Open Facebook and find your settings

To review what Facebook knows about you, start by going to Facebook.com and logging in with your username and password. Once you are logged in, look for the downward-pointing arrow or menu icon in the top right corner of the screen — this is usually next to your profile picture. Click it to open a dropdown menu.

From that menu, select Settings and privacy, then click Settings. This takes you to your account settings page, where you can see and change information Facebook has collected about you. The page is organized into sections on the left side, and each section controls a different part of your account.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Facebook settings menu (top right arrow) is where you view and control almost everything Facebook knows about you and how it uses that information.
  • The Personal Information section shows your name, email, phone number, and other details you provided when you created your account.
  • Apps and Websites shows which third-party apps and websites can see your Facebook data, and you can remove access to any of them.
  • Your Ad Preferences section reveals the categories Facebook uses to target ads to you, based on your activity and the information it has collected.
  • read Your Information lets you see a copy of everything Facebook has stored about you, including posts, messages, photos, and data from websites you visited.

Review your personal information

In the Settings page, click Personal Information on the left side. Here you will see your name, email address, phone number, birthday, and gender — the core details Facebook uses to identify you. Check that this information is correct and that you recognize the email address and phone number listed.

If you see an email or phone number you do not recognize, or if any information is wrong, click the pencil icon next to that field to edit it. You can also see which email addresses are connected to your account. If you have old email addresses linked that you no longer use, you can remove them by clicking the X next to each one.

Check which apps and websites can see your data

Click Apps and Websites in the left menu. This section shows every app and website that has permission to see your Facebook information. Many people are surprised to find apps they used once years ago still have access to their data.

Scroll through the list and look for apps you no longer use or do not recognize. Click on any app name to see exactly what information it can access — usually your name, email, friends list, and sometimes your location or activity. If you want to remove an app's access, click the X or Remove button next to it. Removing an app does not delete your account on that app; it just stops that app from seeing your Facebook data.

Understand how Facebook targets ads to you

Click Ads in the left menu, then select Ad Preferences. This page shows the categories Facebook has assigned to you for advertising purposes. You might see categories like "Interested in technology," "Recently moved," or "Shopping enthusiasts." These categories come from your activity on Facebook, websites you visit, and information you provided.

You can click on any category to see why Facebook thinks you fit it. Some categories are based on things you directly told Facebook (like your job or education). Others come from your browsing — if you visited a car website, Facebook may have added you to a "car shoppers" category. You can remove categories you do not want by clicking the X next to them, though Facebook may add them back if your behavior matches them again.

read a copy of your information

Click Your Information in the left menu, then select read Your Information. This feature lets you see and read everything Facebook has stored about you. Click the Request a read button to start the process.

Facebook will ask you to choose a date range (how far back you want to go) and a file format (HTML or JSON). For most people, HTML is easier to read. You can also choose which categories to include — posts, photos, messages, friends list, and more. After you submit your request, Facebook takes a few hours to a few days to prepare your file. You will receive a notification when it is ready, and you can then read it to your computer.

Review your privacy settings

Click Privacy in the left menu. Here you control who can see your posts, who can contact you, and who can find your account. The most important setting is "Who can see your posts?" — you can choose between Public (anyone on the internet), Friends (only people you have added), or Custom (specific people or groups).

You can also control who can send you friend requests, who can see your friends list, and whether search engines outside Facebook can link to your profile. Review each setting and change anything that does not match what you want. For example, if you do not want strangers messaging you, change "Who can send you friend requests?" to Friends only.

Check your login activity and devices

Click Security and Login in the left menu. Scroll down to "Where you are logged in" to see every device and location currently logged into your account. You will see the device type (like "Chrome on Windows"), the location, and when it last accessed your account.

If you see a device or location you do not recognize, click it and select Log Out to end that session. You can also click Not you? if you think your account may have been accessed without permission. This section also shows your login history — a record of every time someone logged into your account and from where. Checking this regularly helps you spot unauthorized access early.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see what websites have been tracking me with the Facebook pixel?

Not directly through Facebook settings. The pixel is a tracking code that websites install on their pages. You can see which apps and websites have permission to your Facebook data in the Apps and Websites section, but you cannot see a list of every website that has the pixel installed. Your browser privacy settings or a privacy extension can help block pixel tracking.

What does it mean if Facebook says I have "off-Facebook activity"?

Off-Facebook activity is information Facebook collects about you from websites and apps you visit outside of Facebook. Click Your Information and then Off-Facebook Activity to see a summary. You can clear this history or turn off future tracking by clicking Clear History, though this does not stop Facebook from collecting it going forward.

If I remove an app from my Facebook account, does it delete my account on that app?

No. Removing an app from your Facebook settings only stops that app from accessing your Facebook data. Your account on that app still exists. If you want to fully delete your account on the app itself, you need to go to that app's website or settings and delete it there separately.

How often should I check my Facebook settings?

Check your Apps and Websites section every few months, since apps you no longer use may still have access. Review your privacy settings whenever Facebook announces changes — the platform updates its features regularly. Check your login activity whenever you change your password or if you think your account may have been compromised.

Can I see what data Facebook has about me from other websites I visit?

Yes, partially. read Your Information shows some of this data. You can also see categories in your Ad Preferences that reveal what Facebook thinks it knows about you. However, Facebook does not show you every data point it collects — only summaries and the categories it uses for advertising.