Group texts on Facebook Messenger can be useful for staying in touch with friends, family, or coworkers. However, sometimes group chats can get overwhelming with constant notifications and irrelevant conversations. If you want to remove yourself from a group text on Messenger, there are a few simple steps you can take.
Leave the Group Chat
The easiest way to stop getting notifications from a group text is to simply leave the conversation. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the group chat you want to leave.
- Tap on the group name at the top of the chat window.
- Tap on “Leave Group” in the menu that pops up.
Once you leave the group, you’ll stop receiving any notifications or messages from that chat. Keep in mind that leaving the group chat doesn’t delete the conversation for the other participants – it just removes you from it. They can still continue the conversation without you.
Mute the Conversation
If you don’t necessarily want to leave the group chat completely but want to stop getting so many notifications, you can mute the conversation instead. Here are the steps to mute a group chat on Messenger:
- Open the group chat.
- Tap on the group name at the top of the screen.
- Toggle “Mute Conversation” on.
Muting the chat will stop notifications from coming through for that specific conversation. You can unmute it at any time to start receiving notifications again.
Customize Notification Settings
You can also customize your Messenger notification settings to further control which notifications you receive from group chats versus direct messages or other alerts. Here’s how:
- Go to the Menu tab in Messenger.
- Tap on “Settings”.
- Tap on “Notifications”.
- Adjust the notification settings for group chats as desired.
From here, you can toggle notifications on or off for group messages specifically. You can also customize whether previews of group messages appear in notifications and whether they make a sound/vibrate. Adjust these settings to your preferences to reduce annoying group chat notifications.
Turn Off Chat Heads
Facebook Messenger’s “Chat Heads” feature displays an icon of a person’s face when they message you, that floats over other apps. Tap the Chat Head to quickly view the message. While some find this useful, the constant Chat Heads popping up from group messages can be disruptive.
You can turn off Chat Heads entirely by following these steps:
- Go to the Menu tab in Messenger.
- Tap on “Settings”.
- Tap on “Chat Heads”.
- Toggle “Chat Heads” off.
With Chat Heads disabled, you won’t see icons floating over your screen when new messages come in. You’ll only be notified by badges, sounds or vibration based on your other notification settings.
Leave Chats That Aren’t Important
Evaluate all of your current Messenger group chats and decide which ones are really worth staying in. If there are group conversations that are irrelevant or that you haven’t interacted with in a long time, consider leaving them altogether.
It’s easy for group chats to pile up over time, especially if they get created for one-time purposes like planning a party or event. Leaving obsolete chats helps clean up your inbox and reduces unnecessary notifications.
Ask to Leave Large Groups
In very large group chats such as 50+ people, it’s reasonable to ask the admin or person who started the chat to remove you. They likely won’t notice if you leave yourself, and it avoids an awkward confrontation.
A simple message such as “Hey, could you please remove me from this group chat? Appreciate it, thanks!” is fine in most cases. If the admin asks why, you can politely explain you’re trying to reduce the number of notifications you receive.
Use Do Not Disturb Mode
Android and iOS devices have “Do Not Disturb” modes that silence most notifications for a designated period of time. You can activate this when you don’t want to be disturbed by group chat alerts.
On an iPhone, swipe up to open Control Center and tap the moon icon to enable Do Not Disturb. On Android, open the notification shade and tap the Do Not Disturb toggle.
Schedule Do Not Disturb for bedtime hours or times when you need to focus. Just don’t forget to disable it again when you do want to receive notifications.
Try Messenger Kids
If the group chat you want to leave is mostly used by family or close friends, suggest trying Facebook Messenger Kids instead. This is a version of Messenger designed for children under 13.
Messenger Kids gives parents control over who kids can talk to and doesn’t have ads or in-app purchases. Because it’s designed for smaller groups of friends and family, group chats tend to be more intimate and focused.
It likely makes sense for only certain situations, but Messenger Kids is an option if overwhelming group chats are an issue.
Conclusion
Group chats on Messenger can sometimes spiral out of control with constant updates. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, try leaving group conversations you’re not interested in, customizing notifications, or using Do Not Disturb mode. With a few adjustments, you can take control over your Messenger group messages.
At the end of the day, communication and polite conversation is the best policy if you want to remove yourself from a chat. Explain why you’d like to leave in a kind, direct way. And if you’re the admin of a chat, understand if someone asks to be removed and grant their request promptly.
With some extra care and consideration, Messenger can remain a great way to stay connected in moderation. Follow these tips to minimize frustration while still enjoying all the benefits of group messaging.
Here are some additional frequently asked questions about leaving Messenger group chats:
Can I delete a Messenger group chat that I created?
Yes, if you created a Messenger group chat, you have the ability to delete it entirely. Here’s how:
- Open the group chat.
- Tap on the group name at the top.
- Tap “Delete Chat”.
- Confirm that you want to delete the chat.
This will permanently delete the conversation and remove it for all participants. Use this feature with caution!
Can I get removed from a Facebook Messenger group chat?
Yes, if you’ve joined a group chat that someone else created, the admin of that chat has the ability to remove you from it.
If you are removed from a chat, you will no longer be able to view the conversation or receive any messages from the group.
What happens when I leave a Messenger group chat?
When you leave a group chat that you’ve joined, you’ll no longer receive any messages or notifications from that conversation. However, the chat itself will remain intact for all other participants. They can continue chatting without you.
So leaving just removes you personally – the chat goes on without you as a member.
Can I rejoin a Messenger group chat after leaving?
In most cases, yes. After leaving a group chat, you can rejoin the conversation as long as you’re still friends on Messenger with at least one current participant.
To rejoin a chat you’ve left:
- Open a 1-on-1 chat with someone in the group.
- Ask them to add you back into the group chat.
As long as one person adds you back, you’ll be able to participate again. However, in very large groups run by admins, you may need an admin to re-add you once you’ve left.
How do I turn off Messenger group chat notifications on my phone?
You have a couple options for turning off or customizing group chat notifications on your mobile device:
- Open Messenger, tap your profile pic > Settings > Notifications and adjust the “Group Chats” section.
- Or go to your main phone Settings > Notifications > Messenger and customize preferences here.
On an iPhone, you can also use Do Not Disturb to silence Messenger notifications for a designated timeframe.
What’s the maximum number of people allowed in a Messenger group chat?
According to Facebook, the current maximum participants allowed in a Messenger group conversation is 250. So any group chat can have up to 250 members.
However, managing conversations and sending messages quickly becomes difficult in extremely large chats. For most practical purposes, groups of 50 or less tend to work best.
Can I leave a Messenger group chat without anyone knowing?
No, there is no “invisible” way to leave a Messenger group chat. When you tap “Leave Group”, it will show for all participants that you have left the conversation.
If you want to leave a group more discreetly, consider asking the admin to remove you instead of leaving yourself. But there is no way to exit a chat without anyone noticing.
What happens if I delete a Messenger group chat?
When you delete a Messenger group chat that you’ve created, it is permanently erased and inaccessible to all participants.
So only delete a group if you are certain you and all members are done with the conversation. Deleting cannot be undone!