4 Scientific Methods to Find Hidden Messages on Facebook [2026]

In recent years, more and more people select Facebook as their communication tool, but less people know that this App has hidden some messages from them - the messages from strangers will be filtered by Facebook, and users do not know that someone has sent messages to them. Then, how can you find the hidden messages on Facebook, and how to check them? This tutorial will teach you the 4 feasible methods in detail.

Part 1. What Are Filtered Messages on Facebook?

What are filtered messages? They are the messages sent by Facebook users who are not connected to you. In other words, if a non-friend sends a message to you or the received message is deemed to be a junk message, Facebook will put it into the filtered folder directly without notifying you. And normally, these messages will be saved in the Message Requests folder, which is not very obvious. Thus, we call these messages hidden messages.

Then, how can we find out the Message Requests folder and view the messages in it? Just read on to get the way.

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Part 2. How to Find Hidden Facebook Messages on Computer? (3 Ways)

Option 1: From Messages Request

As we all know, users can log in to Facebook on both a computer and mobile phone. Since the means to use Facebook on the two platforms are different, the ways to find the hidden Facebook messages on computer and phone are certainly disparate. So in this section, let's talk about seeking hidden Facebook messages on a PC at first. This process should be completed on a browser:

Step 1. Log in to your Facebook account on the browser that you often use, such as Google Chrome, Firefox, Bing, etc.

Step 2.Tap on the Facebook Message icon in the top right column.

Step 3. Next, select the Messages request folder from the list to get the messages sent from non-friends. If you find something important among these messages, you can click Accept to move them to your normal messages inbox.

Step 4. If you want to read more messages in this folder, you can click on See filtered request to view and accept the messages that are significant to you.

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Option 2: Using Messenger.com

Many users find this desktop interface clearer and more organized, making it easier to notice conversations that don't appear in the main Facebook inbox. To do it:

• Open a web browser, go directly to Messenger.com, and sign in with your Facebook account credentials.
• Once logged in, look to the left sidebar and click the three-dot menu next to Chats, then select Message requests.
• Be sure to check both the regular requests and the spam section, as messages from non-friends are often filtered there.

Option 3: Searching Archived Conversations

This method is especially useful if you accidentally archived a chat and thought it was missing or deleted. (Want to back up Facebook messages flexibly?) Here's how:

• On Facebook or Messenger.com, click the search bar at the top of the chat list and enter the sender's name, username, or a keyword from the conversation.
• Archived messages are hidden from the main chat list, so they won't show up unless you actively search for them.
• When the conversation appears in the results, open it and choose Unarchive to move it back to your regular inbox.

Part 3. How to Check Filtered Messages on Android?

Besides a computer, you can log in and use Facebook on an Android phone or an iPhone as well. Compared with the previous means, this method would be easier cause you can perform the finding process on the Facebook App directly:

Step 1. Run the Facebook Messenger application on your Android phone.

Step 2. Then you need to tap on your profile icon in the top right corner.

Step 3. Next, just scroll down the page to look for People> Messages requests and choose See filtered requests under this section to bring out more messages.

Step 4. And also, if you find any useful message in this folder, you can tap on the message and select Accept to move it to your inbox. And if the message is useless, you can tap on Delete to remove it from the folder. (This means is appropriate for iPhone Facebook as well.)

Part 4. FAQs for Finding Hidden Facebook Messages

Q1. Why don't some messages show up in my inbox?

Facebook automatically filters messages from unknown senders or suspicious accounts to reduce spam. As a result, these messages may be hidden in Message Requests or Spam instead of your main inbox. (Can't send FB messages?)

Q2. Are hidden messages the same as deleted messages?

No. Hidden or archived messages still exist and can be recovered, while deleted messages are permanently removed and cannot be restored.

Q3. Do Facebook hidden messages send notifications?

In most cases, Facebook does not send notifications for messages filtered into Message Requests or Spam, which is why many users don't realize they've received them.

Q4. How can I prevent important messages from being hidden?

Regularly check your Message Requests and Spam folders, and consider adding frequent contacts as friends so their messages go directly to your inbox.

Q5. Can hidden messages expire or disappear over time?

No. Hidden messages do not automatically expire. They remain in Message Requests, Spam, or Archived folders until you manually delete or unarchive them.

Q6. How do I know if someone sent me a message that was filtered?

Facebook usually doesn't notify you when a message is filtered. The only way to know is to regularly check Message Requests and the Spam section on Facebook or Messenger.com.

Q7. Can I reply to a hidden message without adding the sender as a friend?

Yes. You can reply directly to a message request without accepting the sender as a friend. Once you reply, the conversation will move to your main inbox.

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