How does Facebook Messenger for Firefox work?

This article is no longer maintained, so its content might be out of date.

Messenger for Firefox lets you use Facebook in a sidebar so there's no need to switch between tabs. The ticker and chat stay put as you browse around the web. Of course, when you need to focus, you can also hide it away.

Note: This applies to the latest Firefox Release version which can be downloaded from mozilla.org/firefox.

Turn on Messenger for Firefox

In order to use Messenger for Firefox you'll need the latest Firefox (download it here) and a Facebook account. Then follow these steps to turn the feature on:

  1. Log in to your Facebook account at facebook.com
  2. Visit facebook.com/about/messenger-for-firefox
  3. Click the green Turn On button. The messenger sidebar will open and confirmation message will be shown.
  4. Click OK in the confirmation message to turn the feature on.

How to use Messenger for Firefox

Messenger for Firefox allows you to keep up with friends wherever you go on the web.

View your notifications, friend requests and messages

When you enable Messenger for Firefox you'll get four buttons added to the right side of the navigation toolbar:

  • Facebook button: Click to access your Facebook profile, show or hide the sidebar and show or hide desktop notifications.
  • The Messages, Friends and Notifications buttons work just like the ones on Facebook. Click them to see your recent friend requests, messages and notifications.
    Facebook buttons - Win7

View and reply to posts

  • If the ticker is active on your Facebook account it will show up in the sidebar. Just mouse over the entries to see details, play videos, like, comment and share.
    Facebook Ticker - Win
Don't see the ticker? See the Facebook help article, Why don't I see ticker on my account?

Chat with friends

  • Just click on a friend's name in the chat section of the sidebar to send them a message. Messages you send will become part of your ongoing conversation on Facebook.
    Facebook chat - Win
    • If you don't see the person you want in the list, you can use the search field at the bottom to find them.

You can log out of chat by clicking the gear menu in the bottom right-hand corner and selecting Turn Off Chat.

Tip: You can drag a chat out of Firefox to view it in a separate floating window.
Learn more about Facebook Chat: See the Facebook help article, Chat Basics.

Messenger for Firefox and your privacy

The same preferences you’ve set in your privacy settings on facebook.com apply when you’re using Messenger for Firefox.

Turn off Messenger for Firefox

Got to get some work done? Here's how to temporarily turn things off.

Show or hide the sidebar

  • Click the Facebook button in the toolbar and select Show sidebar to toggle the sidebar on and off.
    Toggle sidebar - Win

With the sidebar off, you will still see friend requests, messages and notifications.

Log in to or out of Messenger for Firefox

  • With the sidebar open, click the gear menu in the botton right-hand corner and select Log Out to log out of Facebook. The Friends, Messages and Notifications buttons will be removed from the toolbar.
    Log out of Facebook - Win
  • To log back in, open the sidebar if it's not already open and click the Log In button. A tab with the Facebook login screen will open. Once you log in there the sidebar will fill in with the ticker and chat sections.
  • To turn off the sidebar, click the Facebook button in the toolbar and select Turn off Facebook Messenger.

    Turn Off FB Msgr
Note: To turn the sidebar back on, click the Facebook button in the toolbar and select Turn on Facebook Messenger.
  • To turn off the sidebar, click the Facebook button in the toolbar and select Turn off Facebook Messenger.

    Turn off FB - Fx22
Note: To turn the sidebar back on, click the Facebook button in the toolbar and select Turn on Facebook Messenger.

Completely disable Messenger for Firefox

If you'd rather not use Messenger for Firefox you can completely disable it with these steps:

  1. Click the Facebook button in the toolbar and select Remove from Firefox.
  2. You will see a confirmation dialog asking if you are sure you want to remove the feature. Click Remove Facebook Messenger to completely disable it.
  1. Click the menu button Fx89menuButton, click Add-ons and themes and select Services.
  2. Click the Disable button for Facebook Messenger to completely disable it.
    Disable Facebook Service
Note: You can undo this by clicking Enable.

Troubleshooting Messenger for Firefox Issues

If you are having trouble with Messenger for Firefox you can try disabling Facebook Messenger and then turning it back on:

  1. Click the Facebook button in the toolbar and select Remove from Firefox.
  2. You will see a confirmation dialog asking if you are sure you want to remove the feature. Click Remove Facebook Messenger to completely disable it.
  3. Messenger should be completely disabled.
  4. Log in to your Facebook account at facebook.com
  5. Visit facebook.com/about/messenger-for-firefox
  6. Click the green Turn On button. The messenger sidebar will open and confirmation message will be shown.
  7. Click OK in the confirmation message to turn the feature on.
  1. Click the menu button Fx89menuButton, click Add-ons and themes and select Services.
  2. Click the Remove button for Facebook Messenger. Messenger should be completely removed from Firefox.
  3. Log in to your Facebook account at facebook.com
  4. Visit facebook.com/about/messenger-for-firefox
  5. Click the green Turn On button. The messenger sidebar will open and confirmation message will be shown.
  6. Click OK in the confirmation message to turn the feature on.

 

These fine people helped write this article:

Tonnes, Michael Verdi, Swarnava Sengupta, Matt_G, user832823, swapnilogale, Natasha Selvey
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