How to Find Your Facebook Messenger History

What to Know

In a browser, use the Search Messenger box in Chats. From within a conversation, go to More Actions > Search in Conversation.
In the iOS or Android app, tap Search.
To download your message history, use the Facebook Download Your Information tool under Settings.

This article describes how to search and retrieve your Messenger chat history in the iOS and Android apps and Facebook on the web.

Messenger and Facebook icons on an iPhone — Chesnot / Getty Images

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:

Open Facebook in a web browser and go to your home page.
Select the Messenger icon in the upper-right corner of the page.
Select See All in Messenger.

To bypass Facebook, go directly to Messenger.com, and follow the rest of the instructions.
Select the Search Messenger box.
Enter a search term into the Search Messenger box.
If you're using a keyword, select Search Messages for below the search box.
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:

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

To bypass Facebook, go directly to Messenger.com, and follow the rest of the instructions.
Open a conversation you want to search. Under the Customize Chat menu on the right side of the screen, select Search in Conversation.
A Search in Conversation box appears at the top of the conversation. Enter a search term, then select Search.
Messenger highlights the search results within the conversation. Select Done when you're finished.

Access Messenger History From the Messenger App

In the iOS or Android Messenger app on your mobile device, here's how to search through your message history by keyword or search within a conversation.

Open the Messenger app and tap Search at the top.
Enter a search term.
Under Messages, you'll see any conversations that include the search term.
Tap the conversation to open it.

How to Access Message Requests on Facebook

If you can't find what you're looking for, it might be in your Message Requests. Here's how to access the Message Requests screen from Facebook or Messenger in a web browser as well as the Messenger mobile app.

Access Message Requests on Facebook or Messenger on the Desktop

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

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

To bypass Facebook, go directly to Messenger.com, and follow the rest of the instructions.
Select your profile picture, and then select Message Requests.
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:

Open Messenger and tap your profile picture.
Tap Message Requests.
Open a chat for more information about who's messaging you.

How to Download Your Facebook Messenger History

If you want to download a complete history of your Messenger conversations, use the Facebook Download Your Information tool either from Facebook on the web or the Messenger mobile app.

Download Messenger History From a Web Browser

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

Open Facebook and go to your home page.
Select the Account icon, represented by a down arrow, in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Select Settings & Privacy.
Select Settings.
In the left panel, select Your Facebook Information.
In the Download Your Information section, select View.
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.
Scroll to the top and select Create File.

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

Depending on how much information you requested, the downloading process can take up to several days.

Download Messenger History From the Messenger Mobile App

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

Open Messenger and tap your profile picture.
Scroll down and tap Account Settings.
Scroll down and select Download Your Information.
Select the Messages check box to download your Messenger history.
Scroll down and select Create File.

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

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