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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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Even if you don't send messages, the moment you login to Facebook from web or iPhone app the mobile icon on the friends phone changes to 1min in front of my name and does not disappear when logged off. The chat is turned off on both net and app.Messenger is not downloaded. No message used in FB. Notifications disabled. Not sure what am I doin wrong. Ideally once you log off it should stop showing how long time back were you online.
Jun 5th, 2013 at 9:59 AM
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I worked out how to remove the "last active" notification. Download the messanger app,tap the settings symbol top right hand corner of your friends list, "turn notifications off for 8hrs" it works for 8 hrs then automatically turns back on again, just do the same again to turn off.
Jun 18th, 2013 at 7:44 AM
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Facebook mobile/messenger app has been removed but the phone icon is still visible. Phone number, device also has been removed from my privacy settings. Logging out from everywhere... On top of that when I log in on my desktop it is also visible as last activity. Sooo annoying! Any idea?
Thanks!
Jun 21st, 2013 at 11:02 AM
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My boyfriend told me he was tired and going to sleep, but then I saw the green dot next to his name on my desktop. I opened FB app on my iPhone 4S and it's the same. Also on the FB messenger app. It kept switching from green dot to 'active 10 mins ago' and so forth. Back and forth. Is he really just on FB and not telling me?
Jun 27th, 2013 at 11:32 PM
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When I log in and see who is on chat the little cell pnones are green next to my friends. However when my daughter logs in her friends cell phones are white next to there name with last active by it. Does anyone know why this is?
Jul 1st, 2013 at 7:51 PM
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I just never log in on the Facebook App(even better, just uninstall it) since the Facebook App and Messenger records when you are logged in. At least when you are not logged in, your fb friends will only see you are no longer there(wait at least 1hr when the timestamp changes to 'active 1hr ago'). Just use your phone's browser to use Facebook. This will disregard the timestamp.

FB App and Messenger are the culprit of the timestamps.

Another trick is that, if you haven't used the app for 3 days, the timestamp will disappear ;).
Jul 2nd, 2013 at 12:55 AM
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On Facebook and Facebook Messenger it will only show 1 min or 1 hour on my chat screen. How can I change it so it shows all mins and hours, such as 1,2,.3 ,4 mins and so on... thanks
Jul 7th, 2013 at 8:02 PM
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PEOPLE WATCH OUT!!! The last active stamp now updates even when you log in from your phone or PC browser , even when you're NOT on the chat there and even when you do no activity!!

Checked it in multiple ways with my friends. Uninstalling the apps does NOT make the stamp disappear also. The little phone thingy was still there even when we uninstalled the apps and as long you have that phone thingy beside your name, the stamp updates. We are currently trying to find a way to get rid of the phone thingy/last active stamp permanently. Any suggestions will be much appreciated.
Jul 14th, 2013 at 3:43 PM
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To Answers,
Does the time stamp change when one is using inbox with chat off on Fb desktop? I thought it was meant to but sometimes when I'm talking to someone with their chat off using a computer their time stamp doesnt reset to 1m [my desktop chat is on so i know]. Can anyone test this?
Jul 22nd, 2013 at 2:53 PM
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It's hard to pin point exactly, but he's what I know:

In the past, using FB desktop with chat turned off, would NOT update the Last active time stamp. But, about 1 month ago or so, the Last active time stamp was starting to get updated when you just logged into FB desktop (regardless), but the time stamp would disappear after 8 hours of inactivity. Others on here have said the same thing about desktop logins triggering the timestamp.

However, at this time it does not appear that FB desktop login's are triggering the Last active time stamp to update, at least for me. But Facebook could be testing things on certain users, so this may not be true for everyone, or may change in the future.

Lastly, I can also report that logging into the Facebook Camera app, does not appear to update the Last Active time stamp, as of now. –  Answers  Jul 22nd, 2013 at 5:56 PM


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Can someone verify?

- I don't have FB messenger on both iphone and desktop.
- I don't have FB app on iphone
- I login via desktop mainly and mobile phone browser occasionally
- I have chat turned off

Questions:

1. Will my last active be visible to my friends list? I am sure I didn't see theirs. When I get a friend to login from his account (no FB messenger installed) via phone's and desktop's browser, they can't see mine too.

2. I didn't install anything or login using any of the apps, will my last active be visible to those who have installed the apps(regardless on phone or desktop)? That means app users can track my last active even though I don't use any of the FB apps?

3. I turned my chat off but recently someone seems to spot me online and drop me a msg immediately when I go online. I didn't ask the person if they are able to see me because I don't want to interact with them. I was using the desktop at that moment. Is that coincidence timing?

Hopefully someone who can help to verify the above.
Jul 23rd, 2013 at 8:50 AM
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If you have NEVER downloaded the facebook app or the messenger app, then you have NO timestamp next to your name. Never had, never will (unless you download the apps later) If you had downloaded any of these apps at any point and you just unistalled them, then you could have the timestamp. –  randomname  Jul 24th, 2013 at 11:28 PM


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Ok, I am "anonnnnn", who posted a couple of answers above, but from my account this time. It seems that facebook changed the thing I posted about the time stamp updating even when you visit facebook from your laptop. Now when I log in from my laptop, without opening the chat there, the timestamp does not update in my friends' point of view.

However, note that the timestamp had disappeared temporarily, because I hadn't used the app for more than 8 hours when my friends and I did this test tonight. A couple of weeks ago the stamp WOULD update in the same circumstances and I'm positive about this. In the next days we're going to do more tests and report back here. This thing is a mystery. If anyone has any other observations, please share.
Jul 26th, 2013 at 5:57 AM
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Finally I found it, and it's stupid simple. Log into your Desktop FB page, and turn off chat. Then go to your Facebook Mobile App and again make sure chat is off. If you turn chat on at either location, you will initiate an active time stamp, chat will be turned on both your phone desktop site, and it will record 1min and count up from there. And do not sign out of your Mobile app, or it will also produce a timestamp every time you log in. You can however log on and off your desktop and not produce a time stamp. Ditch FB Messenger app completely off your phone and use the FB Mobile app only. Messenger App, and the chat feature on your phone record a timestamp every time you open them. Keep chat off, and eventually after 8 or 10 or 12 hours, FB mobile stops the count, and a phone icon only will be produced next to your name with no time stamp.

1. Turn chat off all devices
2.Get rid of desktop and phone FB Messengers
3.Don't log out of your mobile app, close it when you're going off.
4. enjoy your freedom
Jul 31st, 2013 at 4:55 AM
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doesn't work. I uninstalled messenger app as you suggested, but still when I log in from the regular fb app the stamp updates, even when I close it after I'm done. –  randomname  Aug 10th, 2013 at 5:39 PM


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My girlfriend’s last seen on facebook keep showing as if she kept logging all day long, E.G it shows she has been online 10 minutes ago, then 1 min ago, then 5 min ago, then 2 min ago, then 40 min ago, then 1 min ago, but she claims she has not used the app in the entire day, not even once, that maybe she has opened facebook to view her timeline one or two times, she also said that maybe when she unlocks her screen it may trigger it or something. Is this possible?
Aug 8th, 2013 at 3:10 PM
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my timestamp has updated without me doing any activity (either on the app or from my pc) I was sleeping for the night (about 6 hours), then I woke up and before logging into my account to check my facebook, I logged into my dummy account to check the stamp and it read "2 hours ago" . I was freaking asleep! Only happened twice though. Now, from my observations, the stamp updates only when you log in from the app and when you log in from your computer but ONLY when you go online in the chat there. So, your girlfriend's stamp may not be accurate, or she ma be logging in from time to time from her app to check her facebook. –  randomname  Aug 10th, 2013 at 5:37 PM


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Is it possible for someone's phone to show on mobile if phone is off? To add if during this time you log into a computer then log back off it will bounce from online to on mobile to a time stamp
Aug 21st, 2013 at 6:56 PM
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I have a friend that has a mobile icon next to their facebook name. But AS SOON as they send me a message, the cell phone disappears and it turns into a green dot and then it turned into a mobile icon again..then it repeats. I wonder why?
Aug 23rd, 2013 at 2:37 AM
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Has anyone noticed that when you log in from your mobile facebook or messener app you automatically get the green dot = available on desktop chat next to your name from your friends's point of view? I just noticed. It's a recent change. What's next facebook!? You can turn it off in the settings. I just wanted to warn everyone.
Aug 29th, 2013 at 1:27 PM
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Quick question- I use the FB app and messenger app on my Android and it is usually pretty accurate. The last active time usually reflects the last time my friends have used their fb apps. I do however have a few international friends who's last active always shows as on mobile. Any idea why?
Also I have a friend who's last active only appears to update when she messages me using her chat app. For example, we last talked Saturday. Her last active shows as 1 day ago when we talked. Is this the last time she actually used the app or just the last time she spoke to me?
Oct 7th, 2013 at 3:15 PM
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You only will have time stamps for friends that you have active messages with. If both people delete the conversation, the time stamp will disappear.
Nov 9th, 2013 at 8:34 AM
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What about that... I rarely use Facebook aplication on mobile device. I never had before telephone near my name in FB chat. Now, I have telephone sign near my name and time (for every sign up in FB chat on computer it change my time). Problem is that I never use FB mobile aplication, always FB on my computer.

So, why I have time near my name? Any suggestions how to solve this problem?
Dec 18th, 2013 at 2:41 PM
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I would like to ask, using facebook mobile app, when you're inactive or idle, it will show how long ago you're active or online. But recently I couldn't see the how long ago time of my friend. What problem is it? Other friend is fine, only 1 particular friend doesn't show that how long ago time.
Feb 21st, 2014 at 5:06 PM
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I have deactivated the FB chat on my I-PHONE 4S and I'm still able to see others on my fav list when they are online with the green dot, or how long ago they were active on FB...
But I believe that they can see my FB activity too, even though I have deactivated the chat!
Is there a way to see them without them being able to see my activity on their I-PHONES?
May 18th, 2014 at 5:28 PM
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I have some issue with facebook chat too. My fb keeps going online and offline facebook at night and I do not feel comfortable with it cuz my boyfriend thinks I am awake at 3,4 am when I was asleep. Things is it is not always online like some people said but it went online then active 1 or 2 minutes ago. Is it weird? Anyone has the same problem?
May 29th, 2014 at 6:32 PM
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FB has blended all chat apps into the FB chat app. If you are active txting people on your phone, and running the fb app, you will be shown as no idle time. You can configure it to hide your activity, but tech smart people will not and you can find out easy if your partner is cheating on you.
Jun 17th, 2014 at 2:33 AM
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What are the chances after many days of research and watching very closely. .that my husband and best friend are constantly chatting to each other? Between face book spy, friendsonline, facebook messenger/fb chat...I have proved to myself that they are ..due to matching times I have recorded between all the above mentioned apps..it is way to often for this to be a coincidence! Please any advice to help me prove my husband is cheating again. I promised to work on my marriage one more time. But he has only gotten better at covering his tracks! I need the proof with out a doubt so I can get out of this marriage and be happy for the first time in my life..sick and tired of my life revolving around keeping tabs on my husband.
Aug 4th, 2014 at 8:29 PM
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Hi if apps are open in other devices, and are running at 3am in the morning will that make the chat state mobile active on chat, then two minutes later. Mobile active on chat two minutes ago? Really need an answer ASAP
Nov 19th, 2014 at 8:37 PM
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Probably, if the apps start running on the device, it certainly might update the last active time. From what I've seen, a person doesn't actually have to be using the facebook app, for the Time to update. –  Answers  Nov 19th, 2014 at 9:36 PM


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Just scroll up to above all your friends names - you will see a wheel type icon to the far right - tap and it will say turn off chat - tap that and nothing will show up!
Nov 23rd, 2014 at 4:52 PM
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i use fb in desktop and my friend use fb in mobile so my fb chat is turn off but he use fb in mobile so he watch me in active so how can turn off messenger totally
Jan 10th, 2015 at 2:01 PM
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You can turn the time stamp off in fb messenger.. just swipe to the left and click the on/off switch..
Feb 6th, 2015 at 1:00 AM
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if it is showing a time stamp with some of my friends, does it mean that they are texting or active on the messenger?
Feb 15th, 2015 at 6:44 PM
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I want to know if a friend is lying to me... I'll send them a message using the FB messenger app, and they tell me they're falling asleep... The message remains "unseen" by them, but their status according to FB messenger app states that they are "active". If the app were left open, but they really were asleep, would it state their status as "active", or are they really chatting it up with someone else in the app?! One time it showed that they were active for nearly 16 hours! And this person logs onto FB like 3-5 times a day... They're never constantly on FB, ever... So is this app just crazy or what?! Please help me ASAP!
Mar 25th, 2015 at 5:05 AM
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I have the Facebook app but I don't have Facebook messenger.
Does the time stamp show what time I was on my iPad Air or only on my iPhone?
This thing is ridiculous. What a major invasion of privacy, I can't stand it!
Mar 29th, 2015 at 9:31 PM
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Last week I sign in on my tablet, not in Facebook aplication just in Chrome browser. Until then I have always time near my name on chat. I have this time only 1 or 2 minutes then time dissapear but I am sign in on my laptop, not mobile device. Any solutions how to delete this?

Now I see that I have time near my name on chat if I am sign in on laptop, but if I sign in on tablet (in Chrome) have no time stamp. Looks like FB confused laptop and tablet, LOL. I have deleted all activity in settings, I change my password... what else can I do?
Apr 8th, 2015 at 7:56 AM
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Have someone sollution? I am 99% on FB on laptop but now it change timestamp everytime I just sign in. When I sign in on tablet there is no timestamp.
Apr 8th, 2015 at 7:22 PM
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the log in out time stamp
Dec 18th, 2016 at 11:30 AM
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Why is the time line stamp not showing the Active now sign
Aug 10th, 2017 at 8:02 AM
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When I open my messenger page, the profile picture bubble of my friend does not show a full size (big enough for me to see it) last active time for him or her. Instead, there is a very tiny number beside their profile pic saying
" 3....."
I never know if that 3 followed by three dots means 3 hours ago or 30 minutes ago.
Dec 16th, 2020 at 6:56 PM
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It’s active with a green dot anytime they go onto Facebook or on to messenger. It’s when they are actively looking at either. If they are liking posts or messaging is irrelevant. As soon as they close the app or messenger it will count the minutes they have been off. If you want to turn this off you go into settings and turn off the online status. It will however also turn off your ability to see when other people were last online also. Hope this helps.
Feb 9th, 2021 at 2:07 PM
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What does it means that a person was last active on Facebook messenger for 4 hours
Nov 17th, 2022 at 9:34 AM
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