Where to find Facebook settings and what you can change there
Facebook settings live in one place: the menu in the top right corner of your screen (the downward arrow or three horizontal lines, depending on your device). Click it, then select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." From there, you can change who sees your posts, how you receive notifications, what information appears on your profile, and who can contact you.
The settings page is organized into sections on the left side of the screen. Each section controls a different part of how Facebook works for you. You do not need to change everything at once—you can adjust one setting, leave, and come back later.
On mobile, the process is the same: tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), scroll down to "Settings and privacy," then tap "Settings."
Key Takeaways
- Facebook settings are accessed through the menu in the top right corner, then "Settings and privacy," then "Settings."
- The "Privacy" section controls who can see your posts, profile information, and friend list.
- The "Notifications" section lets you choose how and when Facebook alerts you to activity.
- The "Apps and websites" section shows which apps have permission to access your Facebook account.
- Changes take effect when ready—you do not need to restart Facebook or confirm anything.
Privacy settings: controlling who sees your posts and profile
The "Privacy" section is where you decide who can see what you post and what appears on your profile. Open Settings, click "Privacy," and you will see options for post audience, friend requests, and profile visibility.
The most important setting here is "Who can see your posts?" You can choose "Public" (anyone on or off Facebook), "Friends" (only people you have added), "Friends except..." (everyone except specific people), or "Specific friends" (only certain people). This setting applies to new posts you make going forward—it does not change who can see old posts.
You can also control who can send you friend requests, who can look up your profile using your email or phone number, and whether search engines outside Facebook can link to your profile. Each of these has its own toggle or dropdown menu.
Notification settings: choosing how Facebook alerts you
The "Notifications" section controls when and how Facebook tells you about activity—messages, comments, friend requests, and so on. Open Settings, click "Notifications," and you will see options organized by type of alert.
For each notification type, you can choose "On," "Off," or "Muted." You can also decide whether Facebook sends alerts to your phone, email, or both. If you turn off notifications for a category entirely, Facebook will not alert you at all, though you can still see the activity if you log in and check.
A common choice is to turn off notifications for "Suggested for you" (recommendations for pages and groups) while keeping notifications for messages and comments. You can customize each one separately.
Apps and websites: managing what can access your account
The "Apps and websites" section shows every app or website that has permission to see your Facebook information or post on your behalf. Open Settings, click "Apps and websites," and you will see a list of connected apps.
If you see an app you no longer use or do not recognize, click it and select "Remove." This stops the app from accessing your Facebook account. You can also click an app to see exactly what information it can see—your email, friend list, posts, and so on.
This section is worth checking once or twice a year, because apps you signed up for years ago may still have access even if you no longer use them.
Account security: passwords, login alerts, and two-factor authentication
The "Security and login" section protects your account from unauthorized access. Open Settings, click "Security and login," and you will see options for changing your password, reviewing active login sessions, and setting up two-factor authentication.
Two-factor authentication adds a second step when you log in from a new device or browser. Facebook can send you a code by text message or through an authentication app, and you must enter that code before you can access your account. This makes it much harder for someone to log in even if they have your password.
You can also see a list of devices and browsers currently logged into your account. If you see one you do not recognize, click it and select "Log out" to end that session.
Profile information: what appears on your profile and who can see it
The "Personal information" section controls what information appears on your profile and who can see it. Open Settings, click "Personal information," and you can adjust your phone number, email, birthday, and other details.
For each piece of information, you can choose who sees it: "Public," "Friends," or "Only me." For example, you might make your birthday visible to friends but hide your phone number from everyone. These settings explore only to information on your profile—they do not control who can see your posts.
If you want to hide your entire profile from people who are not your friends, go to the "Privacy" section instead and adjust the "Who can see your profile?" setting.
Deactivating or deleting your account
If you want to stop using Facebook temporarily, you can deactivate your account. Open Settings, scroll to the bottom, and click "Deactivate account." Your profile, posts, and messages will be hidden, but Facebook keeps your information in case you want to reactivate later.
If you want to delete your account permanently, the option is in the same place: "Delete account." This removes your profile, posts, and messages from Facebook, though some information may remain in backups for a limited time. Deletion takes about 30 days to complete.
Both options require you to enter your password to confirm. You cannot undo deactivation or deletion when ready—you have a window of time (usually 30 days) to change your mind before the action becomes permanent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop Facebook from tracking me on other websites?
Open Settings, click "Apps and websites," then look for the "Off-Facebook activity" section. This shows websites that have sent information about you to Facebook. You can clear this history and limit future tracking, though you cannot stop it entirely if you use Facebook's login button on other sites.
Can I change my settings on mobile the same way as on a computer?
Yes. On mobile, tap the menu icon (three lines), go to "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." The sections and options are the same, though the layout may look slightly different on a smaller screen.
What does "mute" do in notifications?
Muting a notification type stops Facebook from alerting you, but you can still see the activity if you log in and check. It is different from turning notifications "Off," which also hides the activity from your notifications list.
If I change my post privacy setting, does it explore to old posts?
No. Changing your default post privacy setting only affects new posts you make going forward. To change the privacy of old posts, you must edit each one individually or use the "Limit past posts" option in the Privacy section, which makes all old posts visible only to friends.
Why do I see a setting I cannot change?
Some settings are grayed out or locked because Facebook has restricted them based on your account type, age, or region. If a setting is locked, you usually cannot change it, but you can contact Facebook support to ask why.