There’s something cool in encrypted messages that a hero receives in any spy movie, and being on the receiving end yourself may bring that very same feeling. One thing you shouldn’t forget, though, is that Facebook Messenger allows them to have a self-destruct timer, so riding the high of being sort of a spy forever is impossible.
Or is it?
Today, we’ll share everything there is to know about secret conversations on Messenger! Starting with explaining what they are, we’ll move to a guide on how to start them and how to view secret conversations on Messenger. Whether they are hidden in your account, stored on another device, or accidentally deleted, a Messenger tracker or a few other methods will help you view them. Read on!
What Are Secret Conversations on Messenger?
If you have any friends on Facebook (as you probably do), Secret Conversations is a place where you can talk in a completely private and closed-off chat. This encrypted space is off-limits to anyone else – even Facebook itself! – except for you and your friend, making it perfect for those who want to keep conversations as secret as possible.
The thing is, you don’t have to use Secret Conversations. If you’re just chatting casually, regular Messenger is fine, and Meta did announce that Facebook and Messenger will have their conversations encrypted no matter what. But when you’ve got something a little more personal to say, it’s nice to have the option. Especially if it means that:
- It’s for your eyes only: One thing to know: Secret Chats stay on the device where you started them, so cross-platforming from tablet to a phone is not an option. Yes, it’s kind of annoying if you use multiple devices, but it’s a security thing.
- Bye-bye messages: This is our favorite part! You can set a timer for your messages to self-destruct. Whether it’s 5 seconds or a full day, once the timer’s up, poof – they’re gone. Sometimes, you just don’t want things sticking around, you know?
- No fancy extras: This isn’t the place for sending GIFs, memes, or starting a group chat. Yeah, it’s basic, but in a good way – you will be able to focus strictly on the other person.
- That little padlock icon: It will appear next to the person’s name so you won’t forget there’s a secret conversation going on. Plus, Messenger will occasionally nudge you with a “this is secure” message – just in case you forget.
- Silent notifications: Worried someone’s gonna glance at your phone screen and see your secret plans? Don’t be. Notifications for Secret Chats are super vague, so no one can figure out what’s up just by glancing.
How to Start a Secret Conversation
While technicalities are fun and all, learning how to use them is even better – and this is why we created this quick step-by-step guide about starting secret conversations on your own:
- Check if your device is compatible: While both Android and iOS support secret conversations, having the latest version of the Messenger app is the most reasonable idea (you should update your apps regularly). For secret conversation’s sake – updating means your security features (like end-to-end encryption) are also staying up-to-date.
- Turn on Secret Conversations: Tap your profile picture in the top-left corner, scroll down, find the “Secret Conversations” option, and turn it on.
- Start a Secret Conversation: Pick a friend on FB, tap their name, and select “Start Secret Chat”, which will open a new encrypted thread.
- Use the self-destruct timer: Want to make your chats even more secure? Use the self-destruct timer. Inside a secret conversation, you can set a timer to make messages disappear after they’re read.
How Can You Access Secret Conversations?
When you talk to people secretly, there’s always an off-chance that you will misplace, forget, or just accidentally delete the chat that contains important information. You won’t be able to get it through usual means. Or you may need to sneak a peek at your child’s or spouse’s secret FB chats. Is there a way to access a secret conversation? We’re glad you asked!
uMobix – Advanced Phone Tracker for Viewing Secret Chats on Messenger and Social Media
Using a reliable phone tracker is a necessity for parents nowadays – especially if you are bringing up a troublesome teen with unlimited access to Facebook Messenger. Can you guarantee that they are safe? Do you know for a fact who they are talking to? Probably not. And uMobix https://umobix.com can answer every concern you have! It monitors messengers, social media, browser history, texts, calls, and much more – 40+ features on offer.
It’s easy to install – only a few minutes for Android and whatever time it takes to process your kid’s iCloud credentials for an iPhone – and it’s completely stealthy, running silently in the background of your kid’s phone without any chance of them detecting it. Plus, Facebook Messenger tracker will allow you to:
- Read every message: This does indeed include deleted ones, so nothing will slip your watchful eye.
- Access secret conversations: The reason you’re reading this article! uMobix sends you every message to your userspace. You will see every hidden conversation (if any) and make sure your child isn’t in any danger.
- Track media files: Lots of things can be shared through Facebook Messenger, and now you will be able to see every media file – photo, video, you name it. Useful if you suspect that your kid can be exposed to any unwanted content.
- View contact info: Now, you’ll be able to tell exactly who your kid is talking to online! uMobix’s Facebook Messenger spy lets you check the contact info of their friend list and view their profiles as needed.
Finding Hidden Messages in Messenger Chats
If you’re the type of person who prefers to DIY their problems, then finding your hidden messages yourself is a way to go. Obviously, you’d have to reach Chats first, and after that – the finagling begins. It isn’t hard, though! Just follow the quick instructions below, and you’ll get your secret messages in no time.
- Head to the chats screen: Your normal conversations exist in the “Chat” space, so head there first. Secret chats are an exception, so don’t panic if they’re missing.
- Look for the lock icon: Secret conversations are marked with a lock icon, so keep an eye out for that little symbol next to the chat. It’s the giveaway that the chat is encrypted and private. If you see the lock, you’ve found what you’re looking for. If not, then it’s a regular chat and not a secret one.
- Use the search bar: If you’re having trouble finding a secret chat by scrolling, don’t forget about the search bar at the top of the screen. Just type in the name of the person or a keyword from the chat, and Messenger will pull it up for you. It’s a quick way to find hidden conversations, especially if they’re not showing up in your main chat feed.
Restoring Deleted Secret Conversations
So it happened. Your finder slipped, or you made the message self-destruct too quickly, or you just can’t find it in Chats under its usual lock and key – it might as well be deleted. Now what? You still can restore this secret conversation! Check out the step-by-step guide below to learn exactly how it’s done:
- Select “Archived Threads”: This is where all your archived chats are stored, so there’s a high chance that you’ll find your archived (or deleted) secret conversation here. You can find this option in Settings.
- Scroll through Archived Messages: All your archived conversations will be listed here, so just scroll through and see if you can find the conversation you’re missing.
- Unarchive the conversation: When you find the conversation you’re looking for, just tap on it to open it up. When you do, the conversation will automatically be unarchived and will show up in your main chat list again. Boom, it’s back where it belongs!
- Check your spam folder (just in case): If you haven’t found the conversation in the archive, don’t give up just yet. It might’ve been sent to your spam folder by mistake. To check, head back into your settings and look for an option called “Spam” or something similar. If you find it there, just unmark it as spam, and it’ll go back to your main chat list.
- Look for any new notifications: Still can’t find it? Check your notifications to see if the person sent you a new message. If they did, the conversation might have popped back up in your main feed automatically. That could be your ticket to getting it back.
Conclusion
Secret conversations on Messenger are a great thing, but the inability to access them may become a pain. This is why learning how to view them no matter what is so important! You can find them in Chats, Archive, or Spam, or even take it a step further and use a tracking app like uMobix to access any Facebook message you need – send, received, deleted, and hidden alike. The phone tracker will let you view not only Messenger but every activity on the target device remotely and anonymously. Finding your own way is what makes it all fun, so we wish you good luck and happy monitoring!