The fastest way to log out depends on your device
On a phone or tablet, open Facebook Messenger, tap your profile picture in the top left corner, scroll down and tap Log Out. On a computer, click your profile picture in the top left, then click Log Out from the menu. The app closes when ready and you are signed out of that device only — other devices where you are logged in stay active until you log out there too.
If you cannot find the logout button or the app is frozen, you can also log out through your Facebook account settings instead. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, scroll to where it says Where You're Logged In, find Messenger in the list, and click the three dots next to it to end that session.
Logging out from Messenger does not delete your messages or account. It only stops that device from accessing your account until you log back in with your password.
Key Takeaways
- On phones and tablets, tap your profile picture, scroll down, and tap Log Out to sign out when ready.
- On computers, click your profile picture in the top left corner and select Log Out from the dropdown menu.
- Logging out from one device does not log you out from other devices — you must log out of each one separately.
- If the logout button does not work, use your Facebook account settings under Where You're Logged In to end the session remotely.
- Your messages and account remain intact after logout; you are only removing that device's access.
Logging out on iPhone and Android
Open the Messenger app and look for your profile picture or initial in a circle at the top left of the screen. Tap it once. A menu will slide up from the bottom showing your name and account options.
Scroll down through this menu until you see the Log Out button near the bottom. Tap it. Messenger will ask you to confirm — tap Log Out again. The app closes and you are signed out. The next time you open Messenger, you will need to enter your phone number, email, or Facebook username and your password to get back in.
If your profile picture is not visible or the menu does not appear, try closing the app completely and reopening it. If the button still does not show, your phone may be running an older version of Messenger — update it from your app store and try again.
Logging out on Windows and Mac computers
In the Messenger website or desktop app, look for your profile picture or initial in a circle. On the website, this is usually in the top left corner. On the desktop app for Windows or Mac, it is also in the top left. Click it once.
A dropdown menu appears. Scroll down or look for Log Out at the bottom of this menu. Click it. You will be signed out when ready and the page will redirect to the login screen. On your next visit, you will need to enter your login details again.
If you are using Messenger in a web browser and the logout button does not work, try clearing your browser's cache and cookies, then refresh the page. If you are using the desktop app and logout is not working, uninstall the app, restart your computer, and reinstall it from the Microsoft Store or Mac App Store.
Logging out from multiple devices at once
If you own several devices or suspect someone else is using your account, you can end all sessions from your Facebook settings instead of logging out one device at a time. Go to facebook.com on any browser, click the downward arrow in the top right corner, and select Settings and Privacy, then Settings.
On the left side, click Security and Login. Under the section labeled Where You're Logged In, you will see a list of all devices currently signed into your account, including the browser, device type, and when it last connected. Find Messenger in this list.
Click the three dots next to the Messenger entry and select Log Out. This ends that session when ready without needing to touch the device itself. You can repeat this for every device you want to sign out of. This method is faster if you have many devices logged in or if you cannot physically access one of them.
What happens after you log out
Once you log out, that device can no longer access your Messenger account. You will not receive message notifications on that device, and you cannot read or send messages through it until you log back in. If you have Messenger notifications turned on in your phone's settings, those will stop appearing.
Your messages are not deleted. They remain on Facebook's servers and will be there when you log back in from any device. Your contacts, chat history, and profile information all stay the same. Logging out only removes that specific device's access — it does not change your account or erase anything.
If you log out and then want to log back in, open Messenger and enter your phone number, email address, or Facebook username along with your password. If you have two-factor authentication turned on, you will also need to enter a code from your authenticator app or receive one by text message.
Troubleshooting when logout is not working
If you tap or click Log Out and nothing happens, the app or browser may be having a temporary problem. Close Messenger completely — on a phone, swipe it away from your recent apps; on a computer, close the browser tab or quit the app. Wait a few seconds and open it again, then try logging out once more.
If logout still does not work on a phone, go to your device's Settings, find Messenger in the list of apps, and tap Storage or App Data. Select Clear Cache (not Clear Data, which will delete your login information). Then open Messenger again and try logging out.
On a computer, if the logout button is missing or greyed out, try using a different browser. Open facebook.com in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge — whichever you do not normally use — log in with your account, and log out from there. If that works, the problem is with your usual browser and clearing its cache should fix it.
If you cannot log out and suspect your account has been compromised, use the "Where You're Logged In" method described earlier to end all sessions from a different device or computer. Then change your Facebook password when ready.
Logging out versus deactivating or deleting your account
Logging out is temporary and reversible — you sign back in anytime with your password. Deactivating your account hides your profile and messages from others for a set time, but Facebook keeps your data and you can reactivate later. Deleting your account permanently removes your profile, messages, and most of your information after 30 days, though some data may remain in backups.
If you only want to stop using Messenger on one device, log out. If you want to take a break from Facebook and Messenger but keep your account, deactivate it. If you want to remove your account entirely, delete it. Each option is different and cannot be undone the same way, so choose based on what you actually want to do with your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does logging out of Messenger also log me out of Facebook?
No. Messenger and Facebook are separate logins even though they use the same account. You can be logged into Facebook but logged out of Messenger, or vice versa. You must log out of each one separately on each device.
Will my messages disappear after I log out?
No. Your messages stay on Facebook's servers. When you log back in from any device, all your conversations and message history will be there. Logging out only removes that device's access — it does not delete anything.
Can someone else see my messages if I log out?
No. Once you log out, that device cannot access your account or read your messages. If someone else has your password, they could log in separately, but logging out prevents that specific device from being used to view your account.
What if I forgot my password and cannot log back in?
Go to facebook.com and click Forgot Password on the login screen. Enter your phone number, email, or username. Facebook will send you a link to reset your password. Click the link, create a new password, and you can log back into Messenger with it.
Can I log out of Messenger on someone else's phone?
If you are logged into Messenger on someone else's device, open the app, tap your profile picture, scroll down, and tap Log Out. You will be signed out of that device only. If you want to make sure you are logged out of all devices, use the "Where You're Logged In" method from your Facebook settings on a device you control.