Facebook Messenger now supports fullscreen photo and video viewing in latest update

BY Evan Selleck

Published 31 Jul 2014

facebook-messenger-update

Facebook decided to kill Facebook Messenger inside the stock app just a few days ago, in an effort to move users over to the standalone Messenger app for mobile platforms, and now the app has received an update that should make those visual conversations less frustrating.

Visual communication through these social networking apps, even just the messaging apps that have taken over the App Store, is based on being able to view images. In the previous version of Facebook Messenger, that meant viewing images in a small section of the app when they were shared between contacts. That changed on July 31, though, as Facebook officially updated the app to make viewing images and videos a lot easier.

The new update, which brings the version up to 9.0, now lets users view images and videos in fullscreen, no longer secluding them into a smaller section of the app. Considering the decision to make users use the application to communicate with other Facebook users, it’s good to see the company doing what it can (even in small doses) to improve the experience.

The app also boasts a more reliable experience, as well as making it faster overall, thanks to the update.

Facebook Messenger recently launched for iPad as well, and the app is designed for both devices and their specific screen sizes, with the user experience being slightly different for each. You can find the direct link to the free app below.

Do you use Facebook Messenger, and do you like this update with a focus on images and video?

Facebook Messenger

  • Available in the App Store: Free
  • Updated: July 31, 2014
  • Version: 9.0
  • Size: 35MB
  • Compatibility: Requires iOS 7 or later