Messenger Message Requests: Where to Find Them, Hidden Photos, and Who Can Message You

Does this match what you see?

• Someone says they messaged you, but it’s not in your chats.
• Photos or videos in a message are hidden.
• An old message request has disappeared.
• Strangers can message you and you want to stop it.

iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)

Based on Meta’s Help pages “See and delete message requests on Messenger” (computer, iPhone, iPad and Android versions), “About message requests on Facebook”, “Messages you’ll get on Facebook” and message delivery settings.

Why this happens: the possible causes

Who goes straight to your Chats, and who goes to requests (Meta).

• You’re not connected with the senderCheck this first

  Meta says anyone you haven’t chatted with (apart from the exceptions in the table) can only send a request, and can’t call you until you reply.

• It was filtered as spamPossible

  Meta says messages it thinks are spam are filtered out of your requests. This doesn’t affect messages from your Facebook friends.

• It was auto-deletedPossible

  Meta says requests not accepted or answered in more than 6 months may be deleted automatically.

How to fix it, step by step

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.

1

Fix 1: Find your message requests

Safe & reversible1 miniPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)

Requests are kept separate from your main Chats.

iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)

iPhone & iPad

1. In the Messenger app, tap Menu > Message requests.
2. Tap a request to reply (which connects you), or choose Delete or Block. For a group request: Delete or Leave.

Android

1. In the Messenger app, tap Menu > Message requests.
2. Tap a request to reply (which connects you), or choose Delete or Block. For a group request: Delete or Leave.

Computer (browser)

1. messenger.com: click Requests on the left.
2. facebook.com: click Messenger in the top right, then Options next to Chats > Message requests.
3. Click the sender’s name, then reply, Block or Delete.

On Android in November 2026, Message requests had two tabs, You may know and Spam, and said: “Open a chat for more info on who sent it. They won’t know you’ve seen their message until you reply.”

Did it work? You can see the request, and replying moves it to your Chats list.

Hidden photos and disappearing requests

• Photos or videos hidden? Meta hides media from people you’re not connected with. Replying connects you and shows it.
• Old requests gone? Meta says requests not accepted or answered in more than 6 months may be deleted automatically. To keep a copy, download your message data (external site, opens in a new tab) first.
• Spam: Meta says likely spam may be filtered out of your requests, even from people you’ve allowed, but not messages from Facebook friends.

Choose who can message you

Meta says go to Menu > Settings > Privacy & safety > Message delivery in the phone app. Tap a group (such as friends of friends, people with your phone number, or everyone else) and choose whether their messages go to your Chats, your message requests, or Don’t receive requests. Meta notes that someone with your phone number doesn’t need to be your Facebook friend to reach you.

On Android in November 2026, our Message delivery screen listed five groups: People with your phone number, Friends of friends on Facebook, People in your Facebook groups, Pages you follow, and Others on Messenger or Facebook. What the screens said:

• “Not all messages are requests. Messages like those from Facebook friends and Marketplace go to your Chats.”
• Others on Messenger or Facebook only offers Message requests or Don’t receive requests (no Chats option), and conversations “that might go against our Community Standards, will be delivered to spam.”
• People in your Facebook groups: “Your choice only affects message requests from people in your private Facebook groups.”
• Pages you follow: requests go to your Message Requests folder “unless you choose otherwise.”
• Group message requests from friends of friends or people with your number “won’t be delivered to your Chats.”

Our tip: if a stranger’s messages are bothering you, set Others on Messenger or Facebook to Don’t receive requests. Expecting a message that never arrived? Check Message requests and spam before assuming it wasn’t sent.

Teen Account? Some settings are more protective

Meta says Teen Accounts (ages 13–17, currently only in some locations) are automatically set to more protective message delivery settings, so by default teens only chat with Facebook friends and other connections, and only get message requests from people who have their phone number. Parents with supervision can manage these settings in Family Center. See Messenger Teen Accounts and supervision.

Someone bothering you? See block someone on Messenger.

How to know it worked

• You can find and answer requests, and only the people you choose reach your Chats.

Still not working? Your next steps

1. Messages from friends missing too? See Messenger not sending messages. Marketplace messages? See find Marketplace messages.

Frequently asked questions