 minutes, 1 hour, 8 hours, or 24 hours.

Deactivate Your Account

If you’re only looking to temporarily disable your Facebook account, deactivation is a better alternative to deletion. This action will hide your profile and its contents from other users while preserving your data for later reactivation.

To deactivate your account:

1. Click the down arrow in the top right corner of Facebook.
2. Select “Settings & Privacy” from the drop-down menu.
3. Choose “Settings.”
4. Click “Your Facebook Information” in the left sidebar.
5. Select “Deactivation and Deletion.”
6. Choose “Deactivate Account” and follow the on-screen instructions.

Reactivating Your Account

To reactivate your deactivated account:

1. Visit Facebook.com and log in using your previous credentials.
2. Your profile will be automatically restored, and you can resume using Facebook as before.

Note that deactivating your account does not cancel your subscriptions or remove your information from Messenger. To manage these settings, you will need to visit the relevant sections of the Facebook website.

Action	Effect
Deactivate Account	Hides your profile and data from other users, but preserves it for later reactivation.
Delete Account	Permanently removes your profile and all associated data from Facebook.

Consider Using a Chat Blocker

Chat blockers are extensions or apps that can be installed on your browser or device to block Facebook chat functionality. They work by preventing the chat window from opening or by intercepting and blocking chat messages. Here are the steps on how to use a chat blocker:

1. Choose a Chat Blocker

There are several different chat blockers available, both free and paid. Some popular options include:

Name	Description
BlockSite	Free browser extension and app that allows you to block specific websites and features, including Facebook chat.
StayFocusd	Free browser extension that helps you manage your time and productivity by restricting access to distracting websites and features, including Facebook chat.
Freedom	Paid app that can block access to websites, apps, and features, including Facebook chat, on all your devices.

2. Install the Chat Blocker

Follow the instructions provided by the chat blocker to install it on your browser or device.

3. Configure the Chat Blocker

Once the chat blocker is installed, you need to configure it to block Facebook chat. This usually involves adding Facebook to the list of blocked websites or features.

4. Test the Chat Blocker

Once the chat blocker is configured, test it to make sure it is working properly. Try sending yourself a chat message and see if it is blocked.

5. Use the Chat Blocker

Once you have confirmed that the chat blocker is working, you can use it to block Facebook chat whenever you want. Simply turn on the chat blocker when you need to stay focused, and turn it off when you want to chat again.

Utilize the Mute Function

The Mute Function provides a quick and easy way to silence notifications from specific Facebook chats without having to block or unfriend the individuals.

To mute a chat:

Open the Facebook Messenger app or website and navigate to the chat you want to mute.
Click on the “i” icon located in the top-right corner of the chat.
Select “Mute Notifications” from the options.
Choose the duration for which you want to mute the chat (15 minutes, 1 hour, 8 hours, 24 hours, or until you turn it back on) or choose “Until I turn it back on” to mute it indefinitely.
Click “Mute” or “Mute for [duration]” to confirm your selection.

To unmute a chat:

Navigate back to the chat.
Click on the “i” icon.
Select “Unmute Notifications” from the options.
Click “Unmute” to disable the mute function.

You can also mute multiple chats at once by following these steps:

Open the Facebook Messenger app.
Tap and hold on the first chat you want to mute.
Select “Mute Notifications” from the options.
Repeat steps 2-3 for any additional chats you want to mute.
Click “Done” to save your changes.

Manage Your Chat Preferences

Tired of constant notifications and chat distractions? Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to turn off Facebook Chat and manage your chat preferences to suit your needs.

1. Go to Your Facebook Settings

Click on the down arrow in the top right corner of your Facebook page and select “Settings & Privacy.” Then, click on “Settings.”

2. Navigate to the Privacy Tab

In the left-hand menu, click on “Privacy.”

3. Select “Edit” under Chat Visibility

On the right-hand side, scroll down to the “How People Find and Contact You” section. Under “Chat Visibility,” click on “Edit.”

4. Choose Your Chat Visibility

You can choose to turn off chat for everyone, friends only, or customize your visibility.

5. Turn Off Chat Notifications

Below “Chat Visibility,” uncheck the box next to “Show chat notifications.” This will stop you from receiving desktop notifications when someone messages you.

6. Manage Chat Requests

You can choose to receive chat requests from friends, friends of friends, or no one.

7. Set Up a Chat Archive

Enable “Archive Chats” to automatically move inactive chats to the archive folder.

8. Clear Your Chat History

If you want to remove past chats, click on “Clear Chat History.”

9. Disable Chat for Specific Contacts

In the left-hand menu, click on “Chats.” Then, hover over a specific contact and click on the gear icon. Select “Disable Chat” to turn off chat for that contact only.

10. Turn Off Chat Completely

To disable chat entirely, click on the “Turn Off Chat” button at the top of the Chats page. This will hide your chat status and prevent anyone from sending you messages.

How To Turn Off Fb Chat

If you’re looking to take a break from Facebook chat, there are a few ways to turn it off. You can turn off chat for all of your contacts, or just for specific people. You can also turn off chat notifications so that you won’t be interrupted by chat messages.

To turn off chat for all of your contacts, click on the chat icon in the top right corner of the Facebook homepage. Then, click on the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the chat window. From there, select “Turn Off Chat.” You’ll be prompted to confirm that you want to turn off chat, and then it will be disabled.

To turn off chat for specific people, click on the chat icon in the top right corner of the Facebook homepage. Then, hover over the name of the person you want to turn off chat for and click on the gear icon. From there, select “Turn Off Chat.” You’ll be prompted to confirm that you want to turn off chat for that person, and then it will be disabled.

To turn off chat notifications, click on the chat icon in the top right corner of the Facebook homepage. Then, click on the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the chat window. From there, select “Notifications.” You’ll be able to choose whether or not you want to receive notifications for chat messages, and you can also choose how you want to be notified (e.g., via email, push notification, etc.).