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 control who sees your posts, how Facebook uses your data, what notifications you receive, and who can contact you.
The settings menu is organized into categories on the left side of the screen. Each category controls a different part of your account — your privacy, your login security, the ads you see, and more. You don't need to change everything at once. Most people adjust just a few settings based on what matters to them.
Key Takeaways
- Facebook 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, find your profile, and message you — these are the most common changes people make.
- Login and password settings let you see which devices are signed into your account and remove ones you don't recognize.
- Notification settings let you choose which alerts Facebook sends you by email or phone, and how often.
- You can change most settings when ready, and Facebook saves your changes automatically.
How to change who can see your posts and profile
Go to Settings, then click "Privacy" on the left side. The first option is "Who can see your posts?" — click the dropdown and choose from Public (anyone on the internet), Friends (only people you've added), or a custom list. This setting applies to new posts you create going forward, not old ones.
Below that is "Who can see your profile?" This controls whether strangers can find you by searching your name or see your profile picture and bio. Set this to Friends if you want only people you've added to see your profile, or Public if you don't mind strangers viewing it.
You can also control "Who can contact you?" — choose whether to accept messages from Friends only or from anyone. If you choose Friends, people outside your friends list can still send a message request, but it won't show up in your main inbox.
How to manage who can find and add you
In the Privacy section, look for "Who can look you up?" This has two parts: one for search engines outside Facebook, and one for people searching within Facebook. If you uncheck "Allow search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile," your profile won't appear in Google or Bing results.
The "Friend requests" setting lets you limit who can send you friend requests. By default, anyone can send a request. If you change this to Friends of friends, only people connected to your existing friends can request you. This reduces unwanted requests from strangers.
How to change notification settings
Go to Settings, then click "Notifications" on the left. You'll see categories like Messages, Friend requests, and Comments. For each type, you can choose how Facebook alerts you: push notifications on your phone, email, or both. You can also turn notifications off entirely for certain activities.
Scroll down to "Email notifications" to control what Facebook sends to your email address. You can choose to receive weekly summaries, when ready alerts, or no emails at all. Many people turn off email notifications to reduce inbox clutter, since they already see alerts on their phone.
How to review and remove devices signed into your account
Go to Settings, then click "Security and login" on the left. Under "Where you're logged in," you'll see a list of devices currently signed into your Facebook account — phones, tablets, computers, and browsers. Each entry shows the device type, location, and when it was last active.
If you see a device you don't recognize, click the three dots next to it and select "Log out." This removes that device's access to your account when ready. If you've lost a phone or think someone else has your password, log out all devices except the one you're using right now, then change your password.
Below that section is "Your passwords" — click "Change password" to set a new one. Use a password that's at least 6 characters long and includes a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Facebook will ask you to log back in on all your devices after you change it.
How to control what ads you see
Go to Settings, then click "Ads" on the left. Under "Ad preferences," you can see the categories Facebook thinks describe you — things like your age, gender, interests, and devices you use. Click any category to see what Facebook knows and remove or add interests if they're wrong.
You can also control "Advertisers and businesses" — this shows which companies have uploaded a list of people (like an email list) that includes you, so they can target ads to you. You can remove yourself from these lists by clicking the X next to each advertiser.
Note that changing these settings doesn't stop ads from appearing — Facebook still shows ads to everyone. These settings just change which ads you see based on your interests and data.
How to manage app and website access to your account
Go to Settings, then click "Apps and websites" on the left. Under "Active," you'll see every app and website you've logged into using your Facebook account — games, photo editors, shopping sites, and more. Each one has permission to see certain information about you, like your name, email, and friend list.
Click any app to see exactly what information it can access. If you no longer use an app, click the X to remove its access. This doesn't delete your account on that app or service — it just disconnects it from Facebook. If you want to use that app again later, you'll need to log in with a different method or reconnect it.
How to change your language and display settings
Go to Settings, then click "General" on the left. Under "Language," click the dropdown to choose which language Facebook displays in. This changes the language of buttons, menus, and notifications, but not the language of posts from your friends.
In the same section, you can change "Theme" — choose between Light mode (white background) and Dark mode (dark background). Dark mode is easier on the eyes in low light. You can also set it to "System default," which matches your phone or computer's setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my privacy settings for old posts I've already shared?
No, privacy settings only explore to new posts going forward. To change who can see an old post, click the three dots on that specific post and select "Edit privacy." You can change each post individually, but there's no way to bulk-change all your old posts at once.
What happens if I log out a device from "Where you're logged in"?
That device will be signed out of Facebook when ready. The next time someone tries to use Facebook on that device, they'll need to enter your email and password. If it's your own device, you can just log back in.
Do I need to change my password if I change my privacy settings?
No. Privacy settings and password are separate. Changing privacy settings doesn't affect your password. You only need to change your password if you think someone else knows it or has accessed your account.
If I set my posts to "Friends only," can my friends share them with other people?
Yes. When you set a post to Friends only, your friends can still share it with their own friends or make it public. If you want to prevent sharing entirely, you need to adjust the sharing settings on each individual post by clicking the three dots and selecting "Edit privacy."
Why does Facebook show me ads even after I change my ad preferences?
Changing ad preferences doesn't stop ads — it only changes which ads you see. Facebook shows ads to all users because ads are how the platform makes money. You can't turn off ads completely, but you can make them more relevant to your interests by adjusting your preferences.