How do you turn off/disable the Facebook IM app?

[Red Squirrel]

I had to install it since my family wanted to video chat me, and they'll probably want to on new years too so I'll leave it till then and uninstall. Problem is, it's always running, and it looks like I'm always on FB and people are constantly messaging me on my phone now because they think I'm online. Also that app is constantly collecting all sorts of data on you.

Is there a way I can just disable it completely without actually uninstalling it? That way if I do want to use it I can just re-enable it.

I tried to do "force stop" but it just starts again in a short time. There is normally a "disable" button on that same screen, but not for this app.

 

[AMDisTheBEST]

go to android setting, go to app, find your app, then tap on disable, unless of course you are on ios then you are out of luck because apple does not allow you to do anything that apple does not bloody allow you to.

Assuming you are on android and the above method does not work, which is unheard of, you can unlock your bootloader, hook your phone to a pc, flash root binary, then download titanium backup, grant it root access, and have it freeze any apps you wish, even system apps.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah that's the issue I don't get the disable option. I just get Uninstall and Force Stop. Force Stop works for a few minutes then it just starts back again.

 

[MrSquished]

Yeah that's the issue I don't get the disable option. I just get Uninstall and Force Stop. Force Stop works for a few minutes then it just starts back again.

Is bloatware that you can only uninstall to a previous version. If you uninstall it though it shouldn't work.

Sent on the go from my Pixel 2 XL

 

[pauldun170]

I had to install it since my family wanted to video chat me, and they'll probably want to on new years too so I'll leave it till then and uninstall. Problem is, it's always running, and it looks like I'm always on FB and people are constantly messaging me on my phone now because they think I'm online. Also that app is constantly collecting all sorts of data on you.

Is there a way I can just disable it completely without actually uninstalling it? That way if I do want to use it I can just re-enable it.

I tried to do "force stop" but it just starts again in a short time. There is normally a "disable" button on that same screen, but not for this app.

Go to the Facebook desktop website and disable it from there.

 

[Ketchup]

I uninstall it until I have a message. The standard FB app will tell you when someone is sending you something through Messenger, so no need to have that program installed unless needed.

 

[wilds]

There are additional options if you are rooted to suspend the app.

 

[MrSquished]

There are additional options if you are rooted to suspend the app.

With a Google Pixel phone you don't have to root. You can uninstall pretty much anything, including FB and FB Messenger

 

[Oyeve]

With a Google Pixel phone you don't have to root. You can uninstall pretty much anything, including FB and FB Messenger

Any phone in the last few years will let you uninstall FB and messenger.

 

[MrSquished]

Any phone in the last few years will let you uninstall FB and messenger.

Not my LG V20. I could uninstall Messenger but FB I could only uninstall to a previous version that came installed with the phone.

 

[Oyeve]

Not my LG V20. I could uninstall Messenger but FB I could only uninstall to a previous version that came installed with the phone.

Hmm, I havent used my V20 in months. Ended up hating that phone. I hate baked in apps.

 

[Oyeve]

Not my LG V20. I could uninstall Messenger but FB I could only uninstall to a previous version that came installed with the phone.

Just uninstalled fb from my v20. It's totally removed and gone. What v20 are you using?

 

[MrSquished]

Just uninstalled fb from my v20. It's totally removed and gone. What v20 are you using?

At&t

Sent on the go from my LG V20

 

[Oyeve]

At&t

Sent on the go from my LG V20

Mine is Verizon. So it's baked in on AT&T? That sucks.

 

[MrSquished]

Mine is Verizon. So it's baked in on AT&T? That sucks.

Yeah I just checked before since I'm using my V20 for a couple days while waiting on a new Pixel 2 XL replacement phone.

I can't get rid of the FB app - just Force Stop or Disable it but that's it. It's not so bad I mean it's not logged in and notifying me of anything, I use Swipe for Facebook for that. But still, I much prefer my Pixel 2 - uninstall anything I want, zero carrier bloat without having to root anymore.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I had to install the app myself so I CAN uninstall it thankfully, unlike all the built in google crap, but it's just I can't disable it. I was going to leave it on but just disable it. For now, it seems force stop worked though, I don't know if maybe something triggers it to start again, maybe opening Facebook itself in the browser triggers it to start, so maybe that's why it kept starting back up?

I'll just keep making sure it's not running then uninstall it after new years. Too bad these things have to be so full of spy BS, because it could be a nice thing but they have to go and make it spyware.

 

[Raduque]

Too bad these things have to be so full of spy BS, because it could be a nice thing but they have to go and make it spyware.

Well yeah, that's what happens when your product is people.

 

[SmokinWaffle]

The 'Lite' version is worth a look too, it's much less intrusive.

 

[Mike64]

I had to install the app myself so I CAN uninstall it thankfully, unlike all the built in google crap, but it's just I can't disable it.

This has come up before. Apparently "disable" is only available for firm-wired-in apps that can't be completely uninstalled (like the google crap of which you speak )

 

[Red Squirrel]

I ended up just uninstalling it completely. For the few times I may use it I'll just reinstall.