This Facebook Messenger issue is very common among many Facebook users.
If you see this message “This person is unavailable on Messenger” or “Facebook chat is unavailable” it doesn’t always mean that someone has blocked you on Messenger. Sure, that’s one reason but it’s only one of many possible reasons.
So, before you go thinking someone has blocked you . . .
Continue reading to see all the reasons why you aren’t able to send a message to that person and how to go about fixing it!
What Causes This Error Message “Facebook Chat is Unavailable” on Facebook Messenger?
There are many possible causes for this error message “Facebook chat is unavailable”. Some of the most common reasons include:
- The person you are trying to reach has blocked you.
- You forgot that you blocked that person or did it by mistake.
- The person deactivated their account.
- The account has been deleted.
- That person landed in Facebook jail and their Messenger account was suspended.
- Their profile is private.
- Messenger is not working.
- The other person doesn’t have the Facebook Messenger app.
- The other person isn’t available or offline.
- The other person is having internet connection issues.
- Possible issues with your internet connection or Messenger account.
- You and/or the person you are trying to reach have not updated the Messenger app.
- Your friend has selected selective messaging and you are invisible to them.
Easy Fixes for “This Person is Unavailable on Messenger” and “Facebook Chat is Unavailable”
While the issue could very well be out of your control, there are a few things you can do to pin-point what’s going on.
I’ve compiled a list of items and possible solutions you’ll want to check.
Check to See if You Blocked The Other Person
Perhaps you forgot that you blocked the other person or you did it by mistake. Follow the below steps for mobile or desktop.
On Mobile
- Open Facebook Messenger.
- Top Right: Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings
- Under Audience and Visibility go to Blocking to see the users you’ve blocked on Messenger.
- Unblock the person if they appear on this list.
On Desktop
- Top Right: Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings
- Go to Blocking and under Block Users you’ll be able to see everyone you’ve blocked.
- Unblock the person if they appear on this list.
Check to See if The Other Person Has Blocked You
This one stings but you shouldn’t be hurt or upset until you figure out if you’re blocked. Chances are they haven’t blocked you so you’ll want to check whether or not this is the case first.
Look for the following common signs to see if they’ve added you to their Block List.
- You don’t see them on your Friend List.
- You don’t see their name while searching their profile.
- You can’t message him/her.
- You can’t invite them to a group.
- You don’t see the user profile picture.
- You can’t see their profile from within Facebook Memories
If you notice any of the above, send a message to your friend outside of Messenger or Facebook.
Ask them to double-check if they’ve accidentally blocked you. If so, kindly ask them to use the unblock option.
Note that even if you are blocked, you should still be able to see their posts, reactions or comments but you will not be able to message or call them.
Use the Web Version
You may need to try using the web version instead of the app if you continue to encounter problems. Pull up Facebook Messenger on your web browser to test and send message from the web version to determine if you still see the message on Messenger.
If the message appears, then it’s probably not an issue with the app. On the flip side, if the message doesn’t appear it could mean that there is an issue with the app and you’ll want to follow the steps in the following section.
Update the Messenger App
There’s a high chance that you are receiving this message because you and/or your friend are running an older version of Messenger. In this case, update the app and make sure to also turn on automatic updates. This way your app will get updated automatically so that you always have the latest version of the Facebook Messenger application.
Go to your device’s app store or update the app from your mobile phone settings. If you’re an android user on an android device you’ll want to go to the Google Play Store. For iPhone users, you’ll want to go to the Apple App Store. Windows users will need to go to the Microsoft Store.
Reinstall the Messenger App
Another effective solution to fix bugs is basically a reset option where you’ll uninstall the app and then clear the cache file of all the app data. You wouldn’t realize how much data people accumulate, so this is one of the best ways to fix the issue. Reinstall the app again and see if this works for you. Uninstalling the app will fix this glitch most of the time.
Check Internet Connection
It happens all the time. One minute you’re surfing the internet or streaming a movie and the next minute you lose your internet connection.
Verify that you have a strong internet connection otherwise this could very well be the issue.
Nowadays, to do anything online it’s really best to have a high speed internet connection. You might find that even though you have a connection, the quality or speed is poor. It may be time to upgrade if internet connectivity becomes an ongoing issue for you.
It’s not just you . . . your friend could be having internet connectivity issues as well.
Check if Your Friend Has Deactivated or Deleted His/Her Account
It’s possible that your friend deactivated or deleted their account and forgot to tell you. Talk to them to see whether or not they’ve deactivated or deleted their account.
One way to check is to search their name or email. If they appear then it’s a good sign because it means your friend’s account is still active.
A second way to check is by contacting the person via a mutual friend. Send a message from their account and see if you encounter the same message. If you get the same message then it probably means their account is not active.
Note that at this time you’re able to use Messenger even if your Facebook account has been deactivated.
You Might be Trying to Contact a Suspended Account
Facebook is known for suspending accounts left and right if their terms and conditions are violated.
Sometimes it’s a temporary ban of the Facebook or Messenger account. In extreme cases, accounts are banned for life. It’s possible to get your account reinstated but you’ll have to follow an appeal process.
You or your friend can contact Facebook at disabled@facebook.com to get an account reinstated.
Contact Facebook Support Team
If none of the solutions above work, you can always contact Facebook directly. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to talk to someone or contact them via chat but you can contact them via email. Go to the Facebook page or email them at: support@fb.com.
You might want to also give Facebook chat a try since emailing them is not the only way.
I recommend this anyways since you can ask someone on chat about any new features on the platform. This goes for all social media platforms not just Facebook.
Common Facebook and Messenger FAQ’s
Why is Facebook Messenger not working?
There could be many reasons for this but the most common causes are a bad internet connection, your Messenger app hasn’t been updated, you don’t have enough memory on your device or there’s some sort of error on Facebook Messenger.
A technical problem or other technical issues that arise with the app is almost always fixed when the app is updated.
What happens when I block someone on Messenger?
If you block someone on Facebook Messenger, they won’t be able to see your messages, photos, or posts.
What should I do if someone’s bothering me on Messenger?
There are a few things you can do to protect yourself. The first thing is to block their profile, report the message to Facebook Messenger, restrict them or delete the message. By far, blocking the person is the most common way to handle this situation.
How can I control my privacy in Messenger?
Control your privacy in Messenger by making your information is either public or private to certain people such as friends and family members. You can try the following:
Open Messenger to modify your messaging settings, use secret conversations, block people, choose your story audience, use muted stories, clear your search history, permanently delete a message you’ve sent and control who can see your active status.
What happens when you block someone on Facebook Messenger but not Facebook?
If you block someone on Facebook Messenger, they will no longer be able to see your messages in Messenger, and vice versa.
Why can’t I find my friend’s Facebook profile?
There could be a number of reasons why you can’t find your friends’ Facebook profile but the most likely reason is that they have disabled their account or deleted it. The other reason is that you are no longer friends on Facebook.
I suggest performing a second or third search for their profile on Facebook just in case.
How does Facebook suggest friends?
When you sign up for Facebook, it’ll ask you to input your contacts from your phone. If you have contacts who are on Facebook, those contacts will be suggested as friends when you sign in. Facebook also suggests friends of friends, and friends of friends of friends.
How does Facebook suggest friends?
When you sign up for Facebook, it’ll ask you to input your contacts from your phone. If you have contacts who are on Facebook, those contacts will be suggested as friends when you sign in. Facebook also suggests friends of friends, and friends of friends of friends.
In Conclusion
As you can see, you shouldn’t be worried when you see “Facebook chat is unavailable” or “This person is unavailable on Messenger”. Follow the troubleshooting tips I’ve laid out for you to fix the issue.
Now you can go back to being buddies again!