So, you’ve seen the “This person is unavailable on Messenger” error, huh? Bummer! It can be confusing and a bit of a downer since lots of peeps rely on Facebook Messenger to stay in touch. But no worries, we got your back!
In this article, we’ll explain what that pesky message means and give you nine easy-peasy ways to fix it without any techy skills. Plus, we’ll show you how to avoid it happening in the future. Let’s get started!
What’s the Deal with This Message?
When you’re trying to chat with someone on Facebook Messenger and that “This person is unavailable on Messenger” message pops up, it means they can’t get your messages for some reason.
The most common reason is that they’ve blocked or deactivated their Facebook or Messenger account. But if it’s just a temporary glitch, they might just be logged out and will be back online once they log in again.
Sometimes, their account might be disabled by Facebook if they’ve been naughty and violated community rules or something.
Here are some things you can try to figure out what’s up with the Messenger sitch:
- Check if they’ve blocked you
- Make sure your internet connection is solid
- Try messaging them on another platform
- Send them a friend request on another platform
- Turn off and on your chat window
- Ask a mutual friend if they know what’s going on
- Shoot them an email
- Just ask ’em why they’re unavailable
- Use a different messaging app like WhatsApp or Line
If none of these work and you still can’t get in touch, then it’s probably because they blocked or deactivated their account. In that case, there’s not much you can do, or it’s something wonky with your account or theirs that might need help from Messenger Support.
9 Quick Fixes
1. Check Your Internet Connection please check your network connection
Sometimes the problem is as simple as a bad internet connection. Make sure your phone is connected to a stable network, either WiFi or cellular data. If that doesn’t work, try turning off Cellular Data or switching between WiFi networks.
If you’re still having issues, give airplane mode a quick on-off switch. And if all else fails, reinstall Facebook Messenger from the App Store or Google Play Store. Just don’t forget to log in again after reinstalling!
2. Check If the Person Is Blocked Check If the Person Is Blocked on messenger
The “unavailable” message could mean the person you’re trying to reach has blocked your account or deactivated it. To figure out if this is the case, check your contact lists to see if their profile name or number is still there. Also, look for them in conversations with others and in other groups.
If their name is still there, they might’ve just blocked you temporarily.
3. Check If You Have Been Blocked On Facebook Messenger
First things first, see if you’ve been blocked by your contact. Search for their profile on Facebook and check if it shows a “Message” button or if it says “Blocked.”
If it says “Blocked,” then they’ve blocked you and there’s not much you can do about it.
4. Did They Deactivate Their Account or What?
Bummer, right? If your buddy’s deactivated their Facebook account, there’s no way they’ll show up as available on Messenger. Instead, you’ll see a blank space where their profile pic or initials used to be. It might even say, “This Person Is Unavailable on Messenger.”
Hold up, though! Before you jump to conclusions, make sure they haven’t just blocked you. Sneaky, huh? You can do this by checking out a convo they had with someone else – if their name and pic are there, it means they haven’t deactivated their account; they’ve just blocked you from chatting with them.
If that’s not the case, it’s likely they’ve either deactivated or straight-up deleted their Facebook account. You can try shooting them a message, but it might just drift into the digital void if their account is gone for good.
5. Uh-oh, Did You Get Unfriended?
If you’re dealing with that annoying error in a one-on-one convo, it’s possible your contact gave you the ol’ unfriend. No worries, though – just head over to their profile page and see if they’re still on your friends’ list.
If they’re not there, it could mean they’ve either blocked you from peeking at their profile or they’ve cut ties completely. Bummer, right?
In any case, try hitting them up through some other means outside of Messenger and see what’s up. Maybe it’s all just a misunderstanding!
6. Did They Unfollow or Block You?
Sometimes peeps you wanna chat with might have unfollowed or blocked you. Bummer, right? Their account will show as unavailable on Messenger, even if they seem active.
To check, head to the top of your Facebook page, click ‘Friends,’ and search for the person who’s MIA on Messenger. If they’ve blocked or unfollowed you, you’ll see a message like “You’re Not Friends” or “The Following People Are Blocked From Seeing What You Post,” with their name in the list.
7. Hey, Were They Reported or Something?
If someone’s been reported for sketchy behavior, Facebook might have restricted or blocked their account. To find out, search for them in Facebook’s “People” search.
If their profile’s there but they’re ‘unavailable’ on Messenger, their account’s probably restricted.
Sometimes folks just deactivate their account voluntarily. Send ’em a message to see if they respond or wait a few days to see if they come back online.
If you still can’t contact them after a few days, it’s likely their account’s been deactivated.
If none of these are the case, maybe your friend’s device is messed up, and the issue can be fixed with the next section’s steps.
8. Did They Block You or What?
It’s possible they blocked your account. This can happen for all sorts of reasons, like privacy concerns or a tiff between you two. Here’s how to check if they blocked you:
Look at their profile pic. If it’s gone or generic, they might have blocked you.
See if other users can’t view their profile either. If it’s not just you, they’ve probably blocked everyone trying to see their profile.
Try sending a new message on Messenger; they might unblock you once they get it and respond.
9. Are You Muted, Though?
If they’ve muted you, you can still see their profile pic and send messages, but they won’t get notifications.
To see if you’re blocked or muted on Messenger, check your convo to see if it’s marked as Muted or if they’re too busy.
But remember, sometimes a user blocks or mutes themselves, and that’ll mess things up – they won’t get messages from anyone else either.
The best way to figure out what’s going on is by talking to them directly. Hit them up with a phone call, text, or DM on another platform like Instagram, Twitter, etc.
FAQs
Can I still shoot messages to someone who’s unavailable on Messenger?
Nah, if someone’s unavailable on Messenger, you can’t message ’em there. But hey, try reaching out through email or another social media platform.
How long ’til someone’s back on Messenger?
It depends on why they’re unavailable. If they’ve just been MIA, they’ll be back when they log in.
If they deactivated their account, they won’t be around ’til they reactivate. And if they’ve blocked you, you can’t message ’em on Messenger unless they unblock you.
Can I stop someone from going AWOL on Messenger?
Nope, you can’t control other peeps’ availability on Messenger. But keepin’ the communication flowin’ with your regular chat buddies can help make sure y’all stay connected.
Conclusion
We hope this guide clears up the whole “This person is unavailable on Messenger” thing. There’s a bunch of ways to tackle this message, and the best fix depends on the sitch. Maybe you need to refresh the app, hit up your carrier, or report the issue to Facebook. Whatever works!
Remember, you can still use Facebook messaging even without a live connection with other users or as an instant messenger. If you’re having probs messaging someone directly, check your settings before getting all techy.
In general, if something’s not working, try rebooting your device or reinstalling the messenger app. If that doesn’t work, give Facebook Support a shout – they might be able to help. In the end, messages from unavailable contacts will chill in their outbox until they’re delivered or deleted by you or dealt with by Facebook, following any rules and regulations.