How to Find Your Facebook Messenger History

This article explains how to search and retrieve your Messenger chat history on Facebook’s website, iOS, and Android applications.

Access Messenger History From Facebook or Messenger on a Desktop

Here’s how to search your Facebook message history by keyword or search within a conversation from a browser.

Search Message History by Keyword

Here’s how to search Messenger’s message history using a specific keyword:

1. Open Facebook in a web browser and go to your home page.

2. Select the Messenger icon in the upper-right corner of the page.

3. Select See All in Messenger.

4. Select the Search Messenger box.

5. Enter a search term into the Search Messenger box.

6. If you’re using a keyword, select Search Messages for below the search box.

7. Under Messages, you see conversations that mention the keyword. Select a conversation to view it.

Search Within a Messenger Conversation

Here’s how to perform a search within a Messenger conversation:

1. Open Facebook in a web browser and select the Messenger icon in the upper-right corner of the page.

2. Select See All in Messenger. To bypass Facebook, go directly to Messenger.com, and follow the rest of the instructions.

3. Open a conversation you want to search. Under the Customize Chat menu on the right side of the screen, select Search in Conversation.

4. A Search in Conversation box appears at the top of the conversation. Enter a search term, then select Search.

5. Messenger highlights the search results within the conversation. Select Done when you’re finished.

Access Messenger History From the Messenger App

Here’s how to perform a keyword search within a discussion in the Messenger app for iOS or Android on your mobile device.

1. Open the Messenger app and tap Search at the top.

2. Enter a search term.

3. Under Messages, you’ll see any conversations that include the search term.

4. Tap the conversation to open it.

How to Access Message Requests on Facebook

If you are having trouble finding something, check your Message Requests. Here’s how to use the Facebook or Messenger online browser or mobile app to view the Message Requests panel.

Access Message Requests on Facebook or Messenger on the Desktop

Follow these steps to access message requests using the desktop version of Messenger:

1. Open Facebook in a web browser and select the Messenger icon in the upper-right corner of the page.

2. Select See All in Messenger. To bypass Facebook, go directly to Messenger.com, and follow the rest of the instructions.

3. Select your profile picture, and then select Message Requests.

4. Open a request for information about who is messaging you.

Access Message Requests in the Messenger Mobile App

Follow these steps to access your message requests using the Messenger mobile app:

1. Open Messenger and tap your profile picture.

2. Tap Message Requests.

3. Open a chat for more information about who’s messaging you.

How to Download Your Facebook Messenger History

Use the Facebook Obtain Your Information option from the Messenger mobile app or the Facebook website to download the whole history of your Messenger interactions.

Download Messenger History From a Web Browser

Follow these steps to download your Messenger history using a web browser:

1. Open Facebook and go to your home page.

2. Select the Account icon, represented by a down arrow, in the upper-right corner of the screen.

3. Select Settings & Privacy.

4. Select Settings.

5. In the left panel, select Your Facebook Information.

6. In the Download Your Information section, select View.

7. To download only your Messenger history, select the Messages check box. Leave everything selected to download all your Facebook data, or choose other items to download.

8. Scroll to the top and select Create File. For a more specific download, enter a date range, format, and media quality.

9. Facebook notifies you when your download files are available. When they’re ready, go to the Download Your Information page and select Available Copies. Then, download your Messenger history.

   The length of time it takes to download something depends on how much data you requested.

   Download Messenger History From the Messenger Mobile App

   Follow these steps to download your Messenger history using the Messenger mobile app for iOS or Messenger for Android:

   1. Open Messenger and tap your profile picture.

   2. Scroll down and tap Account Settings.

   3. Scroll down and select Download Your Information.

   4. Select the Messages check box to download your Messenger history.

   5. Scroll down and select Create File.

      For a more specific download, enter a date range, format, and media quality.

   6. Messenger notifies you when your download files are available. When they’re ready, go to the Download Your Information page and select Available Copies. Then, download your Messenger history.