Facebook recently announced a number of new Messenger and Instagram DMs features for its apps. Media messaging is now optimized, chats are easier to archive (and no longer archive) and Instagram DMs now contain read receipts. Let’s examine all of the new features and how to use them.
Easier audio messages in Messenger and Instagram
Messenger’s audio messages (and soon Instagram too) no longer require holding down a button to record – it is now toggled with a single tap.
- In a messenger chat (or soon in a DM thread on Instagram), tap the microphone icon at the bottom of the screen. The first time you send an audio message, allow the app to record your phone’s microphone.
- Make a note of your message.
- Press the arrow to send the clip or the trash can to delete it.
The changes apply to both iOS and Android.
Faster chat archiving in Messenger
Messenger has a new archive gesture for iOS and Android that makes it easier to organize your inbox.
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On the Messenger inbox screen, swipe left or right on a conversation to archive it. Archived conversations are sent to a new one “Archived Chats” Section in the app.
To view your archived messages:
- Tap your profile photo to open the overflow menu.
- Choose “Archived Chats.”
You can tap an archived chat to send a new message and continue the conversation, or post it back to your active chat list.
Archived chats automatically return to your active chats list when you send a new message to the same contacts or when they send you a message.
Photo and video responses for Instagram
Instagram users on iOS can now reply to private messages with pictures and videos. Android will get the feature soon too.
- Open a conversation through your Instagram DMs.
- Select the camera icon in the message composer menu.
- Take a new photo or video (or select one from your phone’s camera roll) and send your message.
New visuals
In this current feature drop for Messenger and Instagram, there are a handful of new app themes, camera stickers, and minor updates available for both iOS and Android:
- There’s a new collection of free camera stickers to celebrate the Asian and Pacific Islander Community (API). The stickers are available in the sticker collection of the main messenger apps Messenger children.
- Messenger and Instagram have two new app themes based on Star Wars and Selena: The Series. To enable it, open a conversation’s settings menu and go to “Theme” and select the ones you want to use.
- Instagram DMs have now read receipts so you know if a person hasn’t seen your messages or if they left you down on purpose.
All of these new features will be available on the supported platforms in the coming days and weeks.
