Did you want to send a file to your friend on Facebook Messenger but couldn’t?
That’s because Messenger doesn’t have this feature yet. You can’t send documents on the mobile app.
You can only do it through the Desktop app by doing this:
- Open Facebook on desktop
- Use the “Attach a file” option in the chat
- Select the file
- Send it
Since there’s no way to send a file through the Messenger app on mobile, you’ll need to do this on a Desktop computer.
If your file is on your mobile device, you’ll need to send it to your computer and then transfer it to your friend on Facebook.
This guide will teach you how to send files on Messenger, so keep reading to find out more!
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How Can You Send Files on Messenger?
Open Facebook on a desktop computer and go to Chats.
Then, open a chat with your friend and use the “Attach a file” option in the chat to send them a file.
This option looks like a superimposed icon. In the past, it used to look like a paperclip icon.
After you do this, the File Explorer window will open, allowing you to select the file you want to send.
We’ll also talk about how you can send a file from your mobile device to your computer and then to your friend on Facebook.
Follow the steps below to send files on Messenger on Desktop:
1. Open Facebook on Desktop and open the Chats
You may have to log in to Facebook if your browser hasn’t saved your login information.
After you open Facebook on your Desktop, you’ll need to go to “Chats.”
It’s in the top-right corner, next to your name and other menus.
The icon is that of Messenger. Click on it to open your chats.
2. Open a chat with your friend
After you open the “Chats” window, you’ll see all the conversations with your friends.
Open a chat with the friend you want to send a file to.
It should be under the “Messenger” menu, but you can use the Search function if there are too many conversations.
This allows you to find your friend by name.
After you find them, click on their name to open a chat with them.
3. Select the “Attach a file” option
After you open a chat with your friend, look in the bottom-left corner.
You’ll see multiple options for sending GIFs and pictures and typing messages there.
One of the options is a superimposed image. If you hover with your mouse over it, you’ll see the “Attach a file” name.
That option lets you send files on the chat.
Select it.
4. Find the file you want to send and select “Open”
After you click on the “Attach a file” option, the Windows Explorer window will open.
This window allows you to search for the file on your computer.
If you know where it’s saved, navigate there and select it.
Then, click “Open” to place the file in your friend’s chat.
After you do this, the file will appear in the chat, ready to be sent.
Tap on the blue arrow to send the file.
After you send the message, you’ll see the interface on the chat changing.
The file you sent will appear with a time marker in the top-left, meaning you sent it.
Moreover, if your friend sees the file you sent, their profile picture will appear in the bottom-right of the file, like in the picture above.
How to Transfer a File from Your Phone to Your Desktop?
Since you can’t send files through the Facebook Messenger app on mobile, you’ll need to transfer the file to your desktop first.
To do this, follow the steps below:
1. Go to File Manager
On your phone, open your app list and find the “File Manager” option.
It should look like a yellow folder. Once you find it, tap on it to open it.
Inside, you’ll find the file you need to send to your friend on Facebook.
2. Open the “Documents” option
Your file should be in the “Docs” folder in the “File Manager”.
If it’s not there, look through the other folder in there.
Maybe you placed it in a specific folder before.
Either way, open the folder that contains your file.
3. Hold-tap on your file and select “Send”
Once you find the folder that contains your file, hold-tap on it.
You select a file on a mobile phone by hold-tapping it.
To know that you’ve selected the right file, look for a checkmark sign on the file.
If it’s there, like in the picture above, it means you’ve selected it correctly.
After you select it, look for the “Send” or “Share” option at the bottom of the screen.
Tap on “Send” or “Share,” depending on your option.
4. Select “WhatsApp”
Once you select “Send” or “Share,” you’ll open a new menu with several options.
Look for “WhatsApp” inside the menu. This is how we’ll send the file to our Desktop computer.
If you prefer sending the file through email, select “Gmail” and proceed to send the file to your email inbox.
But we’ll use WhatsApp because it’s much simpler.
5. Select a friend and send the file
To transfer the file from your mobile to your Desktop, use a friend on WhatsApp.
Send them the file and then access WhatsApp from your Desktop and download the file from their chat.
It’s simple if you already use WhatsApp on the Desktop. If you don’t, you’ll need to search for “WhatsApp” on Google and open the web version.
6. Open WhatsApp on your computer and download the file
Now that you’ve sent the file through WhatsApp, you’ll need to open WhatsApp on your computer.
To do this, use Google to find WhatsApp and open the web version.
Scan the QR code with your WhatsApp on mobile, and the app will open on your computer.
Then, download the file. It’s on your friend’s chat.
With the file downloaded on your computer, follow the previous steps to send it through Facebook Messenger to your friend.
Conclusion
Sending a file through Facebook Messenger is easy enough on a Desktop but impossible on a mobile phone.
That’s because Facebook still hasn’t added this functionality on mobile phones.
We don’t know when they’ll add it, but until then, you’ll need to use workarounds to send files on Messenger.
Using Facebook on Desktop, open a chat with your friend and select the “Attach a file” option.
Then, please find the file you need in Windows Explorer and send it!
If the file is on your phone, send it through WhatsApp to a friend, download it on your computer, and then send it through Messenger on your computer.
