Have you ever tried to send a message to a friend on Facebook Messenger only to receive an error saying, “This person isn’t receiving messages from you right now”? This frustrating notification has likely popped up on your screen at some point, leaving you confused about what it means and how to fix it.
As an avid Facebook user, you rely on Messenger to stay in touch with friends and family and keep up with what’s going on in their lives. Not being able to connect can be annoying and disruptive.
The good news is there are a few common reasons why you may encounter this error and several ways to resolve the issue to get your messaging back up and running.
Read on to better understand why you’re getting that annoying Facebook Messenger error and what you can do about it.
Your Facebook Messages Might Be Blocked
Facebook’s automated systems can temporarily restrict messaging abilities if they detect unusual activity on your account. This is often triggered by things like:
- Sending an unusually high volume of messages in a short period of time. Facebook’s systems may think your account has been compromised.
- Messaging people you don’t commonly interact with. If you start messaging many new people or people you haven’t talked to in a long time, it can appear suspicious.
- Travelling to a new location; if you log in and start messaging from a city you’ve never used Facebook in before, it may trigger a restriction.
The good news is these types of restrictions are typically temporary. Here are a few things you can do:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| Wait it out | Most restrictions will automatically lift within 24 to 48 hours. Facebook’s systems will recognize that the activity was legitimate and restore your messaging abilities. Patience is key during this waiting period. |
| Confirm your identity | To minimize the chances of triggering Facebook’s automated defences and experiencing messaging restrictions, exercise caution with the types of messages you send and to whom you send them. Avoid engaging in suspicious or spammy activities that could raise red flags. |
| Report the issue | If messaging restrictions persist for more than two days, report the issue to Facebook. Go to the Help Center or Support section of Facebook, and explain your situation, stating that you believe the restriction was made in error. Provide relevant details and any supporting information to help Facebook understand your case. Facebook will review the issue and restore your access if warranted. |
| Be cautious of your messaging behavior | Make sure the messages you send comply with Facebook’s terms and policies. |
With patience and by taking the proper steps, your Facebook Messenger abilities will be back to normal before you know it. Stay calm – you aren’t actually blocked!
Your Messages May Be Going to Their Message Requests Folder
If you’re sending messages to someone on Facebook Messenger but not getting a response, it’s possible your messages are going to their Message Requests folder. Facebook Messenger has filters in place to detect suspicious messages and divert them to this folder. Unfortunately, this can sometimes happen to legitimate messages as well.
There are a couple of reasons why your messages may end up in the Message Requests folder:
- You’re not connected on Facebook. If you’re not friends with the person on Facebook, Messenger may flag your messages as suspicious. The easiest fix is to send a friend request and connect on Facebook.
- You don’t message them often. If you rarely message this person, Messenger may not recognize you and could divert your messages. You’ll need to let the person know to check their Message Requests folder. Ask them to mark your conversation as “not spam” so future messages go through.
- Your messages contain links or look like spam. Be careful about including links, images, or language that could appear spammy. These kinds of messages are more likely to end up as Message Requests. It’s best to avoid including links when possible and be cautious of language that seems promotional.
- Their account privacy settings. The person’s own account settings may send unfamiliar messages to Message Requests. Again, the solution here is to have them check that folder and mark your conversation as “not spam.”
The good news is there are a few easy solutions to fix issues with messages going to the Message Requests folder. Let the person know to check for your messages there, connect as friends on Facebook, avoid spammy language, and be patient as the algorithm learns to recognize you as a familiar contact. With time and effort, you’ll be messaging as usual in no time.
Their Account May Be Restricted or Disabled
If you receive the message “this person isn’t receiving messages from you right now” on Facebook Messenger, it’s possible the other person’s account has been restricted or disabled by Facebook. There are a few reasons why Facebook may take such action:
- Violating Facebook’s Community Standards: If the person has posted content that goes against Facebook’s policies around hate speech, graphic violence, nudity, bullying, harassment, or other issues, their account may be restricted or disabled.
- Suspicious account activity: If there has been unusual login activity on the account or other signs that it may have been compromised, Facebook may restrict the account until the person verifies their identity. This is done to prevent spam or scams.
- Too many unanswered friend requests: Facebook may disable accounts that have a very high number of unanswered friend requests in order to prevent phishing and other malicious behaviour. The account owner will need to log in, decline or accept pending requests, and possibly change their account password before the restriction is lifted.
- Underage account: If the account belongs to someone under the age of 13, it will be disabled since Facebook requires users to be at least 13 years old. The account owner or their parent/guardian will need to provide proof of age in order to reactivate the account.
There Could Be A Temporary Issue With Facebook Messenger
Occasionally, Facebook Messenger experiences temporary technical issues that can prevent messages from being delivered. When this happens, you may receive an error message stating, “This person isn’t receiving messages from you right now.” There are a few possible reasons why this error may appear:
- Facebook Messenger could be experiencing an outage or service disruption. Facebook works continuously to provide the best experience, but outages can happen. Usually, service will be restored quickly. Check Facebook’s status page to see if there are any reported issues.
- The person you’re messaging could have connectivity problems, or their account may be temporarily unavailable. Ask the person if they’re experiencing any issues with Facebook Messenger to determine if the problem is on their end.
- There could be a problem with your internet connection or device. Ensure you have a stable internet connection and that Facebook Messenger is up to date. Try restarting your device or router to refresh the connection.
- Your message may contain content that violates Facebook’s community standards. Review your message to ensure there is nothing inappropriate before trying to send it again.
- Rarely can individual accounts be temporarily restricted for various reasons. If issues persist for more than a few hours, you or the person you’re messaging may need to report the problem to Facebook for further review.
If the error message appears frequently or lasts more than a couple of hours, the best approach is for you and the person you’re messaging to report the issue to Facebook separately. Provide details about the frequency and duration of the problem, as well as any troubleshooting steps you’ve already tried.
How to Fix the “This Person Isn’t Receiving Messages From You Right Now” Error?
To resolve the “This Person Isn’t Receiving Messages From You Right Now” error message in Facebook Messenger, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:
Check Your Connection
Double-check that you have a stable internet connection on your device. Close out of the Messenger app, turn your device’s WiFi off and back on again, and then reopen the Messenger app. If the error message still shows, continue to the next step.
Update the Messenger App
An outdated version of the Messenger app could be causing issues. Go to your device’s app store and update the Facebook Messenger app to the latest version. Once the update is installed, reopen the Messenger app. The error message will no longer display.
Clear the Cache and Data
If updating the app does not fix the problem, you may need to clear the cache and data for the Messenger app. Here are the steps to clear the cache and data:
- Go to your device’s Settings app.
- Tap on Apps & Notifications (or Application Manager).
- Scroll down and tap on Messenger.
- Tap Storage.
- Tap Clear cache and Clear data.
- Reopen the Messenger app. The error message should be resolved.
Uninstall and Reinstall the App
As a last resort, you may need to uninstall the Messenger app from your device and then reinstall it. Follow these steps:
- Go to your device’s app store.
- Search for Facebook Messenger and tap Uninstall. Confirm to uninstall the app.
- Search for Facebook Messenger again and tap Install or Get to reinstall the latest version of the app.
- Once the installation is complete, open the Messenger app. The error message should no longer appear, and you should be able to send messages as usual.
If, after trying all of these troubleshooting steps, the error message still persists, the issue could be on Facebook’s end. You may need to report the problem to Facebook for further help.
Conclusion
- Facebook’s automated systems can temporarily restrict messaging abilities if they detect unusual activity on your account, but these restrictions are typically temporary.
- Patience is key to resolving messaging restrictions on Facebook. Confirm your identity, report the issue, and be cautious with your messaging behaviour.
- If messages are going to their Message Requests folder, send a friend request and connect on Facebook.
- Be careful when sending messages to the Message Requests folder, as they may be restricted or disabled by Facebook due to violations of Facebook’s Community Standards, suspicious account activity, too many unanswered friend requests, or underage accounts.
- The “This Person Isn’t Receiving Messages From You Right Now” error message can be caused by a temporary issue with Facebook Messenger, a problem with your internet connection, or content that violates Facebook’s community standards.
- Report the issue to Facebook for further review. Check your connection, update the Messenger app, clear cache and data, uninstall and reinstall the app, and report the issue to Facebook for further help.