Where to find Facebook settings on desktop and mobile

Facebook settings live in one place: the menu icon in the top right corner of your screen. On a computer, click the downward-pointing arrow or three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu). On a phone or tablet, tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right of the screen. Either way, scroll down until you see "Settings and privacy," then tap or click "Settings."

Once you're in Settings, you'll see categories listed on the left side (desktop) or at the top (mobile). Each category controls a different part of how Facebook works — who can see your posts, how you log in, what notifications you get, and more. The layout is the same whether you use Facebook on a browser or the app.

Key Takeaways

  • Settings are accessed through the menu icon in the top right corner, then "Settings and privacy" > "Settings."
  • Privacy settings control who sees your posts, profile information, and friend list — these are found under "Privacy."
  • Notification settings let you choose which alerts you receive and how (email, text, or on-screen), found under "Notifications."
  • Login and password changes are under "Security and login," where you can also see which devices are logged into your account.
  • You can deactivate or permanently delete your account from "Deactivation and deletion" at the bottom of the Settings menu.

Controlling who sees your posts and profile information

The "Privacy" section is where you decide what's visible to the public, friends only, or specific people. Click or tap "Privacy" in the Settings menu. You'll see options like "Who can see your posts?" and "Who can contact you?" — each one has a dropdown menu with choices like Public, Friends, or Custom.

If you choose "Custom," you can name specific people who can or cannot see something. For example, you might set your posts to Public but block one person, or set them to Friends but let a specific friend see everything. You can also control who can see your friend list, your email address, and your phone number — each has its own privacy setting.

These settings explore going forward; they don't hide old posts you've already shared. If you want to change the privacy of something you posted months ago, you have to edit that individual post by clicking the three dots on it and selecting "Edit privacy."

Turning notifications on and off

Notifications are the alerts you get when someone likes your post, comments, or sends you a message. Go to "Notifications" in Settings. You'll see a list of events — comments, likes, friend requests, messages, and many others. Next to each one is a toggle or dropdown that lets you turn it on or off, or choose how you want to be notified.

You can receive notifications in three ways: as a red number on the Facebook app icon (in-app), as an email to your email address, or as a text message to your phone. Most people turn off email and text notifications to avoid being bombarded, but keep in-app notifications on. You control each type separately, so you might allow email for messages but not for likes.

If you're getting too many notifications, the fastest fix is to go to "Notifications" and toggle off the ones you don't care about. You can always turn them back on later if you change your mind.

Changing your password and managing login security

Click or tap "Security and login" in Settings. Near the top, you'll see "Change password." Click it, enter your current password, then type your new password twice. Facebook will ask you to confirm the change — check your email for a confirmation link if one appears.

Below that is "Where you're logged in," which shows every device and browser that's currently signed into your account. If you see a device you don't recognize — a phone you sold, a computer at an old job, a browser on someone else's laptop — click it and select "Log out." This when ready signs Facebook out on that device.

You can also set up two-factor authentication, which adds a second layer of security. When you turn it on, Facebook will ask for a code from your phone every time you log in from a new device. This is under "Two-factor authentication" in the same Security and login section. It takes a few extra seconds to log in, but it makes your account much harder to break into.

Adjusting what apps and websites can access your account

If you've ever logged into a game, quiz, or website using your Facebook account instead of creating a new password, that app or site has permission to see some of your Facebook information. Go to "Apps and websites" in Settings, then click "Logged in with Facebook." You'll see a list of everything connected to your account.

Click any app or website to see what information it can access — usually your name, profile picture, and email address, but sometimes more. If you don't use it anymore or don't trust it, click "Remove" to disconnect it. The app won't be able to see your Facebook information after that, though you may need to log in with a separate password if you want to use it again.

Controlling ads and data sharing

Facebook shows you ads based on information it collects about you — your age, location, interests, and websites you visit. Go to "Ads" in Settings, then click "Ad preferences." You'll see categories like "Your interests" and "Your categories." You can remove interests you don't want Facebook to use, though you can't stop ads entirely.

You can also see which advertisers have your contact information (your email or phone number) and have uploaded it to Facebook. This is under "Advertisers you've interacted with." You can remove yourself from these lists, but new advertisers can add you again in the future.

If you want to see what data Facebook has collected about you overall — not just for ads — go to "Your information" in Settings and click "read your information." This shows you everything Facebook knows: your messages, photos, posts, and the data it's collected from other websites.

Deactivating or permanently deleting your account

Scroll to the very bottom of the Settings menu and click "Deactivation and deletion." Facebook will ask whether you want to deactivate or delete. Deactivation is temporary — your profile, photos, and posts disappear, but Facebook keeps all your information. You can reactivate anytime by logging back in. Deletion is permanent — after 30 days, Facebook erases your account and everything in it.

If you choose either option, Facebook will ask you why and whether you want to read your information first. You have 30 days to change your mind after deletion; after that, recovery isn't possible. During those 30 days, your account is hidden but not yet gone, so you can log back in to cancel the deletion.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I stop Facebook from tracking me on other websites?

Go to "Apps and websites" in Settings and remove any apps or websites you don't recognize or no longer use. You can also go to "Ads" and adjust your ad preferences. However, Facebook will still collect some data from your activity on its own platform. You cannot fully stop tracking, but you can limit what information advertisers see.

Can I make my profile private so only friends can see it?

Yes. Go to "Privacy" in Settings and change "Who can see your posts?" to "Friends." You can also restrict who can see your profile by changing "Who can look you up?" to "Friends only." Keep in mind that your name and profile picture may still be visible in search results, but your posts and details won't be.

What happens if I deactivate my account instead of deleting it?

Your profile, posts, and photos disappear from Facebook, and people can't find you or message you. However, Facebook keeps all your data and can reactivate your account if you log back in. Messages you sent to others will still be visible to them. Deactivation is reversible; deletion is not.

How do I remove old posts I don't want people to see?

Click the three dots on the post and select "Delete." This removes it from your timeline and from search results. You can also change the privacy of an old post by clicking the three dots and selecting "Edit privacy" — for example, changing it from Public to Friends only. Changing privacy doesn't delete the post, just who can see it.

Why am I still getting notifications after I turned them off?

Check that you turned off the right type of notification — in-app, email, or text. Some notifications come through multiple channels. Also check "Notifications" under "Settings and privacy" to make sure the toggle is actually off. If you're getting emails, you may need to unsubscribe from the email itself or adjust email notification settings separately.