This article describes how to send messages to people you're friends with and people you're not friends with on Facebook Messenger, as well as to your phone's contacts and people who are physically nearby. The information here applies to Messenger on iOS and Android devices.

Facebook friends are automatically added to the Messenger app when you sign in to Messenger with your Facebook account credentials. To start a conversation with a Facebook friend in Messenger:

On the Chats screen, tap the Compose Message icon in the top right. (In iOS apps this appears as a square with a pencil, and in the Android app as a pencil.)

Enter or select a contact name.