How to Fix Chat Heads Not Showing on Messenger

The Chat Heads feature on Messenger allows you to read and reply to messages while you’re using other apps.

When you get a new message, a chat head (a circle with your friend’s profile picture) will pop up.

You can view and reply to the message without leaving the screen that you’re on by tapping on it.

You can also move the chat head around your screen by dragging them.

However, some users reported that the feature is not showing up on the app.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to fix Messenger Chat Heads not showing, not working, or missing on Android (Xiaomi/Samsung).

• Why are the Messenger Chat Heads not showing?
• How to fix Chat Heads not showing on Messenger

Why are the Messenger Chat Heads not showing?

The Messenger Chat Heads are not showing because you didn’t allow Messenger to “Appear on top”.

Do note that the Messenger Chat Heads feature has replaced Bubbles in the latest version of Messenger.

Hence, you need to enable the Chat Heads feature instead of the Bubbles feature.

Both features are similar to each other and you can access your chats from the home screen.

How to fix Chat Heads not showing on Messenger

To fix Chat Heads not showing on Messenger, you need to turn on the “Chat heads” feature and allow Messenger to “Appear on top”.

After you’ve allowed Messenger to “Appear on top”, you need to open a chat head from your chats for it to appear on your home screen.

Step 1: Turn on “Chat heads”

1. Open the Messenger app and tap on the menu icon.
2. Tap on the Settings icon next to your profile picture.
3. Scroll down and turn on “Chat heads”.

Tip: In the latest version of Messenger, the “Bubbles” feature has been replaced with “Chat heads”.

Step 2: Allow Messenger to “Appear on top”

1. Select “Go to Settings”.
2. Enable “Messenger” in the “Appear to top” settings.

Tip: You can also find this setting by opening the Settings app > Apps > Three dots > Special access > Appear on top > Messenger > Enable.

Step 3: Open a chat head

1. Go back to Messenger and navigate to a chat.
2. Tap and hold the chat.
3. Tap on “Open chat head”.
4. Access the chat head from your home screen at any time!

Tip: If you don’t want the chat head to show up on your home screen anymore, you can disable it by opening the Messenger app > Menu > Settings > Chat heads > Disable.

Further reading

How to Fix Messenger Bubble Not Showing

How to Fix Facebook Messenger Story Not Showing

How to Fix Messenger Story Not Deleting “This can’t be undone”