Messenger’s chat feature could be returning to the Facebook app

Remember the infant days of Facebook, when Messenger was a part of the company’s primary app? The company then split these two features into separate apps for social networking and messaging.

However, new screenshots suggest that Facebook’s primary app may be regaining its “chat” features in the near future.

Uncovered by unreleased feature hunter Jane Manchun Wong on Twitter, it seems that chats will soon be accessible through a button in the top-right of Facebook’s primary app.

Facebook is bringing the Chats back to the app for preparing integrated messaging

Tip @Techmeme pic.twitter.com/LABK7qrk0e

— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) April 12, 2019

“For now, this new ‘Chats’ section seems to only contain the basic chat functionalities. To give message reactions, make a call, send photos, etc, you’d still have to open the Messenger app,” Wong adds in a subsequent tweet.

Wong did not reveal which version of the Facebook app she was using.

While this likely won’t spell the end of Messenger or Messenger Lite for that matter, it’s interesting to note that Facebook may be considering the unification of its popular features to be its best strategy for growth.

Facebook, in an email to Memeburn on Friday, clarified that it is “testing ways to improve the messaging experience for people within the Facebook app”.

“Messenger remains a feature-rich, stand-alone messaging app with over a billion people using it monthly to connect with people and businesses they care about most.

“We do not have any additional details to share at this time,” the statement concluded.

It’s unclear if or when you’ll be able to chat in the Facebook app, but don’t surprised to see this feature in a future app release.

Editor’s note: we’ve updated the article with comment from Facebook’s Messenger team.

Feature image: Facebook