This wikiHow teaches you how to find out when a friend was last active on Facebook. You need the Facebook Messenger app to see when a user was last active. You can only view when a user was last active if they have their Active Status turned on and you have yours turned on. If you don't want people to be able to see when you were last active, you can turn your Active Status off. If you turn off your Active Status, you cannot view when others were last active.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Checking When Someone Was Last Active

  1. 1
    Open Facebook. Facebook has a blue icon with a white lowercase "f." Tap the Facebook icon on your Home screen or Apps menu to open Facebook.
    • If you are not signed in to Facebook, enter your username, email address, or phone number and password associated with your account and tap Log In.
    • You can check to see which friends are currently active by looking at the profile icons below "What's on your mind" at the top of your newsfeed. Your friends that have a green dot next to their profile picture are currently active.
  2. 2
    Tap the Messenger icon. It's the icon that resembles a speech bubble with a lightning bolt in the upper-right corner. This opens Facebook Messenger. Users who are currently active will be displayed at the top with a green dot in the lower-right corner of their user profile picture.
    • You need the Facebook Messenger app installed on your Android phone to use Facebook Messenger. You can install the Facebook Messenger app for free from the Google Play Store.
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  3. 3
    Tap the Search bar. It's the grey bar that has an icon that resembles a magnifying glass. It's at the top of the page below "Chats."
    • Alternatively, you can scroll down to view a list of all your recent Facebook chats. It displays the time and/or date the user was last active next to the last chat message below their name.
  4. 4
    Type the name of the person you want to see when was last active. This displays a list of users that match your search. Alternatively, you can scroll down and browse your list of friends.
  5. 5
    Tap the person's name. This opens a chat with that person. If the person has their Active Status turned on, it will display when they were last active below their name at the top.
    • You must have your Active Status turned on in order to view when other users were last active. If your Active Status is turned off, you cannot view when others were last active.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Turning Your Active Status On or Off

  1. 1
    Open Facebook. Facebook has a blue icon with a white lowercase "f." Tap the Facebook icon on your Home screen or Apps menu to open Facebook.
    • If you are not signed in to Facebook, enter your username, email address, or phone number and password associated with your account and tap Log In.
  2. 2
    Tap the Messenger icon. It's the icon that resembles a speech bubble with a lightning bolt in the upper-right corner. This opens Facebook Messenger.
    • You need the Facebook Messenger app installed on your Android phone to use Facebook Messenger. You can install the Facebook Messenger app for free from the Google Play Store.
  3. 3
    Tap your profile picture. It's in the upper-left corner next to "Chats" This displays your account menu.
  4. 4
    Tap Active Status. It's next to a green icon with a white circle in the middle It's the first option below "Profile."
  5. 5
  6. 6
    Tap Turn off. When you turn off your Active Status, you will see a pop-up asking you to confirm that you want to turn your Active Status off. Tap Turn off to confirm that you want to turn your Active Status off and turn it off.
    • If your Active Status is turned off, you cannot view other users Active Status.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    I need to know can someone read my text or messenger.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Messages you send to other Facebook users over Messenger are private. The user(s) you send the message to are the only ones that can read your text.
  • Question
    how to get notified when a friend posts on facebook
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Go to your friend's profile and tap the icon with three dots (⋯). Tap "Friends" and then tap "Edit Friend List". Then tap "Close Friends"
  • Question
    I am not able to see this person when he is on facebook
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Either they don't have their Active Status turned on or you don't have yours turned on.
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About This Article

Travis Boylls
Written by:
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Travis Boylls. Travis Boylls is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Travis has experience writing technology-related articles, providing software customer service, and in graphic design. He specializes in Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux platforms. He studied graphic design at Pikes Peak Community College. This article has been viewed 141,391 times.
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Co-authors: 4
Updated: August 11, 2022
Views: 141,391
Categories: Facebook
Article SummaryX

1. Open Facebook.
2. Tap the Messenger icon in the upper-right corner.
3.. Tap the Search bar at the top of the screen.
4. Enter the name of the person you want to check on.
5. Tap the person's name to open a new chat.
6. View when they were last active below their name at the top.

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