Facebook Messenger is one of the popular instant messaging applications which allows users to stay connected with their friends and family. One of the distinctive features of Facebook Messenger is Chat Heads, which is a floating bubble-like icon of your friend’s profile picture. Chat Heads appears on the screen of your Android phone to let you stay in touch with your friends, even when you’re not in the app.
However, Chat Heads can become a distraction when you’re using other apps or trying to focus on something. Sometimes, you may want to turn Chat Heads off temporarily or permanently. If you also want to disable Chat Heads on your Android device, then read on. In this article, we will show you several ways to disable Facebook messenger chat heads on Android.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Disable Facebook Messenger Chat Heads?
Chat Heads feature was introduced as a convenience for Messenger users. It lets you view and respond to messages right from the floating icon without needing to open the app. However, not all users find it helpful or necessary. Sometimes Chat Heads can be annoying and intrusive, which may distract you from your work. Moreover, Chat Heads may appear when you’re not expecting a message or phone call, and this can lead to privacy concerns. Hence, there are several reasons why you might want to disable Chat Heads on your Android device.
Method 1: Via Facebook Messenger App Settings
The easiest way to disable the chat heads feature on your Android device is by using the Messenger app settings. The following steps will guide you on how to turn off Chat Heads via Messenger app settings:
Step 1: Open the Facebook Messenger app on your Android device.
Step 2: Tap on your profile picture located in the top left corner of your screen.
Step 3: Scroll down and tap on "Chat Heads."
Step 4: Switch "Off" the toggle button for "Chat Heads."
Step 5: A pop-up message will appear on the screen, click on "Turn Off" to confirm.
Once you’ve completed the above steps, Chat Heads will be disabled on your Android device.
Pros:
– Simple and easy to use.
– No need to download any external app or software.
Cons:
– It turns off all notifications, not just Chat Heads.
– You have to repeat the steps if you want to enable Chat Heads.
Method 2: Via Android Phone Settings
Another method to disable Chat Heads on your Android device is through the Android phone settings. However, the steps to locate the Messenger app settings may vary slightly depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer and version.
Step 1: Open the "Settings" app on your Android device.
Step 2: Scroll down to find the "Apps" option and tap on it.
Step 3: Locate and tap on the "Messenger" app.
Step 4: Scroll down and tap on "Notification."
Step 5: Find the "Chat Heads" toggle button and switch it to the "Off" position.
After completing the above steps, the Chat heads feature will be disabled on your Android device.
Pros:
– It disables the Chat Heads without losing all Messenger notifications.
– It can be faster than other methods if you already know your way around the Settings app.
Cons:
– The specific location of Messenger app settings may vary on different Android phones.
Method 3: Via Messenger Lite App
The Messenger Lite app is a smaller and slimmed-down version of the Messenger app, which is designed for users with low-end Android devices or slow internet connections. Messenger Lite contains most of the basic features of Messenger, but with a few exceptions.
One of the differences between Messenger Lite and Messenger is that Messenger Lite doesn’t have the Chat Heads feature. To disable Chat Heads on your Android device, you can use the Messenger Lite app instead of Messenger.
Step 1: Download and install the Messenger Lite app from Google Play Store.
Step 2: Open the Messenger Lite app.
Step 3: Log in to your Facebook account and grant the necessary permissions.
Step 4: Begin messaging without worrying about Chat Heads, as there is no such feature in Messenger Lite.
Pros:
– It’s an excellent option for users who don’t require rich messaging or don’t need Chat Heads.
– It is lightweight, battery-saving, and reacts well even on low-end devices.
Cons:
– It lacks features found in the regular Messenger app, such as video calling, animated GIFs, and other advanced functions.
Method 4: Via App Cloner App
App Cloner is an app that lets you create a clone of any app installed on your Android device. You can customize and modify the cloned app as per your needs, and it runs parallel to the original app without any conflict. The App Cloner app offers several features, such as renaming the app, changing the app icon, hiding notifications, and more.
In this method, we will use the App Cloner app to disable Chat Heads for Messenger.
Step 1: Download and install the App Cloner app from Google Play Store.
Step 2: Open the App Cloner app and select the "Messenger" app from the list.
Step 3: Customize the cloned app by switching the "Chat Heads" toggle button to "Off."
Step 4: Rename the cloned app to "Messenger without chat heads."
Step 5: Finish cloning the app and exit the App Cloner.
Now, you can use the cloned Messenger app without the Chat Heads feature.
Pros:
– It gives you complete control over Messenger app.
– You can use two different Messenger versions on the same device.
Cons:
– Cloning an app requires additional disk space.
– App Cloner is a premium app and requires an in-app purchase to use some features.
What to Do If You Can’t Disable Facebook Messenger Chat Heads?
If you’re not able to turn off Chat Heads using the methods mentioned above, you can try the following fixes:
Fix 1: Restart your Android device and check if Chat Heads are disabled.
Fix 2: Update the Messenger app to the latest version available and then try to disable Chat Heads.
Fix 3: Clear the Messenger app cache and data by going to Settings > Apps > Messenger > Storage > Clear Cache/Clear Data.
Fix 4: Uninstall and reinstall the Messenger app from Google Play Store.
Bonus Tip
Here are some bonus tips to get more out of your Facebook Messenger app:
Bonus Tip 1: Use the Secret Conversations feature to have encrypted chats that self-destruct after a certain time.
Bonus Tip 2: Mute specific conversations or people to stop them from sending notifications.
Bonus Tip 3: Use Facebook Messenger for video and voice calls and send voice messages.
FAQs
Q1: Why can’t I turn off chat heads on Facebook Messenger?
A: This can happen due to several reasons, such as outdated app version, conflicting settings, or system bugs. You can try restarting the app or the device, checking app permissions, updating the app, or clearing the cache to fix this issue.
Q2: Can I turn off Chat Heads for individual chats?
A: No, you can’t turn off Chat Heads for individual chats. The option to turn off Chat Heads affects the app globally, meaning that disabling Chat Heads will apply to all chats.
Q3: Will disabling Chat Heads also turn off notifications?
A: No, disabling Chat Heads will only turn off the floating bubbles on your screen. You will still receive both sound and notification alerts when a message arrives, allowing you to respond to it without Chat Heads.
Q4: Can I re-enable Chat Heads once I’ve turned them off?
A: Yes, you can re-enable Chat Heads by following the same steps you used to disable it.
Q5: Can I use Messenger without a Facebook account?
A: No, you cannot use Messenger without a Facebook account. Messenger is a Facebook-owned app, and you need a Facebook account to use it.
Final Thoughts
Disabling Facebook Messenger Chat Heads is a personal choice that depends on how you use the app and how much you value your privacy. Whether you need to turn off Chat Heads to reduce distractions or protect your privacy, you can use any of the methods mentioned in this article to do so. We hope this guide has helped you solve your problem!