How to Lock Your Facebook Messenger App: A Step-by-Step Guide

iswarya writes
Predict
Published in
3 min readAug 11, 2024

In today’s world, keeping our digital conversations secure is more important than ever. If you’re using Facebook Messenger and want an extra layer of privacy, you can lock your Messenger app with just a few simple steps. This method doesn’t require any third-party apps, making it quick and easy. Let’s dive into how you can set it up.

Photo by Farhat Altaf on Unsplash

Step-by-Step Tutorial to Lock Your Messenger App

1. Open the Messenger App

First things first, launch the Messenger app on your mobile device.

2. Access Your Profile Settings

Once you’re in the Messenger app, tap on your profile picture or the three horizontal lines menu located in the top left corner. This will open a sidebar menu.

3. Navigate to Settings

In the sidebar menu, tap on the Settings icon to proceed.

4. Go to Privacy and Safety

Scroll down until you find the Preferences section. Under this section, tap on Privacy and Safety.

5. Find the App Lock Option

On the Privacy and Safety screen, look for the Security section. Here, you will find and tap on App Lock.

6. Enable App Lock

You will be directed to a new screen where you can choose your preferred method of locking the app. You can opt for a PIN, password, or biometric authentication (fingerprint).

  • For Fingerprint Lock: Toggle the switch next to Lock with Biometrics to enable it. Messenger will prompt you to authenticate using your device’s fingerprint scanner. Place your finger on the fingerprint area of your device to register it.
  • For PIN or Password Lock: If you prefer using a PIN, tap on Unlock Another Way and then select Use PIN. Enter your device PIN to confirm and use it in Messenger.

7. Set Your Lock Timeout

After enabling your chosen lock method (fingerprint or PIN), you’ll need to set a timeout for when the Messenger app should lock. You can choose from options like:

  • Immediately after leaving Messenger
  • After 1 minute
  • After 15 minutes
  • After 1 hour

Choose the option that best suits your security needs.

8. Start Using Your Lock

Once you’ve configured your settings, Messenger will prompt you for your fingerprint or PIN every time you try to open the app based on your selected timeout setting.

Why Lock Your Messenger App?

Adding a lock to your Messenger app is a great way to ensure that your private conversations remain secure. Whether you’re sharing sensitive information or simply want to keep your chats safe from prying eyes, this simple step can give you peace of mind.

By following these steps, you’ll have an extra layer of protection for your Messenger app without needing any additional software. Stay secure and keep your conversations private!

If you found this guide helpful, don’t forget to like and share it with others. For more tips and tutorials, make sure to follow our blog.

Happy messaging!

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iswarya writes
Predict
Writer for

Iswarya | Growth, Cooking, Tech Enthusiast 🌱🍳📱