FB Messenger is great for discussion and direct communications. It is the best app to have relaxing conversations with your friends on Facebook. However, it can be frustrating if Messenger claims you have a message when you don’t.
As you know, one of the best features of this platform is chat heads (bubbles), which you can open immediately from your notification and interact with your friends.
So, notification is very important on FB Messenger. Users tend to check their Mobile Phone as soon as they get this. This is even more so if you are awaiting replies from your friend.
But what can you do if the notification is rigged? The app says that you have a new message, but after you open it, there is nothing to read.
Many people are complaining about this issue. This situation can waste users’ time, and getting pranked by an application is very irritating.
So, this blog will discuss why Messenger says you have a message when you don’t and how to fix it completely. Meanwhile, let’s also learn to send long videos on Messenger if you want.
Table Of Contents
Why does Facebook Messenger say I have a Message?
Usually, you will get a notification from your Messenger app whenever someone texts or send you a message. This is meant to alert you to see and reply to them as soon as possible.
And this helps the users too. With notifications, we don’t need to open the app continuously and check manually every time. The reminders feature is very important, especially in chat applications.
But sometimes, you will see a notification that you have new texts. And when you press it open on your Smartphone, there are no new messages.
So, to save yourself from wasting time and prevent the app from pranking you, you need to know the reason and fixes for this issue.
Before looking for solutions, let’s first properly understand why Messenger says you have a message.
1. Delayed Notifications
Sometimes, you may be faster than your Smartphone (Android or iOS). You may have already viewed and replied to a message, but the notification is late.
This happens if you have poor internet and the application is late to register your action. Furthermore, old devices may also cause such issues.
So, you may have seen the texts while offline (due to a poor network or connection), and you will receive late notifications once connected. Therefore, the cause of this issue can be your internet or device or both.
2. Unread Messages
Another reason for getting a false notification on Messenger is that you have some unread messages. If you open a notification or app but don’t read the message, then after a while, you may get a reminder.
Also, sometimes looking at a text from a friend offline may not be registered as read. So, you should carefully look at your conversations to see if you miss anything while online.
3. App Glitches or Bugs
FB Messenger is not without bugs and glitches. This is especially the case with notifications alerts. Notification delays, sudden influx of reminders, and no alerts are common issues in this app.
Therefore, despite Messenger claiming that you have received a message, there is nothing you can do as a result of bugs and flaws in the application itself. Sometimes, it may be easily solved by cleaning cache files, but other times it may require further solutions.
Also Read: What Does “This Person Is Unavailable” on Messenger?
4. Message Request
Another thing that can confuse you is a message request. If someone is not your friend on FB but still sending you a message on Messenger, it will first appear as a request.
However, you will still receive notifications, even if it is only a request. So, you should check your account for such texts to avoid confusion.
To find such a chat, tap the hamburger menu from the upper left corner and select the “Message requests” option. You can now see them to avoid receiving notifications about it again.
5. Facebook Marketplace Notification
If you are actively using the FB Marketplace, then the notifications from the Messenger app may be related to this.
It can be about the review, product availability, offer, counter offer,s, etc. Facebook may send you reminders as a message on some products that you are interested in.
Usually, when you press the notification, they will disappear afterward. So, remember to check the Marketplace to avoid having this issue.
6. Group Mention or Reply
Sometimes, you may get mentioned in a Group chat by someone. They can do this to reply to your previous texts or draw your attention.
Normally, you will see these messages after clicking the notification. However, if the other party deleted that mention before you do so, you may find it empty. So, this may confuse you.
How do I fix FB Messenger keeps saying I have a message when I don’t
There are many easy fixes to false notification issues on the Messenger app. Since the issues are usually related to a temporary error with a device or app, you can quickly fix them without wasting time.
So, let’s go over each solution one by one to solve this problem once and for all.
1. Check your Unread Messages
When encountering this kind of issue on Messenger, the first thing is to see if any unread messages remain on your account.
Sometimes, one unread message can continuously send you reminders even if you clear that notification. So, go through your conversation box and open the unread chat to clear this issue.
You can find the unread chat by looking at the brighter username and messages on your conversation box. Additionally, you can also long-press the username and select the “Mark as read” option.
2. Clear FB Messenger Notifications
Some people have the habit of cluttering their notification panel. If you open the app and reply to a message but don’t bother to clean the alert, it is easy to get confused.
Hence, it is always a good idea to clear a reminder once you look at it.
So, if you don’t want to get baffled by old notifications on your device, you should clear them up as soon as you view them on the app.
3. Check Message Requests
You should always check message requests to avoid getting false notifications. You can easily get confused since this kind of text isn’t visible in the regular conversation box.
So, open the Messenger app, tap the hamburger menu from the top left corner, and press the “Message request” from the menu. Now, you should read, reply or delete each of them to avoid having issues later.
4. Clear the Messenger App Cache
If the problem is the app glitch and bugs, you can clear the FB Messenger cache on your Mobile Phone to solve this problem.
For Android, long-press the Messenger icon from the home screen and tap the “App info” or “i” option. Now, you can press the “clear cache” option from the lower right corner.
For iOS (iPhone or iPad), go to Settings >> General >> Storage >> Messenger. Now, press the “Offload app” button.
After cleaning such files, your notification issues should be solved.
5. Update the Messenger App
Old versions of the application are prone to issues. So, you should always update an app whenever you encounter trouble.
Therefore, update the Messenger app on Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS), and this problem may get solved immediately.
6. Reinstall the Messenger App
If the issue is with corrupted data or incomplete installation of the app, you should delete such an app from your device. Such situations won’t get solved without downloading fresh data.
So, press the Messenger icon on the home screen and select “Uninstall” or “Remove.” Now, go to the Play Store or App Store and reinstall the application on your Phone. Don’t worry; you won’t lose any data by reinstalling this app.
7. Restart your Device
Like any app, the Phone also operates on software. So, it is reasonable for it to crash, have bugs and glitches. And it may affect certain features on Messenger, like notifications.
To prevent this, you should restart your device whenever you encounter such false notifications. It is also an excellent decision to update your Android or iOS to the latest version. They generally fix bugs and glitches in the previous edition.
8. Try Contacting Facebook
If nothing is working from the above fixes, maybe it is time to contact the Facebook support team. Though it isn’t guaranteed that you will receive proper guidance, it is still worth a try.
You can also switch to FB Messenger Lite instead of its main app. This may temporarily solve this irritating issue.
How do I find Unread Messages on Messenger?
Unread Messages on Messenger can cause false notification issues. So, you should find them and make a read to solve it.
To find the unread Messages, you can use both a Smartphone (Android or iOS) or a PC (Windows or Mac).
For Smartphones, you can look at the brighter or bold names and text in your inbox. Remember, when you read a message, it will turn to a dim grey color.
If you have enabled the dark mode on Messenger, then unread messages will appear brighter than the rest. Otherwise, it will appear in a bold color in light mode.
Once you find such a conversation, long press it and select the “Mark as read” option.
If you are on a PC, besides the same effect on a Smartphone, you will see blue dots next to the unread messages. So it is easier to find them using a computer or laptop.
Remember, don’t forget to check the unread messages on the Marketplace, Message requests, and Archive folder on your Messenger account. You will find it on the left side (for PC) or by tapping the hamburger menu from the upper left corner.
FAQs
FB Messenger says you have a message, but you don’t can be because of unread messages, bugs, glitches, Marketplace notifications, message requests, and so on.
Yes, Messenger will show a message notification for group chats. It can be a normal message or a mention. However, you can still turn off this notification as you like.
If you are still having problems with Messenger even after applying the common fixes, then you should change your device. If another device is performing well, then it may be your Phone’s problem. You should ask for professional technician helps in such cases.
Wrapping Up
To summarize, you cannot completely eliminate the problems with the Messenger app. There is always the possibility of encountering many, and false notifications are only one of them.
However, if you regularly update your app, clear the app cache, and do not leave any unread messages, you should not experience such false notification issues.
Overall, that’s all we have to dispel your doubt. If you are interested, let’s also learn the solution for Messenger not ringing problem.
