Facebook doesn't let you see a list of who viewed your profile
Facebook does not provide a built-in feature that shows you who has looked at your profile. If you see a third-party app or website claiming to tell you this, it's either selling you something that doesn't work or collecting your data — sometimes both.
This is a deliberate choice by Facebook. The company has said publicly that profile views aren't tracked the way some other social platforms do. What Facebook does track is different: it watches what you click, what you search for, what you like, and what you post. That data feeds into your ad profile and what shows up in your feed, but it doesn't create a "who viewed me" list.
Understanding what Facebook actually tracks — and what it doesn't — helps you make better decisions about what you share and who you let see it.
Key Takeaways
- Facebook does not offer a feature to see who viewed your profile, and third-party apps claiming to do this are unreliable or designed to harvest your data.
- You can control who sees your profile by adjusting privacy settings for your posts, photos, and personal information in Settings & Privacy.
- Facebook tracks your activity (clicks, searches, likes, posts) to build an ad profile, but this data is separate from profile views.
- If you want to browse others' profiles without them knowing, use Facebook's privacy settings to limit what you share and who can see your activity status.
Why third-party "profile viewer" apps don't work
Apps and websites that claim to show you who viewed your Facebook profile typically work in one of two ways: they either don't work at all, or they work by asking you to log in through Facebook and then collecting data about you in the process.
Facebook's terms of service prohibit apps from accessing profile view data because that data doesn't exist in a form apps can reach. When you grant an app permission to access your Facebook account, it gets access to specific things — your friends list, your posts, your photos — but not a hidden log of visitors. If an app is still asking for login permission and promising to show you viewers, it's either outdated or deliberately misleading.
The real risk: logging into these apps through Facebook gives them permission to see parts of your account and sometimes to post on your behalf. Some collect this information to sell to data brokers or to use for targeted ads. Others straightforward disappear after collecting what they can.
What Facebook actually tracks about your activity
Facebook tracks a lot, but it's not a "who viewed me" log. Instead, the platform monitors what you do on Facebook and across the internet, then uses that data to build a profile about your interests and behavior.
On Facebook itself, the company tracks: every post you like, every comment you make, every search you perform, every video you watch (even if you don't finish it), every link you click, and how long you spend looking at each thing. It also tracks when you're active on the platform and when you're not.
Off Facebook, if a website has a Facebook pixel installed (a small piece of tracking code), Facebook knows you visited that site, what you looked at, and sometimes what you bought. This happens even if you don't click anything or log in. The data feeds into your ad preferences, which you can see in Settings & Privacy under Ads.
How to control who sees your profile
Since you can't see who views your profile, focus instead on controlling who can view it in the first place. Facebook gives you several layers of privacy control.
Start in Settings & Privacy, then select Settings. Go to Privacy and look for "Who can see your posts?" and "Who can see your profile?" You can set these to Friends Only, Friends Except, or Public. If you choose Public, anyone on the internet can see your profile even if they don't have a Facebook account. If you choose Friends Only, only people you've accepted as friends can see it.
You can also control individual posts. When you create a post, click the audience selector (usually shows "Friends" or "Public") and choose who sees that specific post. This overrides your default setting for that one post.
For photos and past posts, go to Settings & Privacy, then Privacy Checkup. This tool walks you through your past posts and lets you change who can see them in bulk.
How to browse without others seeing your activity
If you want to look at someone else's profile without them knowing, Facebook's privacy settings work in your favor — they don't notify people when you view their profile. However, Facebook does have an "Active Status" feature that shows your friends when you're online.
To turn off Active Status, go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Select Preferences, then Active Status. You can turn it off completely, or turn it off for specific people while staying visible to others. When you turn it off, people won't see a green dot next to your name or know when you were last active.
Keep in mind that turning off Active Status doesn't hide the fact that you're browsing Facebook — it just hides your online status. Facebook still tracks that you're there.
What to do if you see a suspicious "profile viewer" notification
Sometimes you'll see a notification or message claiming that someone has viewed your profile or that you can see who viewed yours. These are usually scams or spam designed to get you to click a link or read something.
Do not click these links. Do not read files from them. Do not log in through them. Instead, report the message to Facebook by clicking the three dots on the message and selecting "Report." Then delete it.
If the message came from a friend's account, let them know their account may have been hacked. Hackers sometimes take over accounts and use them to send spam to the person's friends.
How to check what data Facebook has collected about you
While you can't see who viewed your profile, you can see what Facebook knows about you. Go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Select Your Information and Permissions, then read Your Information. Facebook will compile a file of everything it has stored about you — your posts, your photos, your messages, your search history, and your ad preferences.
This file takes a few days to generate. When it's ready, you can read it and see exactly what data Facebook has collected. Many people are surprised by how much is there.
You can also go to Settings & Privacy, then Ads, to see the interests and categories Facebook has assigned to you based on your activity. You can remove interests from this list, though Facebook may add them back if your behavior suggests they're accurate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I tell if someone specific looked at my profile?
No. Facebook does not track or show profile views to users. If someone claims they can tell you this, they're either mistaken or trying to get you to click a malicious link or read something.
Do people get notified when I look at their profile?
No. Looking at someone's profile does not send them a notification. You can view profiles without the other person knowing, as long as you have Active Status turned off.
What's the difference between profile views and activity tracking?
Profile views (who looked at you) don't exist as a trackable metric on Facebook. Activity tracking (what you click, like, search for, and watch) is real and constant. Facebook uses activity data to show you ads and content, but it doesn't create a log of who visited your profile.
Is it safe to use a third-party app that claims to show profile viewers?
No. These apps either don't work or they work by collecting your data and gaining access to parts of your account. The safest approach is to avoid them entirely and use Facebook's built-in privacy settings instead.
Can I hide my profile from specific people?
Yes. You can use the "Friends Except" option when setting who can see your profile, then select the people you want to hide from. You can also block specific people, which prevents them from finding your profile at all.