The "Secret Conversation" feature of Facebook Messenger allows you to create encrypted messages between sender and recipient. This means that no one else (including Facebook) will be able to intercept the content of the message. Secret Conversations are only available on the Messenger app for iOS and Android. You can start a new secret conversation with a user or edit an existing conversation to make it secret.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Install and Update Facebook Messenger
Step 1. Open the app store on your Android or iOS device
To use encrypted messages on Facebook, you must first install and update the Messenger application on your Android or iOS device. You can download it from the device's app store.
If you have an iOS device, select the App Store. If you are using an Android device instead, select the Google Play Store
Step 2. Search for "Facebook Messenger"
This application should be the first to appear in the results list. Tap it to open it.
Step 3. Install Messenger if not done already
If you see the "Install" or "Get" button on the Messenger page, press it to install the application. The latest version will be installed automatically, with the Secret Conversation feature.
Step 4. Tap "Update" if an update is available
If the app store page dedicated to Messenger shows you the "Update" button, tap it to download and install the latest version.
If you only see the "Open" button on the page, it means that the application has already been installed and updated
Part 2 of 2: Using Secret Messages
Step 1. Open the Facebook Messenger application
Encrypted messages are only available on the Messenger app for iOS and Android. They are not available on the Facebook website or on the social network's mobile application.
Step 2. Open the conversation you want to encrypt
It is possible to turn any normal conversation into an encrypted one. However, you cannot encrypt group messages.
If you are using an iOS device, to activate the encryption you can press the "Secret" button, in the upper right corner when you start writing a new message. On Android, you will need to activate the key after you start typing your message
Step 3. Open the conversation details
You can do this by tapping the user's name at the top of the screen (iOS) or by pressing the ⓘ button in the top right corner (Android).
Step 4. Tap the "Open Secret Conversation" option
You will be prompted to activate Secret Conversations on your device.
You can only send and receive secret messages from one device at a time. As a result, once you've made a conversation secret, you'll always need to access it from the same device. To switch devices, you'll need to start a new secret conversation
Step 5. Start chatting within the encrypted conversation
Once you have activated a secret conversation, the other user will have to accept it. This means that the recipient will also have to use Messenger on an iOS or Android device. The feature may not be available to all users. Once the recipient accepts it, the conversation will be encrypted.
You can only attach images and stickers to encrypted messages. GIF, video, audio and call files are not supported
Step 6. Set a message timer
Press the timer button in the text box to select the duration of the messages. In this way, the message will be configured to clear itself automatically after a certain amount of time has elapsed since reading. This guarantees an additional degree of safety.
Step 7. Locate the encrypted messages
In the conversation list, secret chats have a lock icon next to the recipient's profile photo. You can have multiple conversations with one person, as secret conversations are separate from regular Facebook messages.
