11 Facebook Messenger tips and tricks everyone should know

Messenger isn't just for sending text. The app supports voice and video calls over the internet, which means you don't need a traditional phone plan to speak to someone or have a video chat with them.

To call someone who has the Messenger app installed on their phone, tap the video or phone icon in the top right of the message window next to their name.

Facebook lets you transfer money from your bank account to anyone on Messenger. It's easy to set up:

1. Tap the little icon with three dots next to the thumb icon, and then tap "Payments."
2. Enter the amount you want to send.
3. Add your Visa or MasterCard debit card.

Each transaction can take up to a few business days to send depending on your bank, but Facebook doesn't charge any fee for providing the service. You can also add or manage your debit cards in the Messenger app under "Payments" in the settings tab.

Facebook has partnered with several retailers as well as Zendesk, a customer-service platform, to let you talk with companies like you would in a normal message thread.

When you buy something from Everlane, for example, and have your Facebook account tied into the order, your order details get sent to you in Messenger. You can request shipping status updates and get customer support directly in the app.

Facebook is starting to integrate more businesses into Messenger, but for now, this experience only works with Everlane and Zulily for retail.

If you're interested, read more about our experience of talking to Everlane in Messenger.

When you're in a conversation, tap the three-dots button in the bottom right corner and then tap "Location."

You can choose to share your current location or a pin somewhere else on a map.

Apps like Giphy and ESPN integrate directly into Messenger. This means you can use Giphy to quickly share a GIF or share sports memes and highlights from ESPN.

To see a list of all the apps you have access to, tap the three dots — in the bottom right corner — in a message thread.

Did you know that Facebook Messenger has a web app for the desktop? Just log in to Messenger.com.

You don't actually need a Facebook account to use Messenger. Earlier this year Facebook made it possible to sign up for Messenger with just a phone number. You can create a Messenger account from the mobile app or website.

If you'd rather not be annoyed by notifications from a message thread, you can mute the conversation without leaving it. Just tap the name of the person or group you're messaging at the top of the screen and then tap "Notifications."

You'll be able to mute the thread for a certain amount of time or indefinitely.

A section of the Messenger app you probably don't use is Groups.

But if you deal with a lot of threads with multiple people, the tab is a great way to organize your conversations. You can pin them in a grid view and create new groups with a dedicated picture and name.

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Messenger has integration with Uber, which means you can use the app to order a ride in a conversation thread without opening the Uber app.

Just log into your Uber account under the "Transportation" section of Messenger's settings to get started.

(Facebook is rolling this feature out gradually, so if you don't see it in your Messenger app, check back later.)

Facebook is working on its own virtual assistant called M that will work directly in Messenger. Think of it like Siri, but more powerful. It will help you make restaurant reservations, buy stuff as if you were using Amazon, contact the DMV, book vacations, and more.

Right now, Facebook M is only available to a small group of people using the Messenger app in the San Francisco Bay area, but the social network's ambition is to have M eventually work for all of Messenger's 700 million users.