Facebook Messenger tips and tricks everyone should know

Kathmandu, Jan 28: With more than 700 million people using it every month, Facebook Messenger is one of the most popular apps in the world. However, the app does much more than just messaging. You can use it to make voice and video calls, or share your location with those you're talking to.

And hey, you don't need a Facebook account to use Messenger! Here are some Facebook Messenger features you may not know about:

Make voice and video calls for free over the Internet

Messenger isn't just for sending text. The app supports voice and video calls over the Internet, which means you don't need a traditional phone plan to speak to someone or have a video chat with them. To call someone who has the Messenger app installed on their phone, tap the video or phone icon in the top right of the message window next to their name.

Share your location

When you're in a conversation, tap the three-dots button in the bottom right corner and then tap "Location." You can choose to share your current location or a pin somewhere else on a map.

Use other apps in Messenger for sending stuff like GIFs

Apps like Giphy and ESPN integrate directly into Messenger. This means you can use Giphy to quickly share a GIF or share sports memes and highlights from ESPN. To see a list of all the apps you have access to, tap the three dots — in the bottom right corner — in a message thread.

Use Messenger from Facebook's web app

Did you know that Facebook Messenger has a web app for the desktop? Just log in to messenger.com.

You don't actually need a Facebook account to use Messenger

You don't actually need a Facebook account to use Messenger. Earlier this year Facebook made it possible to sign up for Messenger with just a phone number. You can create a Messenger account from the mobile app or website.

Similarly, to chat with friends, they don't have to be on Facebook either. You can simply add their phone numbers in your contact list and begin chatting with them instantly.

Mute a conversation

If you'd rather not be annoyed by notifications from a message thread, you can mute the conversation without leaving it. Just tap the name of the person or group you're messaging at the top of the screen and then tap "Notifications." You'll be able to mute the thread for a certain amount of time or indefinitely.

Organize your group messages

A section of the Messenger app you probably don't use is Groups. But if you deal with a lot of threads with multiple people, the tab is a great way to organize your conversations. You can pin them in a grid view and create new groups with a dedicated picture and name.

Delete messages one-by-one

If you don't want to delete entire conversation thread, you don't have to, instead, you can go to the single message to delete one by one. Go to the message and hold it until "Delete" option appears but keep in mind you won't be able to undo this action.

Check if your message has been read

Facebook Messenger will show you if your friend has received and read any messages you send. Just look for the circle icon that appears to the right of your display: A blue circle means your message is sending; a blue circle with a check means your message has been sent; a filled-in blue circle with a check means your message has been delivered; and a small version of your friend or contact's photo will pop up below the message when they've read it.

Eventually you'll be able to use "M," Facebook's futuristic virtual assistant

Facebook is working on its own virtual assistant called M that will work directly in Messenger. Think of it like Siri, but more powerful. It will help you make restaurant reservations, buy stuff as if you were using Amazon, contact the DMV, book vacations, and more. Right now, Facebook M is only available to a small group of people using the Messenger app in the San Francisco Bay area, but the social network's ambition is to have M eventually work for all of Messenger's 700 million users.