How to Add Anyone to Facebook Messenger

This article covers how to message both people you are and aren't friends with on Facebook Messenger as well as the contacts from your phone and people physically nearby. The information here applies to Messenger on iOS and Android devices.

You're Already Friends on Facebook

Facebook friends are automatically added to the Messenger app when you sign in to Messenger with your Facebook account login details. To start a conversation with a Facebook friend in Messenger:

1. Open Messenger.

2. From the Chats screen, tap the Compose Message icon on the top right. (This is shown as a square with a pencil in iOS apps and a pencil in the Android app.)

3. Type or select a contact's name.

4. Type your message in the text at the bottom.

5. Tap the Send icon.

You're Not Facebook Friends, But They Use Messenger

If you're not already friends on Facebook but you both use Messenger, exchange username links so you can communicate on Messenger. To send your username link:

1. Open Messenger and tap your profile picture in the top left corner of the screen.

2. Scroll down to find your username link.

3. Tap your username link and then tap Share Link from the list of options that appears.

4. Select how you want to share your username link (text, email, etc.) and send it to the person you want to add on Messenger.

5. When your recipient clicks on your username link, their Messenger app will open with your user listing and they can add you immediately.

6. The recipient would then tap Add on Messenger and you will receive a connection request to add them back.

They're Stored in Your Device's Contacts

Sync your mobile contacts with Messenger to communicate with them in the app. To do this, turn on Contact Uploading in Messenger.

1. From Chats, tap your profile picture in the top left corner.

2. Tap People.

3. Tap Upload Contacts to turn on continuous uploading of your mobile contacts.

   If you turn off Upload Contacts, the contacts you've uploaded to Messenger will automatically be deleted

You Know Their Phone Number

If you prefer not to sync your contacts with Messenger, or you have someone's phone number written down, but they are not stored in your device's contacts, add them to Messenger with their phone number.

1. From Chats, tap the People icon in the bottom menu.

2. Tap the Add People icon in the top right of the screen.

3. Tap Add icon.

4. When prompted, select Enter Phone Number.

5. Enter their phone number and tap Save. You'll be shown the corresponding Messenger user listing if Messenger detects one from the phone number you entered.

6. Tap Add on Messenger to add them. 

Meet Up in Person

If you're with someone and you want to add each other on Messenger, use any of the above options or take advantage of Messenger's user code feature (Messenger's version of a QR code), which makes adding people in person quick and painless.

1. Open Messenger and tap your profile picture in the top left corner.

2. Your user code is represented by the unique blue lines and dots that encircle your profile picture.

3. Have your friend open Messenger and navigate to the People tab.

4. Have your friend tap the Add icon and then tap Scan Code.

   They might need to configure their device settings to give Messenger permission to access the camera.

5. Have your friend hold their camera over your device with your user code open to automatically scan it and add you to Messenger. You'll receive a connection request to add them back.