Where to Find the Relationship Status Setting

Your relationship status lives in your Facebook profile, not in a separate settings menu. Open your profile by clicking your name or profile picture anywhere on Facebook, then look for the "About" section — it's usually the second tab after your cover photo, right after "Posts".

Click "About" and scroll down until you see "Relationship." If you haven't set one before, it will say "Add relationship status." If you've already set one, it will show your current status. Either way, click on that line to open the editing window.

Key Takeaways

  • Your relationship status is in your profile's "About" section, not in Settings or Privacy controls.
  • You can set your status to Single, In a relationship, Engaged, Married, It's complicated, In an open relationship, Widowed, or Prefer not to say.
  • When you change your status, Facebook asks if you want to announce it to your friends — you can post it or keep it private.
  • If you're in a relationship with another Facebook user, you can link your profiles so both show the connection.
  • You control who sees your relationship status through privacy settings on that same page.

The Status Options Facebook Offers

Facebook gives you eight choices: Single, In a relationship, Engaged, Married, It's complicated, In an open relationship, Widowed, or Prefer not to say. Pick the one that matches your situation. If none of them fit what you want to share, "Prefer not to say" keeps the field visible on your profile without stating a specific status.

You don't have to pick any status at all. If you leave the field blank, it straightforward won't appear on your profile. This is different from "Prefer not to say," which shows that you've chosen not to disclose — the field is visible, but empty.

Adding a Partner's Profile to Your Status

If your partner also uses Facebook, you can link their profile to your relationship status so both of you show the connection. When you select "In a relationship," "Engaged," or "Married," a field appears asking "With whom?" Click that field and search for your partner's name or profile.

Once you find them and click their profile, a request goes to them. They'll see a notification asking them to confirm the relationship. Until they confirm, only you see the linked status on your profile. After they confirm, both profiles show the connection, and you can both control who sees it through privacy settings.

If your partner doesn't confirm within a few days, the request expires and you can send it again. If they decline, the link doesn't appear on either profile, though you can still keep your own status set to "In a relationship" without naming them.

Choosing Who Can See Your Relationship Status

Right below where you set your status, you'll see a privacy icon — usually a globe, a group of people, or a lock. Click that icon to choose who sees your relationship status: Public (everyone on and off Facebook), Friends, Only Me, or Custom (specific people or groups).

This setting is separate from your overall profile privacy. You might have your entire profile set to Friends Only, but still choose to hide your relationship status from everyone. Or you might make your profile public but keep your relationship status visible only to friends. Each field has its own privacy control.

What Happens When You Change Your Status

After you click "Save" or "Confirm," Facebook asks whether you want to post about the change. A window appears saying something like "Share this with your friends?" If you click "Share," a post goes to your timeline and your friends' news feeds announcing the change. If you click "Don't share," the status updates silently — only people who visit your profile will see it.

You can change your mind about sharing even after you've posted. If you shared the announcement and want to delete it, go to your timeline, find the post about your relationship status, click the three dots in the corner, and select "Delete." The status itself stays changed; only the announcement post is removed.

Removing or Changing Your Status Later

To change your status, go back to your About section and click on "Relationship" again. Select a new status or click "Remove" to delete the field entirely. You'll get the same option to share or not share the change.

If you had linked your partner's profile and you change your status to something else, the link disappears from both profiles. Your partner will see a notification that you've changed your relationship status, but they won't see the announcement unless you chose to share it publicly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The biggest mistake is confusing the relationship status field with your "About" section's other fields. Your job title, education, and hometown are separate — changing your relationship status doesn't touch those. If you want to update your job or school at the same time, you'll need to edit those fields separately.

Another common mix-up: thinking that linking your partner's profile means they automatically see your status. They don't see it unless you've set the privacy to include them. If you set your relationship status to "Only Me," your partner won't see it even if they're linked to it.

Don't assume that removing a linked partner from your status notifies them privately. They'll only know if you shared the change publicly or if they happen to visit your profile. If you want to tell them, send them a message separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hide my relationship status from one specific person?

Yes. Click the privacy icon next to your relationship status and select "Custom." You can then choose specific people to hide it from, or specific people to show it to. Facebook will let you type names or select from your friends list.

What if my partner won't confirm the relationship link?

The link stays pending for a few days, then expires. You can send it again, but if they keep declining, the link won't appear on either profile. You can still keep your own status set to "In a relationship" without naming them — just don't fill in the "With whom?" field.

Does changing my relationship status notify everyone?

Only if you choose to share it. Facebook asks after you save the change. If you click "Don't share," the status updates quietly and only shows up when someone visits your profile. If you click "Share," it posts to your timeline and appears in friends' news feeds.

Can I set my relationship status to something Facebook doesn't offer?

No. Facebook only offers the eight preset options. If your situation doesn't fit one of them, "Prefer not to say" is the closest option, or you can leave the field blank so it doesn't appear at all.

If I delete my relationship status, does it notify my partner?

Not automatically. If you had linked your partner's profile, they'll see a notification that you changed your relationship status, but only if they check their notifications or visit your profile. If you want to tell them, send them a message.