Archiving Facebook Messages Just Got a Lot Easier
Facebook recently announced a number of new features for Messenger and Instagram DM in their apps. Multimedia messaging is now simplified, chats are easier to archive (and unzip), and DM on Instagram now has read receipts. Let’s explore all the new features and how to use them.
Simplified Messenger and Instagram audio messaging
Audio messaging in Messenger (and soon Instagram) no longer requires you to hold down a button to record – they are now enabled with a single tap.
- While in Messenger chat (or soon on the DM thread on Instagram), tap the microphone icon at the bottom of the screen. If this is your first time sending an audio message, allow the app to record your phone’s microphone.
- Record your message.
- Click the arrow to submit the clip, or the trash can to delete it.
The changes apply to both iOS and Android.
Faster archiving of chat on Messenger
Messenger has a new archiving gesture on iOS and Android to help you organize your inbox easier.
On the Messenger inbox screen, swipe left or right on the conversation to archive it. Archived chats are sent to a new “Archived Chats” section in the app.
To view your archived messages:
- Tap your profile photo to open an additional menu.
- Select Archived Chats.
You can click on the archived chat to send a new message and continue the conversation, or send it back to the list of active chats.
Archived chats are automatically returned to your list of active chats if you send a new message to the same contacts or if they write to you.
Photo and video replies for Instagram
Instagram users on iOS can now reply to private messages with images and videos. Android will soon receive this feature too.
- Start a conversation from your private Instagram messages.
- Select the camera icon from the message composer menu.
- Take a new photo or video (or select one from your phone’s camera roll) and send a message.
New visual effects
This recent feature release for Messenger and Instagram has several new app themes, camera stickers and small updates that are available for both iOS and Android:
- In honor of the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community, a new collection of free camera stickers is now available. Stickers are available in the collection of stickers main Messenger applications and in the Children’s Annex Messenger .
- Messenger and Instagram have two new app themes based on Star Wars and Selena TV Series. To enable them, open the conversation settings menu, then go to Theme and select the one you want to use.
- DMs on Instagram now have read receipts, so you know if the person has seen your posts or deliberately left you in limbo.
All of these new features will be available on supported platforms in the coming days and weeks.