Retrieving Facebook Chat on Google Chrome
By David Nield
Facebook's instant messaging Chat tool integrates with the email-style Messages system to provide a comprehensive record of all your communications with other contacts. In most cases calling up your chat history is as simple as opening up a new window with the contact in question. The same history can be accessed from the Messages screen.
Step 1
Log into Facebook in Google Chrome. If necessary, click the cog icon below the Chat sidebar and choose "Turn on chat" to make your contacts available.
Step 2
Click the name of the contact with whom you want to retrieve a chat. A new window appears displaying your most recent conversations. If the contact in question is not visible, type the friend's name into the search box.
Step 3
Click the "Messages" link to the left of the News Feed for a more comprehensive look at your chat and message history. Conversations are displayed in chronological order, with the most recent appearing at the top.
Step 4
Select any contact name to see the full conversation. Alternatively, use the search box to look for specific friends.
Step 5
Open the "Actions" drop-down menu and select "Open in Chat" to launch the conversation in its own chat window. From the same menu, you can archive and delete conversations, as well as erase specific messages.
References
Tips
- Archiving a chat/message conversation removes it from the Messages screen, but it remains available when searching through your chat history. If a new message is added to the conversation, it reappears on the Messages screen. Deleting a conversation, by contrast, removes it completely from Facebook, and it cannot be recalled.
- Messages sent to a contact who is currently online will appear in a pop-up chat window. Contacts who are offline receive an inbox message instead.
- Retrieving Facebook chats in Google Chrome works in the same way as it does with any other browser. Your chat history is preserved across browsers and computers but is not accessible to anyone without your Facebook email address and password.
Writer Bio
An information technology journalist since 2002, David Nield writes about the Web, technology, hardware and software. He is an experienced editor, proofreader and copywriter for online publications such as CNET, TechRadar and Gizmodo. Nield holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and lives in Manchester, England.