Where to find Facebook settings and what you can change there
Facebook settings live in one place: the menu at the top right of your screen. Click the downward arrow or three horizontal lines (the exact icon depends on whether you're on desktop or mobile), then select "Settings and privacy" followed by "Settings." From there, you can change who sees your posts, control notifications, manage your password, decide what apps can access your account, and adjust privacy for your photos and personal information.
The settings menu is organized into categories on the left side of the page. Each category controls a different part of your account — some affect your privacy, others control how Facebook contacts you, and some let you manage devices that are logged into your account. You don't need to change everything at once; you can visit settings whenever you want to adjust one thing.
Key Takeaways
- Settings are accessed through the menu icon at the top right, then "Settings and privacy" and "Settings."
- Privacy settings control who can see your posts, photos, and personal information — these are found under "Privacy."
- Notification settings let you choose how Facebook contacts you (email, text, or app notifications) and are organized by type of alert.
- You can see which devices are logged into your account and remove any you no longer use under "Where you're logged in."
- Password and security settings, including two-factor authentication, are in the "Security and login" section.
How to control who sees your posts and profile information
Your privacy settings determine whether your posts, photos, and profile details are visible to friends only, friends of friends, or the public. Open Settings, then click "Privacy" on the left. You'll see options for "Who can see your posts?" and "Who can contact you?" — each one has a dropdown menu where you choose your audience.
If you want to limit who can see your profile itself, scroll down to "Who can look you up?" This controls whether people can find you through Facebook's search or through search engines like Google. You can also set who can send you friend requests and who can comment on your posts. These settings explore going forward; they don't change what you've already posted, but you can go back and edit the privacy of individual old posts if you want.
Turning notifications on, off, or changing how you receive them
Facebook can contact you through app notifications (the bell icon on Facebook itself), email, or text message. Go to Settings, then click "Notifications" on the left. You'll see categories like "In-app notifications," "Email notifications," and "Text message notifications." Each category shows you what types of alerts Facebook can send — for example, when someone comments on your post, when there's activity in a group you're in, or when Facebook thinks you might know someone.
For each type of notification, you can turn it off entirely, or adjust the frequency (like "all updates" versus "only important updates"). If you're getting too many notifications, the fastest way to reduce them is to open the "In-app notifications" section and turn off categories you don't care about. You can always turn them back on later if you change your mind.
Managing passwords, login devices, and two-factor authentication
Your security settings are in the "Security and login" section of Settings. Here you can change your password, see a list of all devices currently logged into your account, and set up two-factor authentication (an extra security step that requires a code from your phone when you log in from a new device).
To change your password, click "Change password" and enter your current password followed by your new one. To see which devices are logged in, scroll to "Where you're logged in" — this shows every phone, tablet, and computer that has an active Facebook session. If you see a device you don't recognize or no longer use, click it and select "Log out" to end that session. Two-factor authentication is optional but recommended; it's in the same section under "Two-factor authentication" and can use your phone number, an authentication app, or a security key.
Controlling what apps and websites can access your account
Third-party apps and websites (like games, photo editors, or scheduling tools) sometimes ask permission to connect to your Facebook account. You can see which ones have access and remove any you no longer use. Go to Settings, then click "Apps and websites" on the left. You'll see three tabs: "Active," "Expired," and "Removed."
The "Active" tab shows apps currently connected to your account. Click any app to see what information it can access — for example, whether it can see your email, your friends list, or your posts. If you no longer use an app, click it and select "Remove" to disconnect it. This doesn't delete the app from your phone or computer; it just stops it from accessing your Facebook account. You can always reconnect it later if you want.
Adjusting email and communication preferences
Beyond notifications, Facebook sends emails about account activity, recommendations, and news. You can control these separately in the "Email" section of Settings. Here you'll find checkboxes for different types of emails — for example, "Notifications about your account," "Recommendations," and "News about Facebook products and features."
Uncheck any boxes for emails you don't want to receive. You can also scroll to the bottom of this section to find a link that lets you unsubscribe from all non-essential emails at once. If you're receiving emails you didn't expect, this is usually where to stop them.
Finding settings for photos, videos, and personal information
Your profile information — like your phone number, email address, birthday, and relationship status — can be set to private or public. Go to Settings, then click "Personal information" on the left. You'll see fields for each piece of information with a dropdown next to it showing who can see it. Change any dropdown to "Only me" if you want to keep that information private.
For photos and videos, your privacy settings (described earlier under "Privacy") control who can see them. You can also go to your profile, click "Photos," and adjust the privacy of individual albums or photos. If you upload a photo and later decide it should be private, you can edit just that photo without changing your overall settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop Facebook from tracking my activity on other websites?
Go to Settings, click "Apps and websites," and look for "Websites" at the top. You'll see a list of websites that have connected to your Facebook account. You can remove any of them. Additionally, in "Privacy," you can adjust settings for off-Facebook activity, which limits how much Facebook tracks your browsing on other sites.
Can I make my profile completely private so only friends can see it?
Yes. Go to Settings, click "Privacy," and set "Who can see your posts?" to "Friends." Then set "Who can look you up?" to "Friends only." This prevents strangers from finding your profile or seeing your information, though your friends will still see everything you post.
What does "two-factor authentication" do and should I turn it on?
Two-factor authentication adds a second security step: when you log in from a new device, Facebook asks for a code from your phone in addition to your password. This makes it much harder for someone to hack your account even if they know your password. It's optional but recommended, especially if you use Facebook for important accounts or payments.
If I remove an app from my Facebook account, does it delete the app from my phone?
No. Removing an app from "Apps and websites" only stops it from accessing your Facebook account. The app itself stays on your phone. If you want to delete the app entirely, you need to uninstall it separately through your phone's app store or settings.
Why am I still getting notifications after I turned them off?
Check both your Facebook notification settings and your phone's settings. Facebook has its own notification controls, but your phone's operating system also controls whether apps can send notifications. If you turned off notifications in Facebook but your phone still allows them, you'll keep receiving them. Go to your phone's Settings, find Facebook, and check notification permissions there as well.