Switch accounts by signing out and signing back in
To change accounts in Messenger on Windows 10, sign out of your current account, then sign in with a different Facebook account. Open Messenger, look for your profile picture or name in the top left or top right corner, and tap or click it. A menu will appear with a "Log Out" or "Sign Out" option — select it. After you sign out completely, the login screen will appear, and you can enter the email address or phone number for the account you want to use instead.
The process takes about one minute and does not delete any messages or data from either account. Your old account remains intact on Facebook's servers; you are straightforward switching which account Messenger shows you on this device.
Key Takeaways
- Sign out by clicking your profile picture in the top corner of Messenger, then select the sign-out option from the menu.
- After signing out, enter the email address or phone number and password for the account you want to use.
- Signing out and back in does not erase messages, photos, or any data from either account.
- If you forget the password for the account you want to switch to, use the "Forgot Password" link on the login screen to reset it.
- You can switch back to your original account at any time by repeating the same sign-out and sign-in steps.
Locate the sign-out menu in Messenger
The sign-out option is always in your profile menu. In Messenger on Windows 10, look at the top of the window. On the left side, you may see your name or profile picture; on the right side, you may see a gear icon or three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu). Click whichever one appears — this opens a dropdown menu with account options.
Scroll down in that menu until you see "Log Out," "Sign Out," or "Logout." The exact wording depends on which version of Messenger you have installed, but the meaning is the same. Click it once, and Messenger will sign you out when ready.
Enter your login details for the second account
After you sign out, the login screen appears. You will see two fields: one for your email address or phone number, and one for your password. Type the email address or phone number associated with the Facebook account you want to switch to, then type that account's password in the second field.
Make sure you type the credentials correctly — passwords are case-sensitive, meaning capital and lowercase letters matter. If you are not sure of the password, click "Forgot Password?" below the login fields. Facebook will send a reset link to the email address or phone number you provide, and you can create a new password before logging in.
What to do if you do not remember the password
If you cannot remember the password for the account you want to switch to, click the "Forgot Password?" link on the Messenger login screen. Facebook will ask you to enter the email address or phone number for that account. You will then receive a password reset link by email or text message, depending on which contact method you have on file.
Click the reset link, create a new password, and return to Messenger. Log in with your email address or phone number and the new password. This process usually takes a few minutes. If you do not receive the reset email or text within a few minutes, check your spam or junk folder, or try the reset process again.
Confirm you are signed into the correct account
After you log in, Messenger will load your messages and contacts for that account. Look at the top of the window again — your profile picture or name should now show the account you just signed into. Open a conversation or check your contact list to make sure you see the right friends and messages. If everything looks correct, you have successfully switched accounts.
If you see the wrong account's information, sign out again and repeat the login process with the correct email address or phone number. It is straightforward to mistype credentials, so double-check before signing in.
Switch back to your original account anytime
You can switch back to your first account by repeating the same steps: click your profile picture or menu icon, select sign out, and then log in with your original account's email address or phone number and password. Messenger does not limit how many times you can switch between accounts on the same device.
Each time you sign out and sign back in, Messenger loads the messages, contacts, and settings for whichever account you are logged into. Nothing is lost or deleted when you switch — it is straightforward a matter of which account the app is showing you at that moment.
Common mistakes to avoid when switching accounts
The most common mistake is typing the wrong email address or phone number at login. If you have multiple email addresses connected to different Facebook accounts, make sure you use the correct one for the account you want. Write down or copy the exact email address before you start the sign-out process if you are unsure.
Another mistake is forgetting to sign out before trying to log in as a different user. If you straightforward type a new email address into the login screen without signing out first, Messenger may not switch accounts — it might show an error or ask you to confirm. Always sign out completely first, wait for the login screen to appear, and then enter the new credentials.
Do not close Messenger or restart your computer in the middle of the sign-out process. Let the app finish signing you out and display the login screen before you do anything else. If you close the app too early, you may end up stuck in a partially signed-out state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my messages disappear if I switch accounts?
No. Your messages stay on Facebook's servers for each account. When you sign back into an account, all the messages from that account will be there. Switching accounts does not erase, hide, or move any conversations.
Can I stay signed into two accounts at the same time on Messenger?
Messenger on Windows 10 only lets you stay signed into one account at a time on that device. You have to sign out of one account before you can sign into another. If you need to use two accounts simultaneously, you would need to open Messenger on a different device or use a web browser in a separate window.
What if I forgot which email address I used for my account?
Go to facebook.com on a web browser and click "Forgot Password?" on the login page. Enter a phone number or email address you remember using, and Facebook will show you which email addresses are connected to your account. Once you know the correct email, you can use it to log into Messenger.
Do I need to reinstall Messenger to switch accounts?
No. You do not need to uninstall or reinstall Messenger. straightforward sign out and sign back in with different credentials. Reinstalling would delete the app and all its cached data, which is unnecessary and takes longer than just signing out.
What if the sign-out option does not appear in my menu?
Try clicking the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) icon in the top right corner instead of your profile picture. If you still do not see a sign-out option, your version of Messenger may be outdated. Open the Microsoft Store, search for Messenger, and click "Update" if an update is available. After updating, the sign-out option should appear.