The quickest way to log out of Messenger
Open Messenger on your Android phone and tap your profile picture in the top left corner. Scroll down to the bottom of the menu and tap Log Out. Confirm when the app asks if you're sure. You'll be signed out when ready, and the next time you open Messenger, you'll see the login screen.
This removes your account from the app but does not delete your messages or account history. Your conversations remain on Meta's servers and will reappear if you log back in with the same account.
If you can't find your profile picture or the Log Out button doesn't appear, your phone may be running an older version of Messenger. Update the app from the Google Play Store and try again.
Key Takeaways
- Tap your profile picture in the top left of Messenger, scroll to the bottom, and select Log Out to sign out when ready.
- Logging out removes access from your phone but keeps all your messages and account data stored on Meta's servers.
- If you log back in later with the same account, your full message history will be there.
- Logging out is different from deleting your account — it only removes the app's access to your account on that phone.
What happens to your messages when you log out
Your messages do not disappear when you log out. They stay stored in your Messenger account on Meta's servers. No one else can read them from your phone because the app no longer has access to your account, but the messages themselves are not deleted.
If you log back in on the same phone or a different device using the same account, all your conversations will load again exactly as they were. The other people in those conversations can still see them on their end — logging out only affects what appears on your device.
When to log out versus when to just close the app
Close the app if you're just stepping away for a few minutes or hours. Closing Messenger doesn't sign you out — it just stops the app from running. You stay logged in, and notifications will still come through.
Log out if you're handing your phone to someone else, selling it, or giving it to a repair shop. Logging out prevents anyone with physical access to your phone from opening Messenger and reading your messages without your password. It's the only way to fully disconnect your account from that device.
You should also log out if you suspect someone has unauthorized access to your phone or if you're using a shared device that other people in your household use regularly.
If you're logged out but Messenger keeps asking for your password
Sometimes after logging out, Messenger will prompt you to log back in every time you open it, even if you don't want to. This usually means the app has cached your login information. Clear the app's cache by going to Settings on your phone, finding Apps or process Manager, selecting Messenger, and tapping Storage or Clear Cache. Do not tap Clear Data, which will delete your local message copies.
If the password prompt continues after clearing the cache, uninstall Messenger completely and reinstall it from the Google Play Store. This removes all stored login data and gives you a fresh start.
Logging out without losing your account
Logging out of Messenger is not the same as deleting your account. Your account remains active on Meta's servers, and you can log back in anytime with your username and password. All your messages, photos, and conversation history stay intact.
If you want to permanently delete your Messenger account instead, you'll need to go through Meta's account deletion process on a computer or through the Facebook app. That process takes about 30 days and cannot be undone. Logging out is reversible — you can always sign back in.
Logging out on a phone you no longer use
If you're getting rid of an old Android phone, log out of Messenger before you hand it over, sell it, or recycle it. After you log out, go to Settings, Apps, and uninstall Messenger if you want to remove it completely. This ensures the next person who uses that phone cannot access your account.
If you've already given away the phone without logging out, you can still protect your account by changing your Messenger password from another device. Go to Facebook.com, click the menu icon, select Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Password and Security, and change your password. This will log you out of Messenger on all devices, including the old phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does logging out delete my messages?
No. Your messages stay on Meta's servers and will reappear when you log back in. Logging out only removes the app's access to your account on that specific phone.
Can someone else see my messages after I log out?
Not from your phone. Once you log out, no one can open Messenger on your device and read your conversations without your password. The other people in your chats can still see the messages on their own devices.
What's the difference between logging out and clearing the app cache?
Logging out disconnects your account from the app and removes your login information. Clearing the cache removes temporary files the app stored but keeps you logged in. You need to log out to fully disconnect your account from the phone.
If I log out, will I stop getting Messenger notifications?
Yes. Once you log out, Messenger cannot send you notifications because the app no longer has access to your account. You'll only receive notifications again after you log back in.
Can I log out of Messenger without logging out of Facebook?
No. Messenger and Facebook use the same login on Android. If you log out of Messenger, you'll also be logged out of the Facebook app. You'll need to log back in to both apps separately.