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What does the "Last Active" time stand for on Facebook Messenger mobile app?

What does Facebook Messenger iphone app "Last Active" online status time refer to on the mobile app? Is the time shown next to a friends name mean the last time they were logged into the Facebook Messenger app or the last time they sent a message using the facebook messenger app?  Or does the time also show the last time they logged in using the regular Facebook mobile iphone app?


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I never had the last active on my account until I done an update (the second last one) now it shows when I am last active.
I do not want this feature and has unchecked if I'm online, however it is still showing.
How can this feature be removed?
Some of my friends show as nothing and only when they are active. How do I get this!!!!
Facebook annoys me with all these changes, you should have the right to choose what you want people to see.
Feb 3rd, 2013 at 10:07 PM
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I notice that it shows a timestime for certain friends using the app on their Android phone, at all odd hours of the night.
SO if it shows say 15m next to the mobile phone icon, does this mean :

A) They used the FB app 15m ago to access FB

B) They used their phone say to make a call but DID NOT go on FB 15m ago & the app updated because the phone was being used & the app was running in he background

C) They DID NOT use their phone, but activated it, say to check the time at 3am, AND DID NOT go on FB, but the app updated because the phone was activated & the app was running in he background

Thanks !
Feb 16th, 2013 at 3:14 PM
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Has this problem been solved yet ?
Feb 22nd, 2013 at 11:49 PM
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i think the answer to turn this off is : privacy settings-apps and websites-app others use-my app acitvity box. Uncheck it! i believe this is the way...i should say that i am using an iphone 5 and have the latest version of facebook installed...i did n't checked it yet so i am not sure 100%.
Feb 23rd, 2013 at 5:14 AM
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Won't I'm trying to get my head round is: when someone is online it still say active 1h or 2d ago but my timeline will say they have written or like a status or photo etc "just now" or a couple of minutes ago, yet it still say active 2h/d ago. Also I've had a friend checking fb in front I me but still don't appear online or active but then other times, they have been online and it's says there online or been active 1m go. They don't use the messenger app just the normal Facebook app. I've had it where it's said active 12h ago but then been on Facebook serveal times that day, yet it hasn't updated, but again other times it does update. They use android and don't turn off there chat. Is just a case the stamp just doesn't update all the time? Or what?
Feb 25th, 2013 at 8:44 PM
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hi guys. just an inquiry. i already researched for valid reasons, now here's my predicament. hope you can be my problem solver9at least with this one)
My fiance couple of nights, said good night on fb chat. then come 1:30am, i noticed that the time beside her name(she uses an iphone so a phone appears)suddenlt resets to 1m.i observed and knowing that she's sleeping already( she weren't able to reply to my last good night message-it's unseen yet), i thought that it's just a glitch or something.come 2:46am, from a high of 1h, it suddenly resets to 1m again. does that mean that she sent a message to anybody? or did she read a message on her inbox? when i asked her about it, she said that she might have woke up and checked on her phone but did not read nor sent any messages on fb chat. im just a bit puzzled. is it possible for those 1m, 1hr sign to reset automatically without the account user being active on fb? Thanks a lot guys! would really appreciate it.
Mar 1st, 2013 at 6:29 AM
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Yes, the last two days I noticed my time updating during the day and in the middle of the night while I slept and definitely hadn't checked Facebook or used chat/messenger. I'm guessing its probably a bug in the Facebook code/app that will get corrected in an update. But I changed my password, thinking that someone else might be logging into my account (just in case). –  Answers  Mar 1st, 2013 at 2:05 PM
I'm having a similar problem with fb messenger on iphone 4s. Without accessing the messenger the last seen stamp resets automatically. Sometimes after 1, 2 hr or even 19 hr. I deleted the app, reinstalled, changed password . I ran out of option. I also wondered if maybe somebody else is accessing my messenger and that is why the last seen stamp is changing. Please, anybody has any suggestions? –  pityoka  Mar 22nd, 2013 at 9:15 PM
I also noticed that my girlfriend's icon will automatically go back to 1min after it hits the 15min mark. This is at 5am while she is sleeping. I'm guessing it's a bug or maybe her desktop is on facebook while she is sleeping and it just automatically updates every 15min. –  Shomanship  May 20th, 2013 at 10:50 AM


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say i've been logged in as "on mobile" (with no last active time stamp) on the messenger app, and i send an inbox message using the desktop website instead of on the mobile, does this change my last active time? thx.
Mar 3rd, 2013 at 1:11 AM
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Yes, if you just open the Facebook messenger app on your phone, it will update the Last Active time. Keep in mind, you don't have to send a message for the last active time to change. –  Answers  Mar 3rd, 2013 at 2:04 AM


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Had the same problem but finally was able to get rid of it.
If you deleted the mobile app, install it again, then go to Settings and click "Turn off notifications" then log out the messenger. After logging out, when the welcome page says log in as "your name" click the "not you" word and exit the messenger. Just remember to always exit the messenger.

Hope it'll helps! It worked for me :)
Mar 3rd, 2013 at 9:46 AM
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But its only work for 8 hours. when after 8 hours it is still show the "last active time".. –  MLChen  Mar 13th, 2013 at 9:55 PM
After 8 hours, the Notifications are turned back on, which for some reason triggers the "Last Active Time" to update. Not sure there is anything that can be done at the moment, except uninstall the Messenger App, if you don't want the time automatically updating by itself. –  Answers  Mar 13th, 2013 at 10:19 PM


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Okay. So my friend and I were chatting 3 hours ago but suddenly, it appeared 14m beside her name in chat. But when I asked her if she was chatting with anyone else, she said she wasnt. Is that cuz she just opened her FB messenger? Thanks
Mar 4th, 2013 at 10:40 AM
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Yes, just opening the Facebook messenger app (or desktop app) or the main Facebook app on your phone will update the last active time to 1m. –  Answers  Mar 4th, 2013 at 2:21 PM


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I've been trying to figure out how all of this works for some time now. Recently had a new puzzling thing happen. I was watching to see if a friend of mine was on FB - they use the FB app and possibly messenger too. The person sent me a msg using the FB phone app and at that time the green chat light came on and under her name said 'active now'. About 15 min later during which time she wasn't doing anything, the green light disappeared and it started tracking "active 15m ago". 4 hours later, the time stamp is accurately showing "active 4h ago" and then the green light pops on, in the msg it says "active now" and I she's just accepted a friend request - double checked this on my laptop. After about 15 min the green light went off, but the time stamp didn't change - it went back to "active 4h ago". Then about 30 min later it did it again and I saw that she'd liked a posting - the green light went on, but when it went off, the "active now didn't change and now shows "5h ago". So is it possible that if the person gets on the FB app and has chat open, the green light goes on even if they aren't chatting or msging? But if they're actively liking or doing something using the FB phone app, why wouldn't the "active ___ ago" reflect it accurately? Or do they have to go into the chat or msgs for the green light to come on?
Mar 8th, 2013 at 12:18 AM
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Yes, if someone goes on the FB app and has Chat turned "On" the green dot will appear, regardless of whether they are messaging/chatting or not. The Last Active time may not update right away. Try refreshing the Last Active screen in the app and the times will usually get updated to reflect when they were last on the FB app / FB messenger app. However, I've started seeing the Last Active time update automatically for my own accounts time and I haven't been using the FB app, or been on facebook at all, so something screwy is going on with the Last Active time (haven't pin-pointed why the time would be updating automatically without any Facebook interaction). –  Answers  Mar 8th, 2013 at 12:48 AM


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Some people just have the mobile icon with no last active time displayed on the fb app and website, but have made or liked status's via mobile and desktop and sometimes have a green dot when they are available. Does this mean they haven't used inbox/messaging at all lately? I thought if you go on the mobile app or have chat turned on it updates the time regardless?
Mar 8th, 2013 at 1:36 PM
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^^ i should add that the people i mean are people i've messaged a lot with before, so they automatically come under the favorites tab not the other friends tab on the fb app (who all have no last active times), and appear in the chat list whether they're on fb or not when i have chat on using the computer
Mar 8th, 2013 at 2:09 PM
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Could the solution be as simple as shutting off the location services for Facebook on your device? I haven't tested this, but after reading all the comments, it appears this has not been considered. Perhaps the reason why some devices show and others not could be because the location services are set to "on". Just a thought.
Mar 14th, 2013 at 11:48 AM
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I tried this and it works for me so you guys might give it a try too!! Remove the Facebook Mobile App or Facebook Messenger App from your smart phone and forever log in Facebook on your browser ie. Safari. Last I checked my timestamp's been removed since i removed the facebook mobile app from my phone. Only a green dot's shown next to my name when I am online and a mobile icon shown when I am offline!
Mar 17th, 2013 at 12:35 PM
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i have a quiestion. i have a friend who seems to be very active in fb. i always see him "active 2 minutes ago", "30 seconds ago". Is he really using the app? or if you are logged in and didn't log out, it will show that you are always active? He seems like he is not sleeping! Why is that so?
Mar 20th, 2013 at 7:49 PM
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MYSTERY SOLVED: SHUT OFF ALL push notifications from within the FB iPhone app and VOILA! You will no longer show as mobile, nor will it show your last active timestamp! I know, I know - you wont get notifications BUT what would you prefer? People knowing your last move OR having to check the app a bit more often? I prefer PRIVACY! :)
Mar 21st, 2013 at 1:21 PM
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Uninstalled the updates on the facebook app on my phone, I have android 4 on my phone, seem to have solved the problem. A lot of frustration, thank U facebook...
Mar 25th, 2013 at 10:41 AM
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Avid can I ask you what phone you have. I have an i-phone 4 and that solution isn't working for me. Thanks
Mar 25th, 2013 at 9:32 PM
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So, i have a friend who was not active for 3 days and then on the fourth day, her name has nothing under it. Does that mean that she hasnt been active ever since and she doesnt use mobile facebook apps at all. Help?
Mar 30th, 2013 at 6:25 AM
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I have a potential chat blocking situation?

I have two specific friends on FB chat I'm keeping tabs on. One I noticed, on both PC and mobile app, never has a green light when she is online. Instead, there is a "1m" next to her name. If I clicked on her name and a chat window popped up, it says "online now" actually. So I've come to realize even when she is online, computer or mobile, I cannot see her as a green dot, and only if I click on her name will her status say "online now." Is this because she has me on some kind of block?

The second friend does not show up either when he is online, there is no green dot. Only when he is offline/closed out the mobile app does a phone symbol appear with "1m" and it progresses accurately. Often times I will see a "30m" on his name in chat, flip away for a few seconds, then go back to chat in mobile, and it will say "1m" suddenly... but he never appeared online with a green dot.

Are these instances of blocking? Or are these glitches? If they made their chat settings to block me, I don't think I could see their names while they are offline with a "2m" next to it. Wouldn't their names be completely hidden regardless? Or if you block someone from chat, they can still see your name and phone symbol when you are not online?

Thanks.
Mar 31st, 2013 at 1:39 AM
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To Answers (or anyone who may knew the answer):
I understand that if I were to open a Facebook App or Messenger App on my phone the last active time changes, and if instead I open the Facebook website whether on my phone or just using a computer this does not trigger an update of my last active time. Is my understanding correct?

But my question is this: if a friend posts on my wall, and I receive a notification through my Facebook App on my phone, would that automatically update my last active time even if I did not open the Facebook App or the Messenger App? In other words, will a passive reception of notifications trigger an update, or does it still require an active action of opening an App?

Thanks for the clarification~
Apr 3rd, 2013 at 6:07 AM
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To answer your first question: Yes, your understanding is correct.

As for your second question, I do know that the FB Messenger App will automatically update the time stamp every 8 hours if Notifications are turned on (even if you don't receive any). You can turn the Notifications OFF, but it seems to automatically turn back on by itself.

I'm not totally sure if the time stamp will update when you receive a notification on the regular Facebook App on your iphone. From what I've seen, I don't think so, but this is just a quess, as I haven't tested this out. –  Answers  Apr 3rd, 2013 at 2:57 PM
Thank you~
So I guess the only way someone would know I'm active on Facebook, if I am using a computer or a mobile browser, is if I chat with that person or interact with that person in some way then? –  sam9317  Apr 3rd, 2013 at 4:14 PM
Yep, if you use a computer to login to facebook via a browser (IE, Chrome, Firefox) it won't update the last active time stamp. So unless you interact with a particular person, (or have your facebook messenger turned on) or like, comment or post something on facebook, other friends should not know that you are online and using facebook. –  Answers  Apr 3rd, 2013 at 4:50 PM


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I have a question - My boyfriend seems to be keeping track of my last seen time stamp on Facebook. I would just like to verfiy some things :

1) If I merely opened my FB app from my iphone and did NOT chat with anyone, will my last seen time stamp be affected?


I'm asking because he thinks i'm chatting via FB chat cos he sees that I was active 30mins ago etc and I try to explain to him that I wasnt.
Apr 3rd, 2013 at 8:37 AM
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Yes, if you simply open up the FB app on your iphone the time stamp will be updated.
You do NOT need to be chatting with anyone for the time stamp to update. –  Answers  Apr 3rd, 2013 at 2:50 PM


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Hi so Ive been on facebook APP for Iphone 4s/computer and keep finding my girlfriend active "1m ago"
I have looked through the comments on this site but not sure what to make of them.
Would like to know how whens she is working during the day/sleeping at night is her active time keep resetting itself?
For example today we spoke on her break and when she went down 20 mins later i checked fb and said she was active "1m ago"
And tonight I keep refreshing my facebook page, knowing she is in bed asleep and see her active "1m ago"
Could this be a glitch or bug? Or merely her looking at phone while the APP is open on phone?
Cheers
Apr 4th, 2013 at 11:08 PM
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The time could be cached on your phone as "1m ago". Refresh the screen. Go to the Chat window, then get out of it, then go back to the Chat window to see the current times refresh. If that doesn't work, then it could be some sort of bug. If she is current looking at facebook on her phone using the Facebook app, then yes, it would update the time to "1m ago" –  Answers  Apr 5th, 2013 at 12:12 AM


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I found a way out of this misery. Install facebook v 4.0.3 from here.

http://www.mediafire.com/?18y3cdbvlc3puxo

You will receive notifications on fb as usual and more over, your last seen at time stamp won't be updated when using the app or even when using the chat from the app. The current version of the app is 5.6 and since this is 4.0.3 so obviously you will be sacrificing some features. Well its still worth it, coz you are only sacrificing your timeline view.
Apr 6th, 2013 at 9:20 AM
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So I noticed last night that my friend's "last active" date was 1d ago, I'm assuming that this means he had just not used the fb app for a day? And also, then this morning, I noticed it does not have ANY time stamp next to the mobile icon. I read the first comment and it says that only happens after four days of inactivity. So what does it mean when it doesn't show a time next to the time stamp BEFORE 4 days of inactivity?
Apr 7th, 2013 at 3:04 PM
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it means they have turned off chat but they are still online...
Apr 10th, 2013 at 4:19 AM
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If the time stamp is for the middle of the night, and it says my boyfriend was active 20 minutes ago, even though he was dead asleep next to me, what does this mean, and what is the explanation for this? He never touched his phone, however fb chat seems to think so? Anyone know the answer?
Apr 11th, 2013 at 4:10 AM
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If he has the Facebook Messenger App installed on his phone, it will automatically update every 8 hours (unless Notifications are turned OFF, but even that is just temporary). So when Notifications automatically update, the Last Active timestamp gets updated to 1m ago. –  Answers  Apr 11th, 2013 at 7:46 AM


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I have the same problem of Molly: some of my friends keep showing a last active status between 1 min and 10 mins.. all this happens h24, and i can't think that they don't sleep and browse FB every 5 minutes. is it a bug or what?
Apr 11th, 2013 at 7:57 AM
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its not always right as my friends phone was next to me while they were sat getting a tattoo for 3 hours, the phone hadnt left her coat and it said she was active 5 mins ago and so on..
Apr 11th, 2013 at 2:35 PM
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So on the messenger chat where u see favorites and friends... well if u have people on favorites on the messenger does that necessarily mean u chatted with them or can u mean that u just poked thrm, etc.?
Apr 12th, 2013 at 2:26 AM
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Most likely you've messaged the people listed under your Favorites, but not necessarily everyone listed are those you've messaged with. Can people still Poke on fb? Either way, I'm not sure how much Pokes would be factored in? My guess is minimal. –  Answers  Apr 12th, 2013 at 2:41 AM


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My girlfriend has got a samsung galaxy s3 so is running android she goes on facebook in front of me and her time stamp doesnt change it only changes when she sends a message iv watched it and sent a message from hers to mine 100% only changes when she sends a message
Apr 15th, 2013 at 9:26 AM
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i just tried this, can anyone please explain ?
i have sent a text to my girlfriends iphone 4s, her facebook app is opened in the back, but not in use. she received my text and when i checked on my facebook it showed online then straight away it showed active a 1m ago ?
Apr 16th, 2013 at 1:45 PM
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I have a question.... Someone's time stamp updates, and keeps updating from 1hr, 2 hrs etc, as time goes on, but then suddenly time stamp disappears for a while. Some time later, time stamp re-appears showing similar time to previous before it vanished. Does this mean they have been logged in on a pc instead of mobile app, as it seems pc use does not update stamp? And when they log out the mobile app time stamp is reinstated? The people I know who only use desktop site never have a time stamp.
Any ideas? Thanks!
Apr 21st, 2013 at 11:15 AM
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Why does the Facebook messanger say I was active 1 minute ago when I haven't been on for hours?
Apr 21st, 2013 at 10:23 PM
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Why active time update when I don't use it?
Apr 27th, 2013 at 2:26 AM
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If you have the Facebook Messenger app installed, it automatically updates notifications every 8 hours. You can turn Notifications off, but it seems to turn back on automatically after 8 hours. –  Answers  May 7th, 2013 at 2:57 PM


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Can anyone please explain why it says friends in mine are online now or minutes ago etc but have infancy not been online for hours even days. A friend and I actually tested this theory. I went online throughout the day and he did not and yet it frequently showed him as have being active. The next day we reversed it and I did not use my fb app at all in any capacity for 12 hrs and yet it showed me online periodically throughout the day. I don't understand how it actually works.. I'm wondering if it acknowledges you when someone sends something to your page or privately msgs you?? Any ideas??
Apr 27th, 2013 at 11:03 AM
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How about deleting the Facebook app and only using it for through your Internet browser? Would this still show on time stamp?
Apr 30th, 2013 at 10:37 PM
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If you delete the Facebook app, and Facebook messenger app, it should stop the Timestamp from showing up/ updating (unless you use the desktop Facebook Messenger app). –  Answers  May 7th, 2013 at 2:59 PM


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What does 15m next to a friend on the chat sidebar mean on facebook? Does this mean that they were on facebook (looking at my facebook?) 15 minutes prior?
May 7th, 2013 at 1:39 PM
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Yes, essentially that's what it means. They were either on the Facebook mobile app or the Facebook Messenger mobile app or was on Facebook with Facebook Messenger turned on. –  Answers  May 7th, 2013 at 2:52 PM


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So, on an iPhone, when you have the FB app up and then hit the home button to get out of it, you are technically still logged into FB and it just stays running in the background... right? So, does this mean that anytime you turn on the phone screen to do anything at all (text, email, call, access other unrelated apps, etc), it will update your active time on FB even though you aren't necessarily looking at FB at the time? You're still logged into it and it is still running... has anyone else figured this out??
May 8th, 2013 at 12:00 AM
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No, that's not how it works... your Last Active time will pretty much only update if you Tap on, and Open up the Facebook mobile app or the Facebook Messenger mobile app (or you turned on the desktop Facebook Messenger application (sidebar). –  Answers  May 8th, 2013 at 3:41 AM


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Does the Facebook always show correctly the time when somebody was active? Or can be there mistakes? For example it shows 3h instead of 6h?
May 8th, 2013 at 3:53 PM
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logging out is the only way to hide timestamp.
May 9th, 2013 at 3:15 PM
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It seems very inaccurate. Unless it stays active even with your screen off. Like maybe if you dont close out the app but just turn the screen off? I just can't figure it out. I've tested it with friends and It seems like there is no rhyme or reason to when it show active or last active.
May 13th, 2013 at 4:21 AM
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I have someone in my 'favorites' list who used to show the timestamp but now it only says they are 'on mobile'..? Does that mean they blocked me, or have they maybe not logged in for 4 days? yesterday it was saying active 3 days ago..
May 13th, 2013 at 5:56 PM
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One more question with the green dot thing...
When I use Facebook on my computer, on the right hand side is the chat function and it displays some friends with green dots. Now I know when you see green dots it is supposed to mean that the person is online and their settings is that you are able to see them online. But my question is why for some friends with green dots next to their name, when I click on them to open the small pop-up window, their green dot suddenly changes to a mobile phone icon?
May 28th, 2013 at 3:08 AM
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The timestamp as well as your phone icon will go away if you completely log out of the Facebook app. I tested this myself. However, I'm not quite sure how to keep the phone icon whilst getting rid of the active timestamp.. This is something I might need to test as well
May 28th, 2013 at 1:43 PM
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I have a question. Chatting to someone via FB messages and the time stamp was working but has now changed to "on mobile" only and not 'last active'. what does this mean? Have they turned off our messages completely or deleted the message their end which I cant see? I cant see when they were last active
May 30th, 2013 at 6:20 AM
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I noticed that if I login from Chrome my status on my friends phone changes. Last active is not shown for everyone. I know people who have recently bought iPhone and have the latest downloaded app of facebook and don't show as online.

In the past the time stamp only changed if you logged in from facebook mobile app. Yesterday I noticed logging in from web also changes the time stamp now. anyone has faced similar situation?

Thanks.
Jun 3rd, 2013 at 10:23 AM
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All this last active notification stuff is rubbish!

I've noticed that a friend listed under my favourites has a mobile icon next to her name and says 2d, even though I know that she has been online since then, posting items and liking stuff. I did notice that it changed to show that they were active about 15 minutes or so ago, but like I said it now says 2d. Does this mean that it was 2 days ago they were on line by using their mobile phone?
Jun 3rd, 2013 at 2:59 PM
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The last active time will change when she uses her mobile phone, so that's why it says 2d. The last active time typically will NOT change if she was logged in to facebook using a desktop computer. –  Answers  Jun 3rd, 2013 at 3:14 PM


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I have noticed from yesterday that when I login to Facebook from Chrome and check last active status on my friends phone it immediately changes to 1m. This never used to happen before.
Jun 3rd, 2013 at 4:54 PM
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if people say they are offline but it keeps updating, they have chat turned off but are sending messages still through the "messages" part of the iphone app. when chat is turned off it resets to "1min" but never says you are online when you are. i have tried many different things and this is the only reason for the green dot not showing up saying you're online when you are actually using the app. So to sum it up, swipe left on your phone, turn off chat, and you can still message without it saying you are online; But! your time stamp resets to 1min each time you do.
Jun 4th, 2013 at 11:53 PM
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