Content

• Steps
• Advice

This article will show you how to know someone who is online (online) on Facebook Messenger or Chat. Your friends will show up as active if they open the Messenger app on their phone or turn on chat (chat on) while viewing Facebook.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: On mobile devices

1. 

   Open Facebook Messenger. If you aren't logged in, enter your username and password, then tap Log in (Log in).

2. 

   
   
   Press People (Everybody). This tab is located on the menu bar (menu) at the bottom of the screen.
   • For Android devices, this card is near the top of the screen.

3. 

   Press Active (Active). This will show all of your friends active on Messenger.
   • You can also find friends by typing text in the search bar above the screen. This will search for all of your friends on Messenger, active friends will have a small blue dot displayed next to your profile picture.
   • If your friend doesn't use messenger, their first name will not show up in the search list even though they are currently on Facebook.
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Method 2 of 2: On a web browser

1. 

   
   
   Access to Facebook from the browser. If you aren't logged in, enter your username and password, then tap Log in (Log in).

2. 

   Press Chat (Conversation). This option is in the lower right of the screen and a small popup will appear.

3. 

   
   
   Enter the name of the person you are looking for in the search box. The search results will be displayed in the chat box.

4. 

   Look for the green dot next to their name. If there is a green dot, they are online (online) and ready to chat.
   • Your friends can turn off the active status in chat box settings, then you won't be able to see them online.
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Advice

• You can view timestamps on your friends' posts to see when they are in action.
• You can't check someone's activity status without using chat or the messenger app.
• If your friends have hidden chat in their privacy settings or don't use chat, you won't be able to tell when they're active.