What you can actually change about Facebook's algorithm

Facebook does not let you turn off its algorithm entirely, but you can tell it which posts, accounts, and topics matter to you. The algorithm learns from what you interact with — likes, comments, shares, clicks, and time spent watching — so controlling your feed means controlling your engagement. You can hide posts from specific people, mute accounts without unfollowing them, tell Facebook which topics interest you, and adjust settings that determine whether you see ads, Reels, or video.

The changes you make stick to your account, not to the algorithm itself. Facebook still ranks posts the same way for everyone, but your personal feed reflects your choices about what you want to see more of and less of.

Key Takeaways

  • Muting an account hides their posts from your feed without unfollowing them or notifying them that you muted them.
  • Hiding individual posts tells Facebook you do not want to see similar content, which gradually shifts what the algorithm shows you.
  • The "See First" feature lets you choose up to 30 accounts whose posts always appear at the top of your feed.
  • Adjusting your Feed Preferences in Settings lets you prioritize Friends, Groups, or Pages, and control whether you see Reels and video.
  • Clearing your watch history removes videos and content you have viewed, which resets part of what the algorithm knows about your interests.

Mute accounts to hide their posts without unfollowing

Muting is the fastest way to reduce posts from a specific person or Page without the awkwardness of unfollowing. When you mute someone, their posts stop appearing in your feed, but you remain friends or followers. They cannot see that you muted them, and you can still visit their profile to see their posts if you choose.

To mute an account on mobile or desktop: tap or click the three dots in the top right corner of any post from that person or Page, then select "Mute [Name]" or "Mute [Page Name]". You will see options to mute them for 30 days or indefinitely. On desktop, you can also mute someone by visiting their profile, clicking the three dots next to their name, and selecting "Mute".

To unmute, go to Settings, then Muting, and you will see a list of all muted accounts. Click or tap next to the name and choose "Unmute".

Hide individual posts to train the algorithm what you do not want

Hiding a single post tells Facebook's algorithm that you do not want to see similar content. Over time, as you hide posts about certain topics, the algorithm learns to show you fewer posts like those. This is different from muting an account — you are not hiding everything from that person, just that one post.

Tap or click the three dots in the top right corner of any post and select "Hide post". You will see an option that says "See fewer posts like this". Choose it. Facebook will ask why you are hiding it — you can say "I do not want to see this" or "It is not relevant to me". The more specific you are, the better the algorithm learns.

Repeat this with posts you do not want to see. The algorithm does not change overnight, but after you hide several posts about a topic, Facebook will show you fewer posts in that category.

Use "See First" to prioritize the accounts that matter most

The "See First" feature lets you choose up to 30 accounts — friends, family, Pages, or Groups — whose posts always appear at the top of your feed, before the algorithm's ranked posts. Posts from accounts you mark "See First" show up in order, so you will not miss them.

To mark an account "See First": visit their profile, tap or click the three dots next to their name, and select "See First". On mobile, you may see a star icon instead — tap it to mark them as a priority. You can also add accounts to "See First" by tapping the three dots on any of their posts.

To remove someone from "See First", go back to their profile and tap or click the three dots again, then deselect "See First". You remain friends or followers; you just stop prioritizing their posts.

Adjust Feed Preferences to control what type of content appears

Facebook's Feed Preferences menu lets you choose whether you want to see more posts from Friends, Groups, or Pages, and whether you want Reels, video, or other formats to appear in your feed. This is a broader control than muting or hiding individual posts.

On mobile: tap the three horizontal lines (menu), scroll to Settings and Privacy, tap Settings, then Feeds, then Feeds Preferences. On desktop: click the three horizontal lines in the top left, scroll to Settings and Privacy, click Settings, then Feeds, then Feeds Preferences.

You will see sliders for Friends, Groups, and Pages. Move the slider toward the type of content you want to see more of. You can also toggle Reels, Video, and Stories on or off. If you turn off Reels, for example, they will not appear in your feed, though you can still watch them in the dedicated Reels section.

Clear your watch history to reset what Facebook knows about your interests

Facebook tracks every video you watch, every link you click, and every post you pause on. This history feeds the algorithm. Clearing it removes that data and forces the algorithm to start learning your interests fresh.

On mobile: tap the three horizontal lines, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Your Information and Permissions, then Off-Facebook Activity. On desktop: click the three horizontal lines in the top left, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Your Information and Permissions, then Off-Facebook Activity.

Tap or click "Clear History". Facebook will ask you to confirm. Once you clear it, the algorithm will rely less on your past behavior and more on what you do going forward. This does not delete your posts or messages — it only removes the record of what you have viewed.

Adjust ad preferences to see fewer targeted ads

Facebook uses the same data to target ads to you. You cannot stop seeing ads entirely, but you can control which topics ads are based on and hide ads from specific advertisers.

On mobile: tap the three horizontal lines, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Ads, then Ad Preferences. On desktop: click the three horizontal lines, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Ads, then Ad Preferences.

You will see categories like "Your interests", "Your information", and "Advertisers you have seen ads from". Tap or click any category to see what Facebook thinks you care about and remove topics you do not want targeted to you. You can also tap or click an advertiser's name to hide ads from that company.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does muting someone notify them that I muted them?

No. Muting is private. The person or Page you muted cannot see that you muted them, and they will not receive a notification. They can still message you and see your posts if they visit your profile.

Will hiding posts change my feed when ready?

Not when ready. The algorithm learns gradually from the posts you hide. After you hide several posts about a topic, Facebook will show you fewer posts in that category over the next few days or weeks. The more you hide, the faster the algorithm adjusts.

Can I see posts from muted accounts if I want to?

Yes. You can visit their profile anytime and see all their posts. Muting only removes them from your feed. You remain friends or followers, so you can unmute them at any time.

What happens if I clear my watch history?

Clearing your watch history removes the record of videos you have watched and links you have clicked. Facebook will no longer use that data to target ads or rank posts. Your feed will change as the algorithm learns your interests fresh from your new activity.

Can I turn off the algorithm completely?

No. Facebook does not offer a chronological feed option where posts appear in the order they were posted. You can only control which accounts you prioritize with "See First" and which content you hide or mute.