News > Social Media Facebook Messenger Now Offers Encryption for Your Calls End-to-end encryption is available for both voice and video calls By Rob Rich Rob Rich Twitter News Reporter College for Creative Studies Rob is a freelance tech reporter with experience writing for a variety of outlets, including IGN, Unwinnable, 148Apps, Gamezebo, Pocket Gamer, Fanbolt, Zam, and more. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on August 13, 2021 03:27PM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr Twitter University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Social Media Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Facebook has announced the option to encrypt your voice and video calls through Facebook Messenger, with plans to extend that encryption to group chat later. Starting Friday, you can opt to use end-to-end encryption for the calls you make in Facebook Messenger and make your communications more private. Text chats in Facebook Messenger have had this option since 2016, but it's new for calls. Facebook's announcement notes that a large uptick in calls made via Messenger over the past year has prompted it to expand its encryption coverage. Facebook Facebook claims that, when you turn encryption on, "nobody else, including Facebook, can see or listen to what’s sent or said." It also says that you'll still be able to report an encrypted message if you need to. Facebook also has stated that it's begun testing these encryption features for group chats and plans to begin rolling them out in the future. Disappearing Messages controls have been updated, as well, to allow for a wider variety of timer options—from five seconds to up to 24 hours. Facebook Opt-in encryption also is being looked at for Instagram messages, with a limited test for adults in certain countries planned. This will let you choose if you want to protect your one-on-one conversations in Instagram. However, encrypting your Instagram DMs will require both users to follow each other or have an existing chat first. End-to-end encryption for Facebook Messenger calls and updated Disappearing Messages controls are available now. Group chat and Instagram DM encryptions will begin testing "in the coming weeks." Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you for signing up! Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit