If you are trying to find the "Other" folder in Facebook Messenger, here is the first plot twist: for most users, that folder does not exist by that name anymore. Facebook retired the old “Other” inbox years ago, then spread its job across newer sections like Message Requests, Spam, and sometimes Archived chats. In other words, the folder did not exactly vanish into thin air like a magician at a birthday party. It got renamed, reorganized, and tucked behind a few menus.
That is why so many people search for the same thing with different wording: How do I see hidden messages on Messenger? Where did the Other folder go? Why can’t I find messages from strangers or non-friends? The good news is that the messages may still be there. The less-good news is that Facebook and Messenger enjoy moving buttons around often enough to keep life interesting.
This guide explains what the old Other folder was, where it went, how to find the modern equivalent on mobile and desktop, and what to do if your missing message is hiding in a place Messenger assumes you would never think to check. Messenger is clever like that. Sometimes a little too clever.
What Was the "Other" Folder in Facebook Messenger?
The old Other folder was Facebook’s way of separating messages that did not come from your regular contacts. Usually, these were messages from people who were not your Facebook friends, not in your close network, or looked less relevant to Facebook’s filtering system. The purpose was simple: keep your main inbox cleaner and reduce random clutter.
In theory, this sounded helpful. In practice, it was the digital version of putting an important letter inside a drawer labeled “probably junk.” Plenty of users missed real messages because the folder was quiet, hidden, and easy to forget. Sometimes those missed notes were harmless. Sometimes they were useful, time-sensitive, or unexpectedly important.
Today, when people ask how to see the Other folder in Facebook Messenger, they usually mean one of these modern areas:
- Message Requests for messages from people you do not already chat with
- Spam for messages Messenger thinks are suspicious or low quality
- Archived chats if the conversation was hidden rather than filtered
What Happened to the "Other" Folder?
Facebook replaced the old Other inbox with Message Requests. That change made the feature easier to find, at least in theory. Instead of burying messages under a mysterious label, Messenger began showing requests from non-friends in a more obvious section.
That is the most important thing to understand before you start tapping every icon in sight: if you do not see a folder literally labeled “Other,” that does not mean your hidden messages are gone. It usually means you should be checking Message Requests and Spam instead.
Depending on your device, app version, and whether you are using Messenger, Facebook, or Messenger on the web, the exact path may look a little different. The names are more stable than the buttons. Classic Facebook behavior.
How to Check the Modern "Other" Folder in the Messenger App
On iPhone and Android
If you want to find hidden messages on the Messenger app, this is the place to start. On most recent versions, the path is something close to this:
- Open the Messenger app.
- Tap your menu icon or profile picture.
- Select Message Requests.
- Check the available categories, such as You May Know and Spam.
The You May Know section usually contains messages from people Messenger thinks might be somewhat relevant to you. The Spam section is the deeper basement. If a message looks suspicious, promotional, misleading, or simply odd, Messenger may dump it there without fanfare.
When you open a request, you can usually do one of several things:
- Accept the conversation and move it into your main chat list
- Delete the request
- Block or Report the sender if the message looks unsafe
If your goal is simply to see whether someone contacted you, this is the modern replacement for the old Other folder in Facebook Messenger.
How to Check the "Other" Folder Equivalent on Desktop
If you are on a computer, Messenger can actually be easier to navigate because the labels are often more visible. The general process on desktop or Messenger web is:
- Open Facebook or Messenger on the web.
- Go to your messages.
- Look for a three-dot menu, Options, or Settings near the chat list.
- Click Message Requests.
- Check both your message requests and any spam-related section available there.
On some desktop layouts, you may need to click See All in Messenger before the full message management options appear. If the simple popup window is too limited, opening the full Messenger page usually gives you more control.
If you are checking because a buyer, seller, recruiter, classmate, or old friend said they sent a message and you never saw it, desktop can be a smart place to search. It tends to expose more of Messenger’s tucked-away corners than the tiny mobile interface.
What to Do If You Still Cannot Find the Missing Message
Check Spam Carefully
The missing message may not be in the general request list at all. It may be in Spam. Messenger filters some messages more aggressively than others, especially if the sender is unknown, sends links, or looks like the kind of account that would happily offer you a miracle crypto fortune by lunch.
Check Archived Chats
If the conversation is not a request, it may have been archived. Archived chats are hidden from the main chat list but not deleted. If you or someone else archived the conversation, it can feel like the message disappeared. Search for the person’s name or open the Archive section in Messenger to see whether the thread is there.
Use Search Before You Panic
Messenger’s search bar is surprisingly useful when you know the sender’s name, business name, or even one memorable keyword from the message. Search first. Spiral second.
Review Message Delivery Settings
Messenger also lets you control how messages from different groups of people are delivered. Depending on your privacy settings, some messages may go to chats, some to message requests, and some may not reach you at all. If you are regularly missing messages, review your Privacy & safety or Message delivery settings inside Messenger and Facebook.
Why Messages End Up in Message Requests or Spam
If you have ever wondered why one stranger lands in Message Requests while another sinks straight into Spam, you are not alone. Messenger does not publish a simple scorecard for this, but several common factors seem to matter:
- The person is not your Facebook friend
- You have no previous chat history with them
- You have few or no mutual connections
- Their message contains links, promotions, or suspicious wording
- Your privacy settings route that type of sender away from your main inbox
This system can be useful because it reduces random noise. It can also be annoying because real messages sometimes get treated like awkward party crashers. That is why checking hidden Messenger folders once in a while is a smart habit, especially if you use Facebook Marketplace, run a business page, or expect contact from people outside your friend list.
How to Avoid Missing Important Hidden Messages in Messenger
Finding the modern Other folder is one thing. Not having to perform the same scavenger hunt every month is even better. Here are a few practical habits that help:
- Check Message Requests weekly, especially if you sell items, apply for jobs, or network online
- Review Spam before deleting everything, because not every filtered message is truly spam
- Use search when someone says they already contacted you
- Adjust message delivery settings if you want more control over who can reach you
- Archive carefully so you do not accidentally hide conversations you still need
A quick monthly check is often enough for casual users. Heavy Facebook users may want to check more often. Think of it like cleaning out the junk drawer in your kitchen, except this drawer occasionally contains a real lead, a payment question, or a message from someone who genuinely needs a reply.
Safety Tips Before You Open Hidden Messages
Not every hidden message is harmless. Some are routine. Some are weird. Some are weird in a way that makes your eyebrows leave the building. Before you accept a request, keep these rules in mind:
- Do not click strange links from unknown senders
- Be cautious with urgent money requests or giveaway claims
- Check the sender’s profile before replying
- Use Block or Report when the message looks suspicious
- Never assume a familiar name means the account is legitimate
Messenger hides many of these messages for a reason. Hidden does not always mean dangerous, but it definitely means “pause before trusting.” That is good advice for the internet in general, honestly.
Common Questions About the "Other" Folder in Facebook Messenger
Can I still find a folder literally called "Other"?
Usually, no. Most users now need to look in Message Requests and Spam instead.
Why did Facebook change it?
The old Other inbox was too hidden and too easy to miss. Message Requests made the feature more visible and easier to manage.
Are hidden messages deleted automatically?
Not necessarily. Many are simply filtered or stored in a separate area until you review them.
What if someone says they messaged me but nothing appears?
Check Message Requests, Spam, Archived chats, and your search bar. Then review your message delivery settings.
Will opening a request send a read receipt?
Messenger behavior can vary by feature and version, but in general, message requests give you more control before fully accepting a conversation. If you choose to reply, the thread usually moves into your normal inbox.
Real Experiences People Have When Looking for the Modern "Other" Folder
One of the most common experiences people report is discovering that a message they thought never arrived had actually been sitting quietly in Message Requests for days, weeks, or even months. It is a strange mix of relief and mild outrage. Relief, because the message was not lost forever. Outrage, because Messenger apparently decided your recruiter, buyer, or distant cousin belonged in the same digital waiting room as sketchy promotions and random strangers.
Marketplace users especially run into this. Someone sends a real question about an item, the seller never sees it, and both sides assume the other person lost interest. Then one day the seller checks hidden messages and finds three polite notes, two follow-up questions, and one final message that basically says, “Never mind, I bought a couch elsewhere.” Messenger was technically doing its job. The timing, however, was not exactly elite.
Job seekers have similar stories. A contact reaches out about an interview, freelance project, referral, or networking opportunity, but the note lands in requests instead of the main inbox. Since many people treat Messenger as a casual app rather than a serious communication tool, those requests can sit unopened. It is not hard to see how the old “Other folder” developed such a legendary reputation. It became the place where useful opportunities went to play hide-and-seek.
There are also personal situations that make the feature feel more human. Sometimes a person checks Message Requests and finds a message from an old classmate, an extended family member, or someone trying to reconnect after years of silence. The message is not spam. It is just outside the normal social bubble, so Messenger keeps it at arm’s length until you decide what to do. In that sense, the modern version of the Other folder can be unexpectedly meaningful. Hidden does not always mean unwanted.
Then there is the opposite experience: opening Spam and realizing Messenger saved you from absolute nonsense. Fake giveaways, suspicious links, strange pitches, cloned accounts, mystery businesses with too many emojis, and messages that begin with “hello dear” have all made their home there. That can actually increase your appreciation for the filter. You may grumble about missed messages, but you will grumble much less after seeing the junk it kept out of your main inbox.
The biggest lesson from these experiences is simple: check your hidden Messenger sections on purpose. Do not rely on notifications alone. Do not assume “no alert” means “no message.” And do not assume every hidden message is either a scam or a treasure. Most are somewhere in the middle: harmless, random, or occasionally useful. The people who get the most value from Messenger are often not the ones who message the most. They are the ones who know where Messenger hides the stuff it is not sure about.
Conclusion
If you came here looking for a literal "Other" folder in Facebook Messenger, the honest answer is that Facebook largely retired that label. But the function still exists. To see the modern version of the Other folder, check Message Requests, then Spam, and if needed, Archived chats. On mobile, start from your Messenger menu or profile icon. On desktop, open the full Messenger interface and look for Message Requests in the options menu.
Once you know where to look, hidden messages are much less mysterious. Messenger still loves a little drama, but at least now you know where it keeps the plot twists.
