Disable comments before or after you post
You can turn off comments on a Facebook post at any time — before you publish it or long after it is already live. When you disable comments, people cannot reply to your post, tag others in the comments, or start a conversation in that thread. The post itself stays visible; only the comment section closes. This is different from deleting the post or making it private.
Facebook gives you two ways to control this. You can disable comments on individual posts one at a time, or you can change your default settings so that new posts have comments turned off automatically. Most people use the individual post method when they want to share something without opening it up for discussion.
Key Takeaways
- You can disable comments on any post from your own timeline, even if the post is weeks or months old.
- Disabling comments hides the comment section but keeps the post visible and lets people still see how many reactions it received.
- The fastest way is to click the three dots on the post itself and select "Turn off commenting" from the menu.
- You can also change your default settings so all new posts have comments turned off unless you turn them back on.
- People who already commented before you disabled comments will still see their own comments, but no one can add new ones.
How to disable comments on a post you just wrote
If you have not published the post yet, you can disable comments before it goes live. Open the compose window on Facebook and write your post as usual. Before you click "Post", look for the audience selector — it shows who can see the post and usually displays "Friends" or "Public" depending on your settings.
Click on that audience button. A menu will appear with options for who can see the post. Below those options, you will see a toggle or checkbox labeled "Turn off commenting" or "Commenting". Click it to turn comments off, then click "Post". Your post will publish with comments disabled from the start.
How to disable comments on a post that is already published
Find the post on your timeline. In the top right corner of the post, you will see three dots arranged vertically (sometimes called a "more" menu). Click those three dots. A dropdown menu will appear with several options.
Look for the option that says "Turn off commenting" or "Disable commenting" — the exact wording depends on whether you are using Facebook on a computer or phone, but the option will be there. Click it. The comment section will disappear when ready, and anyone viewing the post will no longer see a place to comment.
What happens to existing comments when you disable commenting
If people have already commented on the post before you disable comments, those comments stay visible. The person who wrote each comment can still see it and edit or delete it if they want to. But no one else can reply to those comments or add new comments of their own.
This matters because it means disabling comments does not erase the conversation that already happened — it just stops new replies. If you want to remove the comments themselves, you would need to delete them individually or delete the entire post.
How to turn comments back on
You can re-enable comments on a post just as easily as you disabled them. Find the post, click the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Turn on commenting" or "Enable commenting". The comment section will reappear, and people will be able to comment again.
There is no limit to how many times you can toggle comments on and off for the same post. Some people disable comments temporarily when a post is getting heated, then turn them back on later.
How to set comments off by default for all new posts
If you want most of your posts to have comments disabled automatically, you can change your default setting. On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of Facebook and select "Settings & privacy", then "Settings". On a phone, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) and go to "Settings & privacy", then "Settings".
Look for "Privacy" in the left menu. Click "Who can comment on your posts?" and select "Friends" or "Only me" — choosing "Only me" means only you can comment on your own posts. This setting applies to all new posts going forward. You can still override it on individual posts by enabling comments before you post.
Why you might want to disable comments
People disable comments for different reasons. Some do it to avoid arguments or unwanted feedback on sensitive topics. Others use it when sharing news or information where they want to control the narrative and prevent misinformation from spreading in the replies. Parents sometimes disable comments on posts about their children for privacy reasons.
Disabling comments is also useful if you are sharing something personal and do not want to manage a long conversation. You can still get reactions (likes, hearts, etc.), so people can show they saw the post without opening a discussion thread.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see who tried to comment after I disabled comments?
No. Facebook does not notify you of comments that people attempted to post after you disabled commenting. You only see comments that were posted before you turned commenting off.
If I disable comments, can people still share my post?
Yes. Disabling comments does not prevent people from sharing your post to their own timeline or sending it to others in messages. It only stops them from commenting on the post itself.
Does disabling comments hide the post from people's feeds?
No. The post stays visible in feeds and on your timeline. Only the comment section is hidden. People can still see the post, react to it, and share it.
What if someone tags me in a comment before I disable comments?
Tags that were already posted before you disabled comments will remain visible. You will still be notified about those tags. But once comments are disabled, no one can tag you in new comments on that post.
Can I disable comments on someone else's post?
No. You can only disable comments on posts you created. If you want to stop seeing a post from someone else, you can unfollow them, mute them, or report the post if it violates Facebook's rules.