Where to find Facebook notification settings
Facebook notification settings live in your account menu, not in the main settings page. Open Facebook on your computer or phone, look for the downward arrow or menu icon in the top right corner, and select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Notifications. This is where you control what alerts Facebook sends you and how they arrive.
On a phone, the path is the same but the menu icon may look like three horizontal lines. Once you tap Notifications, you will see categories like Messages, Friend Requests, and Comments. Each category has its own on-off toggle and delivery method options.
Key Takeaways
- Notification settings are in the main menu under Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Notifications — not in the privacy settings area.
- You can turn off entire categories of notifications (like Comments or Likes) or keep them but change how they arrive (email, push notification, or in-app only).
- Facebook's default is to send you many notifications; most people turn off at least half of them to reduce clutter.
- Changes take effect when ready, and you can adjust them again at any time without losing your account settings.
Turning off notifications by category
Each notification type has a toggle switch next to it. If you do not want to hear about Likes on your posts, find Likes in the list and click the toggle to turn it off. The switch will turn gray, meaning that notification is now silent. You can do this for any category: Comments, Tags, Friend Requests, Messages, Events, or Groups.
Some categories have sub-options. For example, under Comments, you might see separate toggles for comments on your own posts versus comments on posts you have commented on. You can turn off one and keep the other on. This gives you control over which conversations actually alert you.
Choosing how notifications reach you
Even if you want to stay notified about something, you can change the delivery method. Next to most notification types, you will see a dropdown menu showing your current method: Push notification, Email, or In-app only. Click the dropdown to see all three options.
Push notification means Facebook sends an alert to your phone or computer that pops up on your screen. Email means you get a message in your inbox instead. In-app only means you will only see the notification if you open Facebook itself — nothing arrives on your phone or email. Many people choose in-app only for less urgent things like Likes, and push notification for direct messages.
Managing notifications on your phone
Phone notifications work the same way as on a computer, but you reach them through the Facebook app. Tap the menu icon (three lines) at the bottom right, scroll down to Settings and privacy, then Settings. Tap Notifications and you will see the same categories and toggles as on a computer.
One difference: your phone's operating system also controls whether Facebook can send notifications at all. If you have turned off Facebook notifications in your phone's settings, changing them in the Facebook app will not help. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Facebook and make sure Allow Notifications is on. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Facebook > Notifications and toggle Allow notifications on.
Turning off email notifications
If you receive too many emails from Facebook, you can disable them without turning off push notifications. In the Notifications section, look for any category that shows Email as the delivery method. Click the dropdown and change it to Push notification or In-app only. This removes the email but keeps you notified through other channels.
You can also scroll to the bottom of the Notifications page and look for Email notifications or Notification emails — some versions of Facebook have a master email toggle here that turns off all notification emails at once. This is faster if you want to stop email alerts entirely.
Muting specific people or groups
If you want to keep notifications on overall but silence one person or group, you do not need to change your notification settings. Instead, visit that person's profile or the group page, click the three dots menu, and select Mute or Mute notifications. You will still be friends or in the group, but their posts and activity will not send you alerts.
Muting is temporary and reversible. You can unmute the same person or group later by going back to their profile or group page and selecting Unmute. This is useful during busy times when you want to reduce noise without permanently changing your notification rules.
What happens after you change settings
Changes to your notification settings take effect when ready. If you turn off Comments notifications at 2 p.m., you will not receive any comment alerts after that moment. If you turn them back on at 3 p.m., you will start receiving them again. Facebook does not send you a confirmation email or message — the change just happens.
Your notification settings are tied to your account, not your device. If you log into Facebook on a different phone or computer, your settings will be the same. If you change a setting on your phone, it will also be changed when you open Facebook on your computer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I still getting notifications after I turned them off?
Check your phone's settings, not just Facebook's app settings. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Facebook and make sure notifications are allowed. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Facebook > Notifications. If your phone is blocking Facebook notifications, changing the Facebook app settings will not stop them.
Can I turn off notifications for one person without muting them?
Not directly through notification settings. Instead, visit their profile, click the three dots menu, and select Mute. You will stay friends, but you will not see their posts or get alerts about their activity. You can unmute them anytime.
What is the difference between turning off a notification and muting someone?
Turning off a notification type (like Comments) stops all alerts of that kind from everyone. Muting a person stops alerts from that one person only, across all notification types. Use notification settings for broad control and muting for specific people or groups.
Do notification settings affect messages?
Yes. In the Notifications section, find Messages and you can turn off message alerts or change how they arrive. However, important messages from close friends may still alert you depending on your filter settings. Check the Message requests section separately if you want to control alerts from people not in your friends list.
Will people know if I turn off their notifications?
No. Turning off notifications or muting someone is private. They cannot see that you have done it, and it does not affect your friendship or group membership. You will still be able to see their posts if you visit their profile or the group page.