To see messages from non friends on Facebook mobile, open the Message Requests folder. Messages from people you are not connected with are stored there; if you accept a request it moves to your Chat list, and if you delete it you cannot see that message again.
How to see messages from non friends on Facebook mobile
- Open the Facebook mobile app and tap the Menu or Chats area.
- Tap Message requests.
For Facebook Lite, tap the top area, then the top‑right icon, then Message requests. This Facebook Lite path is documented on the Facebook Help Center page for mobile Lite. The retrieved Facebook Help Center page for mobile Lite shows a mobile-specific path for Facebook Lite. The pages document that message requests are created when someone you’re not connected with on Facebook sends you a message. The other retrieved help pages do not list exact iPhone, Android, app-version, or OS-version requirements for viewing message requests.
Accept or delete a message request
Inside a request, you have several actions:
- Accept, Moves the conversation into your normal Chat list so you can reply.
- Delete, Removes the request permanently; you won’t be able to see that message again.
- Reply, Sends a message to start a conversation (same as accepting).
- I don’t want to hear from [Name], Blocks further messages from that person.
If you delete a request and then send a message to that person, your new message will go to their message requests. If you send a message to someone whose request you deleted, your message will go to their message requests. If you delete a message request, you won’t be able to see the message again. Accepted requests move to your Chat list, while deleted requests cannot be viewed again.
What about messages filtered as spam?
Facebook automatically filters some messages it thinks are spam out of your Message Requests folder. The Messenger Help Center says messages it thinks are spam are filtered out of your requests. These filtered messages may not appear in the main Message Requests list. The only documented place to review non‑friend messages is the Message Requests folder itself; there is no separate mobile step for a “See Filtered Requests” screen in the official help pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Message Requests folder on Facebook mobile?
Open the Facebook app, tap the Menu or Chats area, then tap Message requests.
Can I reply to a message request without accepting it?
No. To reply you must tap Accept (or Reply, which also accepts the request). Accepting moves the conversation to your Chat list.
Will the sender know if I read their message request?
No. Facebook does not send read receipts for messages in the Message Requests folder.
How do I manage or organize my message requests?
You can accept, delete, or block the sender. Accepted requests move to your Chat list; deleted requests cannot be recovered. There is no sorting or filtering option documented in the official mobile help pages beyond opening the folder.
What happens if I delete a message request by accident?
You cannot see that message again. If you send a new message to that person, it will go to their message requests.
For the wider topic, see Facebook privacy and notifications.
Related reading: How To Turn Off Comments On Facebook Post Mobile.
