Facebook Messenger has evolved into much more than just a platform for chatting. Among its many features, Facebook allows users to post and view “Stories”—quick, temporary updates that disappear after 24 hours. Although many people enjoy seeing updates from friends and family, there are times when you may prefer to mute someone’s stories without unfriending or blocking them. On the flip side, you might want to unmute someone whose content you previously silenced. Understanding how to manage these settings is crucial for a better and more personalized experience on the platform.
Why Mute Stories on Facebook Messenger?
Messenger stories often include personal moments, promotions, or daily activities. While they can be informative or entertaining, they sometimes become overwhelming or irrelevant. Muting someone’s stories does not notify them, making it a discreet way to declutter your feed.
Some common reasons to mute stories include:
- Too many posts – Overly active users may flood your feed.
- Irrelevant content – Their updates may not interest you.
- Temporary preference – You might want a break from certain updates without making permanent changes.
How to Mute Stories on Facebook Messenger
Muting stories takes only a few steps and can be done both through the Messenger app and the Facebook app itself.
Using the Messenger App:
- Open the Messenger app on your mobile device.
- At the top of the screen, locate the stories carousel where users’ profile icons appear.
- Find the person whose story you want to mute.
- Press and hold their profile picture.
- From the pop-up menu, tap “Mute Story”.
- Confirm your choice if prompted.
Using the Facebook App:
- Open the Facebook app and tap on the watch or stories section.
- Find the story you’d like to mute.
- Tap on the three dots in the corner of the story preview.
- Select “Mute [User’s Name]’s Story”.
Once muted, you won’t see the user’s story updates in your feed, although you can still send and receive messages from them as usual.
How to Unmute Stories on Facebook Messenger
If you decide to start seeing updates from a muted user again, the unmuting process is just as simple.
Using the Messenger App:
- Launch the Messenger app.
- Tap on your profile icon in the top-left corner of the home screen.
- Scroll down and select “Story”.
- Tap on “Muted Stories”.
- Find the person you want to unmute, then tap “Unmute” next to their name.
Using the Facebook App:
- Go to your Settings in the Facebook app.
- Scroll to “Stories Settings”.
- Select “Muted Stories”.
- Choose the account you want to unmute and tap “Unmute”.
After following these steps, the user’s stories will once again be visible at the top of your feed.
Important Notes
- Muting a story only hides stories from a specific user. You can still chat and interact via messages.
- Muting does not block or unfriend the individual on Facebook or Messenger.
- The person whose stories you mute is not notified of the action.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to mute and unmute stories on Facebook Messenger gives you greater control over your social media environment. It allows you to curate your daily experience without hurting feelings or making drastic changes to your friend list. Whether you choose to mute temporarily or long-term, or later decide to unmute, these flexible options make Facebook Messenger a more user-friendly platform for everyone.