This person is unavailable on messenger what does that mean

Messenger and other messaging apps provide a way to inform you that you can or can’t message the other person. The message says the person you’re interacting with isn’t on Messenger, but that doesn’t really mean the actual message.

This error message appears after you sent messages to the recipient, leaving you to wonder, is the recipient leaving Messenger? Are you getting blocked? Is the account suspended?

Regardless, there are ways to ensure the cause of this problem on Messenger, so you can, hopefully, contact the other person again using Messenger.

Table of Contents

1

• What “This person is unavailable on Messenger” means
• Check whether you block the other person on Messenger
  • On Messenger mobile app
  • On PC
• Check whether you get blocked on Messenger
• Ensure the other person’s account isn’t suspended
• Ensure the other person is deactivating their Messenger account
• Technical problems might cause “This person is unavailable on Messenger”
  • Try reinstalling the Messenger app
  • Update Messenger
  • Clear the cache and data of the Messenger app

Here’s what it means literally: when someone deletes their Messenger or Facebook account, you’re going to see a “This person is unavailable on Messenger” message. However, it can also mean that the other person has blocked you on Messenger.

Messenger shows this message while blocking your ability to send messages to the recipient. This message literally says the person isn’t on Messenger anymore, while this might be true, there are reasons why this error message appears.

This message exists and will be gone once the recipient changes their mind and start using Messenger again. At this point, you can’t contact the recipient or even share-screen with them until they get back to using Messenger again.

However, Messenger as a platform shows the same error message (“This person is unavailable on Messenger”) when:

• You’re blocking the recipient.
• You’re being blocked by the recipient.
• The recipient’s account is suspended.

If you don’t think you’re blocking the recipient, chances are you’re the one who is being blocked. However, the thought of you being blocked isn’t enough to make you stop wondering why this happens, as there are other reasons as well.

The solution to this is to prove whether you actually get blocked or the recipient’s account is suspended.

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Check whether you block the other person on Messenger

On Messenger mobile app

Messenger has the Android and iPhone versions you can get for free. Although this post specifically uses the Android version as an example, you might be able to apply it on iOS as well.

To check whether you’re the one who is blocked (and whether you blocked them), simply click the Information icon at the top beside the other person’s Messenger account name.

Here, you’re going to see the Block button. If you see this button, you didn’t block them. If you see this button says “Unblock”, then you’re blocking the recipient. Simply tap Unblock to unblock the recipient.

On PC

Messenger has the PC version on the website. This also allows you to check whether you’re blocking the person on Messenger or not, by essentially the same methods.

Open the Messenger website. Sign in to your Facebook account.

Click the conversation with the recipient. Click their profile accounts. Select the three-dots button on the right side of the other person’s name and profile picture.

You’ll see a sidebar. Select Privacy & support. If you the Block button, that means you’re not blocking them.

Check whether you get blocked on Messenger

But, what if you’re the one who is being blocked? You can know that by tapping the Profile button above the Block/Unblock button like in the picture above.

It will open a Facebook page. You will see this message if you’re being blocked (or the person deleted their Facebook account).

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While that message could mean two things (you’re being blocked or the recipient’s account is deleted), you can make sure whether you’re blocked by using your friend’s Facebook account to go to that recipient’s Facebook profile.

If your friend can visit the recipient’s Facebook profile, you’re clearly being blocked.

Ensure the other person’s account isn’t suspended

Messenger might have suspended the other person’s account without you knowing. This can happen anytime to anyone if the person violates the terms of service of Facebook and Messenger.

If you still aren’t sure whether you get blocked or the other person’s account is suspended, you can ensure by creating or using another Facebook or Messenger account, searching their profile, and seeing if you can see them.

However, if the other person turns out to be suspended, there’s no way to actually know why it happens and for long how. Facebook itself bans users either temporarily or permanently. The temporary ban might happen for 24 hours, a month, or longer, depending on the offense the person does.

Ensure the other person is deactivating their Messenger account

Facebook allows you to deactivate your Facebook account while keeping your Messenger account. This allows you to keep in contact with friends on Facebook without using the other Facebook features, like the feed, group, and more.

However, you can’t deactivate your Messenger account but keep your Facebook account. You have to deactivate both.

The other person you have an error message saying “This person is unavailable on Messenger” with as well. Either their account is suspended or deactivated.

The only way to know is by contacting the other person using other media, or in real life.

Technical problems might cause “This person is unavailable on Messenger”

Some users reported that the error message shows after experiencing some technical problems within their phone or PC, or the Android/iPhone apps for Messenger. The problem was solved after they fixed the technical issue.

Others reported that they see “This person is unavailable on Messenger” when they are sure they aren’t blocked by the recipient. This could be caused by caching problem on the app or a bug in the Messenger app itself.

Thus, the solution would be to fix the technical problems causing the message to appear, such as clearing the Messenger cache, reinstalling the app, or updating the app.

Try reinstalling the Messenger app

Messenger app might experience some bugs and that can be solved by reinstalling the app. You can do this on Android and iPhone.

On Android, simply open the Play Store. Search for Messenger. Then, tap Uninstall. Wait for a few seconds until the Messenger app is uninstalled.

Tap Install again. Once it’s done, open the app, sign in to your Facebook account, and see if the “This person is unavailable on Messenger” message is still showing.

Update Messenger

If you still see the error message, you can try updating Messenger. This ensures the Messenger app receives the recent updates that might be able to solve the bugs causing the issue.

Clear the cache and data of the Messenger app

Clearing the Messenger cache might be worth a try if you haven’t done it, and if you are sure that the “This person is unavailable on Messenger” error message is caused by technical issues of the app.

On Android, open the Settings app > Apps > search for the Messenger app.

Tap Clear data. Select Clear cache and Clear all data.

Messenger has a message saying the recipient isn’t available on the platform anymore, which could mean more things. Fortunately, there’s a way for you to ensure whether that’s true and whether you have been blocked by someone on Messenger.

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