Where to Find the Relationship Status Setting

Your relationship status lives in your Facebook profile, not in a separate settings menu. Open Facebook and go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture in the top left. Look for the section that shows your basic information — it usually appears below your cover photo and displays your job, location, and other details about you.

Click the pencil icon or "Edit" button next to your basic information. This opens a panel where you can change several things at once, including your relationship status. The relationship status field appears in this same section alongside your work history and education.

Key Takeaways

  • Your relationship status is in your profile's basic information section, which you reach by clicking "Edit" next to your profile details.
  • Facebook lets you choose from single, in a relationship, engaged, married, or it's complicated — you can also leave it blank.
  • You control who sees your relationship status through privacy settings, and you can hide it from everyone if you prefer.
  • When you change your status, Facebook asks if you want to post about it to your timeline, but you can skip that step.
  • If you list a partner, they receive a notification and can confirm the relationship or ignore it.

Selecting a New Relationship Status

Click on the relationship status dropdown menu. You will see these options: single, in a relationship, engaged, married, or a blank option if you do not want to display a status at all. Choose the one that matches your situation.

If you select "in a relationship," "engaged," or "married," Facebook will ask you to name the person. Start typing their name and select them from the list of your Facebook friends. If they are not yet your friend on Facebook, you can still add their name, but they will need to confirm the connection before it appears on both profiles.

Deciding Who Can See Your Status

After you choose your relationship status, Facebook shows a privacy dropdown next to it. This controls who sees this information on your profile. Your options are usually "Public" (everyone can see it), "Friends" (only your friends can see it), or "Only Me" (you are the only one who can see it).

Choose the privacy level that feels right for you. Many people set it to "Friends" so their close connections know but strangers cannot see it. If you prefer to keep your relationship private, select "Only Me" and no one else will see the status, even if you name a partner.

Publishing or Skipping the Announcement

When you save your relationship status change, Facebook asks whether you want to post about it on your timeline. A post like "Marcus is now in a relationship" will appear on your profile and in your friends' feeds. You can choose to post it, or you can click "Skip" to change your status without making an announcement.

If you named a partner, they will receive a notification about the status change regardless of whether you post it publicly. They can then confirm the relationship on their own profile, which makes it official on both sides.

What Happens When Your Partner Confirms

If you named someone in your relationship status, they get a notification that you have added them. They can open their own profile and confirm the relationship, which updates both profiles to show you are connected. Until they confirm, the status may show as "pending" or only appear on your profile.

If your partner does not confirm within a certain time, the status stays on your profile but does not appear on theirs. You can remove the name at any time by editing your profile again and clearing the partner field.

Changing or Removing Your Status Later

To change your relationship status again, follow the same steps: go to your profile, click "Edit" next to your basic information, and select a new status from the dropdown. You can change it as many times as you need to.

If you want to remove your relationship status entirely, click the dropdown and select the blank option at the top. This hides the status from your profile without deleting any history. Facebook does not post a public announcement when you remove a status, so the change is quiet.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Do not assume your partner will see the change right away. Facebook notifications can take a few minutes to arrive, and your partner might not check them when ready. If you want them to know, it is worth sending them a message or telling them directly.

Be careful about the privacy setting. If you set your relationship status to "Public," anyone who visits your profile — including people you do not know — will see it. If you are unsure, start with "Friends" and adjust later if you want to change it.

Remember that changing your status does not automatically post to your timeline. If you want your friends to see the announcement, you need to choose "Post" when Facebook asks. If you skip that step, only people who visit your profile will see the change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my relationship status without my partner knowing?

Yes. If you set the privacy to "Only Me," no one else can see it. However, if you name a specific partner, they will receive a notification even if the status is private. To change your status without notifying anyone, either leave the partner field blank or set the privacy to "Only Me" before naming them.

What if my partner does not confirm the relationship?

The status will stay on your profile but will not appear on theirs until they confirm it. You can remove their name at any time by editing your profile and clearing the partner field. There is no penalty for an unconfirmed relationship status.

Does Facebook post about every relationship status change?

No. Facebook only posts about it if you choose to when you save the change. If you click "Skip," the status updates quietly and only appears on your profile for people who visit it. You can also change the privacy setting so fewer people see it.

Can I hide my relationship status from certain people?

Facebook's privacy dropdown does not let you hide your status from specific people — only from groups like "Public," "Friends," or "Only Me." If you need more control, set it to "Only Me" so no one can see it, or use a custom privacy list through your main privacy settings.

What if I named the wrong person?

Go back to your profile, click "Edit," and change the name in the relationship status field. You can remove the current name and type a new one, or leave it blank. The old person will not receive a notification that you removed them.