Facebook Messenger has two hidden inboxes on iPhone: the Message Requests folder and the Spam or Filtered Requests folder. These Facebook messenger hidden inboxes contain messages from people you are not connected with on Facebook, and checking them ensures you don't miss important messages that never reached your main Chats list.
What are Facebook Messenger hidden inboxes?
Message Requests and Spam/Filtered Requests are the two hidden inboxes designed to hold messages from people you are not friends with on Facebook. Message Requests typically contain messages from people you may know, while the Spam or Filtered Requests folder holds messages Facebook's algorithms have flagged as potentially unwanted or spam. Messages end up in Filtered Requests based on factors like the sender's social graph, message content, and overall usage patterns. Replying to a message request connects you with the sender and lets you see any media they sent, and accepting a request moves the conversation into your normal chat list.
How to find your hidden inboxes on iPhone
Open the Messenger app on your iPhone. Tap your profile picture in the top left or bottom left corner, depending on your app layout. Tap Message Requests. This screen shows two sections: Message Requests and Spam (or See Filtered Requests). The Filtered Requests inbox is accessed by tapping the 'People' icon in the bottom menu, then 'Message Requests', then 'See filtered requests'.
Checking your Message Requests
The main Message Requests list displays messages from people you may know who are not in your Facebook friends list. Review this list regularly to find messages from acquaintances, potential connections, or people trying to reach you. When you reply to a message request, you become connected with the sender and can see any media they included. You can also accept a request to move it into your normal Chats list, or delete a request if you don't want to engage.
Checking your Spam or Filtered Requests
On the Message Requests screen, tap Spam or See Filtered Requests to view messages Facebook has identified as spam or potentially unwanted. This folder is important to review because legitimate messages can sometimes be misclassified by the algorithm. You may find messages from people you actually want to connect with, or important information that was incorrectly filtered. The same options to reply, accept, or delete apply to messages found here.
How to manage your message delivery settings
To control who can send messages to your Chats list or Message Requests folder, go to your profile picture, then tap Preferences > Privacy & safety > Message delivery. From here, you can choose whether messages are delivered to your Chats list, sent to your message requests folder, or set to Don’t receive requests. You can use a 'Mark as Important' feature to prioritize specific messages and give them more visibility. These settings give you direct control over your Facebook privacy and notifications, helping you decide which messages reach your main inbox and which are filtered into the hidden folders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a message I deleted from Message Requests?
Once you delete a message request, it is permanently removed and cannot be recovered. There is no trash or recently deleted folder for message requests on Messenger.
Will the sender know I saw their message request?
No, the sender does not receive a read receipt or notification that you viewed their message request. They only know you saw it if you reply or accept the request.
How often should I check my hidden inboxes?
There is no set rule, but checking once a week is a good habit to avoid missing important messages. If you are expecting contact from someone you are not connected with, check more frequently.
Do hidden inboxes work the same way on Android?
Yes, the navigation path and features are identical on Android. Open the Messenger app, tap your profile picture, tap Message Requests, and then review the Message Requests and Spam/Filtered Requests sections.
Can I move a message from Spam to my main inbox?
Yes, you can reply to or accept a message from the Spam folder, which moves the conversation into your normal Chats list. There is no separate "move to inbox" button, replying or accepting accomplishes this.
How do I know if a message is in my hidden inbox?
Messages in the hidden inbox are usually from people not connected with you on Facebook and are automatically filtered.
Can I customize the filtering settings on Facebook Messenger?
Facebook Messenger does not provide users with the option to customize the filtering settings; filtering is done automatically.
