With secret conversations in Messenger, Facebook offers support for end-to-end encryption, giving you peace of mind knowing that a third party cannot decipher any sensitive messages with friends and family. These encrypted chats rely on a device key that ensures only you and the recipient can see the message. Show
You can verify the device key to confirm that the messages are end-to-end encrypted, set a timer to have secret messages disappear from the conversation, and so forth. In this article, we show you how to set up and use end-to-end encrypted secret conversations in Facebook Messenger. RequirementsSecret conversations are currently available in the Messenger app on iOS and Android. They do not appear on the Facebook chat at www.facebook.com, m.facebook.com, or www.messenger.com. They’re also only visible on the device where you create them and the device the recipient uses to open the conversation. Only one device at a time can send and receive secret messages. So if, for example, you enable secret conversations on your iPhone, any secret messages on your other devices will not be visible. How to start a secret encrypted conversation on Messenger
You will notice that the entire interface (buttons, chat bubble, etc.) is black (and not the standard blue or theme-based). A padlock icon along with a message saying “Messages and calls are secured with end-to-end encryption” denotes that you’re engaged in a secret chat with them. You may see two different conversations in Messenger if you’re in a secret conversation with someone you already have a conversation with. Keep in mind that the person you’re messaging could still make a screenshot of the message and share it with others without your permission. However, Facebook will try to notify you when that happens. Another methodBesides the above option, you can also follow these steps to initiate a secret conversation on Messenger:
Create auto disappearing secret messages on MessengerFacebook Messenger allows you to set a timer to have your messages disappear from the chat.
Now go back to your secret conversation and continue chatting. Since you turned on disappearing messages, all new messages will be removed automatically from each person’s device after they are seen. Verify that your conversations are encryptedIn an encrypted chat, both you and the recipient have a device key that can be optionally used to verify that the messages are indeed end-to-end encrypted.
You don’t have to compare device keys if you don’t want. Indeed your secret messages will still be encrypted if you skip this optional verification. Change the device used for secret conversationsAs mentioned, secret conversations are only visible on the device where you created them and the device the recipient opens them on. To change the device you use for secret conversations, simply start a new secret conversation from Messenger on the new device. When you change the device used for secret conversations, your previous secret messages will no longer be visible on your old device or your new device. Delete a secret conversation from your deviceMessenger only lets you wipe clean one encrypted chat at a time.
Report and block secret conversationsLike unencrypted chats, any offending or unwanted secret chat can be reported to Facebook. You can also report auto-disappearing secret chats but only for a short time after they’ve disappeared. Keep in mind that reporting a secret conversation decrypts recent messages from that chat so that Facebook’s team can review them. Don’t worry; these unencrypted messages are being sent securely from your device to the Facebook cloud.
“We won’t tell the person you’re talking to that you reported it,” says Facebook. If you have tips you want to share about using Facebook Messenger end-to-end encrypted chats, feel free to let us know in the comments! Check out next:
What does first seen secret conversation mean?If you're just using secret conversation for the first time, it's normal to ask this question. The “First Seen By This Device” that you keep seeing means that the person with the device in question first enabled the “Secret Conversations” toggle switch on the specified date.
How do you tell if secret conversations are being used?The recipient must also agree to use Secret Conversations before they can access messages. You are able to have both a normal Facebook messenger conversation as well as a Secret Conversation with the same person. A padlock icon is displayed next to the person's profile picture to tell you if a conversation is 'Secret'.
How can I see my secret conversation history?You can easily access all your secret conversations by following the below steps:. Open the Facebook Messenger app on your device.. In the top left, click on your profile.. Clicking on the profile will take you to a menu.. Scroll down. ... . Hit that button, and you can see all your secret conversations.. Open your Messenger app.. WHAT DOES added devices mean on secret conversations?You'll receive a notice in previous encrypted conversations letting you and the other participants know you're on a new device. Once the device is added, you'll see new messages in end-to-end encrypted conversations on all active devices.
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