Ever find yourself scrolling through Facebook Messenger, only to be constantly bombarded with suggestions to call people you may or may not want to chat with right at that moment? It can be a little jarring, or even frankly annoying, especially when you’re trying to focus or just enjoy a quiet moment. If you’ve been wondering how to get rid of suggested calls on Facebook Messenger and reclaim your digital peace, you’re in the right place! We’ve put together a friendly guide to help you silence those persistent call prompts for good.
Contents
- 1 Why Does Messenger Suggest Calls Anyway?
- 2 Your Go-To Solutions to Stop Suggested Calls
- 3 Frequently Asked Questions About Messenger Call Suggestions
- 4 Wrapping Up
Why Does Messenger Suggest Calls Anyway?
Before we dive into the solutions, it helps to understand why Messenger does this in the first place. Typically, these suggestions pop up based on a few factors:
- Your “Active Now” Status: If you and your friends are both online, Messenger often sees this as an opportune moment for connection.
- Frequent Interactions: People you message often, or who message you, are more likely to appear as suggested contacts for calls.
- Synced Contacts: If you’ve given Messenger permission to access your phone’s contacts, it might suggest calls to people from your address book, even if you don’t interact with them much on Facebook.
- Mutual Friends/Groups: Sometimes, suggestions can stem from shared connections or group chats.
The good news is, you have several ways to take back control. Let’s explore them!
Your Go-To Solutions to Stop Suggested Calls
1. Tweak Your “Active Now” Status
This is often the first and most effective step. Turning off your “Active Now” status prevents others from seeing when you’re online and can reduce the algorithm’s tendency to suggest calls.
How to do it on Mobile:
- Open the Messenger app.
- Tap on your profile picture (usually in the top-left corner).
- Scroll down and tap on “Active Status.”
- Toggle the switch next to “Show When You’re Active” to turn it off.
- Confirm your choice if prompted.
What happens next? You won’t be able to see when others are active either, but it’s a small price to pay for fewer call suggestions!
2. Fine-Tune Messenger’s Notification Settings
Messenger has specific notification settings for calls and video calls. Adjusting these can help silence general suggestions without completely disabling all notifications.
How to do it on Mobile:
- Open the Messenger app.
- Tap your profile picture.
- Scroll down and select “Notifications & Sounds” (or “Notifications”).
- Look for options related to “Calls” or “Video Calls”. Depending on your app version, you might be able to:
- Turn off incoming call sounds.
- Disable call notifications entirely.
- Customize how these notifications appear (e.g., silent, banner only).
- Adjust these settings to your preference.
Pro Tip: You can also manage notifications for specific conversations by going into that chat, tapping the contact’s name at the top, and then selecting “Notifications.”
3. Manage Your Device’s Contact Permissions
Messenger often asks for permission to sync your phone’s contacts. While convenient for finding friends, it can also lead to more call suggestions. Revoking this permission might help.
How to do it on Android:
- Go to your phone’s “Settings” app.
- Tap on “Apps” or “Apps & Notifications”.
- Find and select “Messenger” from the list.
- Tap “Permissions.”
- Find “Contacts” and toggle it off or select “Don’t allow.”
How to do it on iOS (iPhone/iPad):
- Go to your device’s “Settings” app.
- Scroll down and tap on “Messenger.”
- Toggle off the switch next to “Contacts.”
Keep in mind: This might mean Messenger can’t suggest new friends from your phone book, but it will reduce call suggestions based on your full contact list.
4. Block or Restrict Specific People
If the suggested calls are mainly coming from one or two particular individuals, you might consider blocking or restricting them.
- Blocking: This is a more drastic step. A blocked person cannot message or call you on Messenger or Facebook, and you won’t see their activity.
- Restricting: This is a softer approach. You won’t see their messages or calls in your main inbox, but you’re still “friends.” They won’t know they’ve been restricted.
How to Block or Restrict:
- Open the chat with the person you want to manage.
- Tap on their name at the top of the chat.
- Scroll down and you’ll see options for “Block” or “Restrict.” Follow the prompts.
5. Clear Messenger’s Cache
Sometimes, app behavior can get a bit wonky due to accumulated cache data. Clearing it can often resolve minor glitches and reset the app’s immediate memory.
How to do it on Android:
- Go to your phone’s “Settings” app.
- Tap on “Apps” or “Apps & Notifications.”
- Find and select “Messenger.”
- Tap “Storage” (or “Storage & Cache”).
- Tap “Clear Cache.” If problems persist, you can also try “Clear Data,” but be aware this will log you out of Messenger.
How to do it on iOS (iPhone/iPad):
iOS doesn’t have a direct “Clear Cache” button for individual apps like Android. Your best bet is to “Offload App” (which clears cache but keeps documents and data) or delete and reinstall the app.
- Go to your device’s “Settings” app.
- Tap “General” > “iPhone Storage.”
- Find and tap “Messenger.”
- Select “Offload App.” Restart your device, then reinstall if desired.
6. Update or Reinstall the App
Outdated app versions can sometimes have bugs or behave unexpectedly. Ensuring your Messenger app is up-to-date is always a good troubleshooting step. If issues persist, a fresh reinstall can work wonders.
- Go to your phone’s App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
- Search for “Messenger.”
- If an update is available, tap “Update.”
- If there’s no update or if the issue remains, consider uninstalling Messenger entirely, restarting your phone, and then reinstalling it from the store.
7. Review Your Main Facebook Privacy Settings
Since Messenger is closely tied to Facebook, some general privacy and activity settings on your main Facebook account might indirectly influence call suggestions.
- Open the Facebook app.
- Go to your Settings & Privacy (usually via the menu icon).
- Explore sections like “Privacy Settings” and “Account Center.” Look for options related to how your activity is used, app permissions, and how others can connect with you. While there isn’t usually a direct “disable call suggestions” button here, restricting overall data sharing can sometimes help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Messenger Call Suggestions
Here are quick answers to some common queries about managing calls on Messenger:
Q: Will turning off my Active Status stop people from calling me?
A: No, it only hides your online status and can reduce suggested calls from Messenger’s algorithm. People can still call you directly if they wish.
Q: What’s the difference between “Restricting” and “Blocking” someone?
A: Restricting someone means their messages and calls go to a “Message Requests” folder, and they won’t see when you’re active. They won’t know they’re restricted. Blocking someone is more absolute; they cannot contact you on Facebook or Messenger, and they’ll likely realize they’ve been blocked.
Q: I’ve tried everything, and I still see suggestions. What else can I do?
A: Some suggestions are deeply embedded in Messenger’s design to encourage interaction. Try combining several methods (e.g., turning off Active Status, clearing cache, and revoking contact permissions). Also, ensure you’re using the latest app version. If a specific contact keeps appearing, restricting or blocking them might be the most effective last resort.
Wrapping Up
Getting rid of suggested calls on Facebook Messenger might require a bit of tinkering, but by following these steps, you can significantly reduce the number of unwanted prompts and enjoy a more focused, interruption-free messaging experience. Pick the methods that best suit your needs and take back control of your digital space!