Did you have a problem because you inadvertently did a Messenger update or your phone update it automatically? If for some reason you want to undo the update and recover an older version of Messenger, know that this is entirely possible. I will take you through step-by-step instructions on how to do this in this post. Know, however, that app updates are done for something, using older versions of Messenger is risky. So before I get into the instructions, I will first inform you of the risks.
What are the risks of rolling back Messenger updates? Is it safe to use an older version?
Every app provider recommends updating their apps regularly. Messenger updates are designed to improve the app and make it safer for users. New versions include improvements that fix old bugs and help keep the app stable on all devices – even the newest ones.
A key role of the updates, however, is security issues. Messenger and other Meta (formerly Facebook) platforms are a dream target for hackers and fraudsters, as they store the data of millions of users. These, as we know, come at a price, so their value is huge.
Hackers are using ever newer ways to breach Messenger’s security. This is why app providers need to respond to these activities constantly and create newer versions with additional security features. Regular Messenger updates are therefore extremely important.
Of course, when creating new patches, Messenger providers occasionally change the look of the interface, which is not to everyone’s liking. There is therefore a temptation to roll back the update and use the previous, older version. One of the major changes that was made to the look and feel of Messenger, for example, was the introduction of Stories. This feature was later removed.
How to get back an older version of Messenger
If, despite the risks, you still want to undo a Messenger update and prefer to use an older version of the app, I have included instructions on how to do this below. The Messenger update can be undone in the same way on any Android phone, regardless of brand. To use the old Messenger, you first need to uninstall the app completely.
Restoring an older version of Messenger on an iPhone is also possible.
How to get back an older version of Messenger on Android – instructions in 3 steps:
- Uninstall the Messenger app,
- go to APKmirror or APKpure,
- select any of the older versions of the app and install it.
How to get back an older version of Messenger on iPhone
Undoing Messenger updates on iOS devices is also possible. You can use the AppTrans tool for this, which you have to download and install on your computer beforehand. You can read more about it here. Unfortunately, I don’t have an iPhone and can’t check this on my own. If you have a mobile device with this system, you can try this out.
To sum up the post, recovering an older version of Messenger on an Android phone is easy. All you need to do is delete the app and then download and install an older version.
Unfortunately, as I stated earlier, older versions are not guaranteed to be secure and using them is risky. I therefore believe that rolling back updates to the Messenger app is unwise. Even if we don’t like the new design or the new features of the app, it is better to get used to them than to put ourselves in danger. It is possible that, under criticism from users, the less successful features will be removed with the next update.
Recovering an older version of Messenger is also possible on iOS devices, at least such information can be found on the net. However, iPhone owners are also advised against restoring Messenger to older versions, as these are not adapted to current threats.
