How to Inbox Someone on Facebook? (Step-by-step Guide)

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To inbox someone on a computer, log in to your Facebook account and click the messenger icon at the top right on the home page. Click the 3rd icon on the top right of the chat menu to start a new message. Type in the ‘To’ field and the names of friends will appear. Select the profile(s) you want to text, type your message, and then press the OK icon to send.

How to inbox someone on Facebook using a computer

Below are the steps to follow when you want to inbox someone on Facebook:

Step 1: Open your computer browser, google Facebook and log in to your account

Step 2: Go to the homepage, and click the messenger icon on the right menu

How to inbox someone on Facebook using a computer

Step 3: A chat menu will appear; click the new message, the 3rd icon on the top right

How to inbox someone on Facebook using the Messenger app

Step 4: Start typing on the ‘To’ field. Name suggestions will appear. Choose the profile(s) you want to inbox.

How to view your inbox messages on Facebook

Step 5: Type your message in the text box that appears once you select a profile(s)

Why are you unable to inbox someone on Facebook?

Step 6: Click enter icon to send your message.

Can a person who is not my Friend on Facebook read my messages?

Note: Alternatively, you can search a profile and click message icon at the top to inbox them.

How to inbox someone on Facebook using the Messenger app

If you are using your messenger app, follow the steps below to inbox someone:

 Step 1: Open the messenger app and tap on the new message icon

Step 2: Select or type a profile(s) you want to message

Step 3: A text box will appear at the bottom. Type your message

Step 4: Click the enter icon to send your message

Things you should know about Facebook messages

When using Facebook messaging, note that:

  1. When you unbox your friends on Facebook, they will receive it in their Facebook messages inbox
  2. The message will also be delivered to their messenger if they use it.
  3. When you inbox non-friends, the message will be delivered as a message request
  4. The message will be marked as seen once the recipient views it.

How to view your inbox messages on Facebook

When someone inboxes you on Facebook, a red number above an icon on the blue menu bar will appear. Click on that icon, and your recent messages in your inbox will be displayed. Click ‘See All Messages’ at the bottom of the list to view all the messages. You will see a big blue dot in front of unread messages. The entire listing of unread texts will also be highlighted in light blue.

If you want to view the messages you haven’t read, click ‘unread’ on the top right of the page. If you do not recognize the sender, click their picture or name on the message, and you will be directed to their profile.

Click the first line or the subject line of a particular message to read it. You will be able to view the whole text. If you want to reply, type in the Reply box and click the enter icon to send it. There is a delete icon near the top of your page; click on it if you want to delete the message without responding.

A message you have replied to will have a small left-pointing arrow in front of the listing. You can click on the X on the right side of the message to delete the entire thread.

How to view message requests

When you send or receive a message from someone you aren’t friends with on Facebook, it will go to the message request folder. To view them, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Click on the messenger icon at the top right of the Facebook homepage

Step 2: A chat menu will appear. Click the three dots at the top

Step 3: A menu will appear on the left, check through and click ‘Message requests’

Step 4: A list of message requests will appear. Click on the sender’s name. You can either click ‘I don’t want to hear from (profile name)’ if you want to turn down the request or reply with a message to accept it and start a conversation.

Why are you unable to inbox someone on Facebook?

If your messages aren’t going through even after following the proper steps to inbox someone on Facebook, there could be a problem. Below are possible reasons and solutions.

Reasons & Solutions

  • Unstable internet connectionIf you are using Facebook with data, an unstable connection can cause your messages not to be delivered. You need to check and restore your internet or Wi-Fi connection to solve the issue.
  • Problems with the Messenger app- If your messages aren’t going through when using the messenger app, there is a possibility your app is outdated. To solve the problem, update to the latest version and try again. Your app could also be experiencing hitches, quit and reopen it, and try again to message someone.
  • Your message doesn’t meet Facebook community standardsFacebook has guidelines for using its platform. If your messages go against such principles, they won’t go through. You risk your account being suspended, so it is best to delete such text and reach out through other means.
  • Temporary block by Facebook- If you have been sending many messages, Facebook can temporarily block your inbox. You can still reach out to your friends by posting on your page, commenting on their posts, or using other Facebook features. Once the block is lifted, message and send friend requests to profiles you know and use your actual names for them to recognize you.
  • Deleted/deactivated account- If the profile of someone you are trying to inbox has been deleted or deactivated, your messages won’t go through. Look for other ways to reach out.
  • You’ve been blocked or blocked a profile- You cannot inbox a profile that you have blocked or have blocked you. If you are the one who has blocked, unblock and send a message request. If you’ve been blocked, try reaching them using other means.

Troubleshooting Facebook Messaging Issues: Why Your Message Sent but Not Delivered


If you’ve sent a message on Facebook Messenger but it hasn’t been delivered, there could be a few reasons why. Here are some of the most common causes and how to fix them:

1. The recipient’s Messenger account is inactive or deleted.

  • If the recipient has deactivated or deleted their Facebook account, your message won’t be delivered.
  • Check if the recipient’s profile picture is visible. If it’s not, their account is likely inactive or deleted.

2. The recipient has blocked you.

  • If you’ve been blocked by the recipient, your messages won’t be delivered to them.
  • Try searching for the recipient’s name on Facebook to see if their profile appears. If it doesn’t, you may have been blocked.

3. The recipient’s Messenger app is outdated or having technical issues.

  • If the recipient is using an outdated version of Messenger, or their app is experiencing technical difficulties, your message may not be delivered.
  • Ask the recipient to update their Messenger app or check for any known issues.

4. Your internet connection is unstable or slow.

  • A weak or unstable internet connection can cause messages to get stuck in transit.
  • Check your internet connection and try again later.

5. Facebook’s servers are experiencing temporary issues.

  • Occasionally, Facebook’s servers may experience outages or technical glitches that can affect message delivery.
  • Check Facebook’s status page or other online sources for known issues.

6. You’ve been marked as spam or abusive.

  • If you’ve been flagged for sending spam or abusive messages, your messages may be blocked or filtered.
  • Review Facebook’s Community Guidelines to ensure you’re adhering to their policies.

Additional Tips:

  • Restart your device and the Messenger app. Sometimes, a simple restart can clear up temporary glitches.
  • Clear the Messenger app’s cache and data. This can sometimes resolve issues with message delivery.
  • Check your message for any formatting errors. Messages that contain excessive formatting or special characters may not be delivered properly.

FAQs

Why am I not receiving all texts in my main inbox?

Facebook has a spam folder that receives unwanted messages from people you do not know or those you have filtered out. Unfortunately, the system isn’t perfect, and sometimes legitimate texts are filtered out to the spam folder. So, it is always best to check it out if there are messages you expect that aren’t coming through. Below are the steps:

On Desktop

Step 1: Go to the Facebook website and log in to your account

Step 2: Click the messenger icon at the top right of the Facebook homepage

Step 3: A chat menu will appear. Click the three dots at the top

Step 4: Click the message request from the menu that appears

Step 5: Click spam on the small action page that appears. You will see the list of all messages in the folder.

On Mobile

Step 1: Open the Messenger

Step 2: Tap your profile photo on the top left and select ‘Message Requests’

Step 3: Tap the ‘Spam’ to view all messages in the folder.

If you want to restore or delete messages in the spam folder, do the following:

  • To restore any message, reply to it by typing in the response box, and clicking send. The conversation will be moved back to the main inbox.
  • To delete a message, click three dots next to it and select ‘Delete chat.’ If using your phone, long press the message and select ‘Delete’ to remove.

Can a person who is not my Friend on Facebook read my messages?

Facebook allows you to send messages to both friends and non-friends. However, for friends, the messages will be delivered to their inbox, while for non-friends, it will land on message requests. So, to read, they must accept the message request by replying to the conversation. If you have blocked a profile or they have blocked you, you won’t be able to inbox them. And therefore, they won’t receive nor read your messages.

Key Insights & Takeaway!

When you inbox someone on Facebook, they are the only ones who can read the message. This gives you a chance to interact with your friends and non-friends privately. The process is easy, as explained above. However, for non-friends, the message will be delivered as a request, and they must reply to you to start a conversation. Sometimes, it might land in the spam folder, and one must also respond to move the message back to the main inbox. For blocked contacts, unblock to start a conversation.

References:

https://www.facebook.com/help/154917244574299
https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-inbox-someone-on-Facebook

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