You can turn off comments on any post after you publish it
Facebook lets you disable comments on a single post without deleting it or changing who can see it. The post stays visible to whoever you shared it with — they just cannot reply or start a conversation underneath. This is useful if a post is attracting unwanted comments, if you want to share something without debate, or if you are managing how much notification traffic you receive.
The process takes about 30 seconds and works the same way on desktop and mobile. You do not need to be a Facebook administrator or have any special account type — any person who posted something can disable comments on their own posts.
Key Takeaways
- Disabling comments hides the comment section but keeps the post visible to everyone who could see it before.
- You can turn comments off on a post you published at any time, even days or weeks later.
- Existing comments stay visible unless you delete them separately — disabling comments only stops new ones.
- You can re-enable comments on the same post whenever you want by following the same steps in reverse.
- Disabling comments on one post does not affect comments on your other posts or your overall account settings.
How to disable comments on desktop
Open Facebook in a web browser and find the post you want to change. Look for the three dots in the upper right corner of the post — this is the menu button. Click it.
A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Look for the option that says "Turn off commenting" or "Disable comments" (the exact wording varies slightly depending on your region and which version of Facebook you are using). Click that option. The comment section will disappear when ready, and you will see a small note on the post saying comments are off.
If you change your mind later, you can click the same three dots again and select "Turn on commenting" to restore the comment section.
How to disable comments on mobile
Open the Facebook app on your phone and navigate to the post. Tap the three dots in the upper right corner of the post.
A menu will pop up. Scroll down if needed and tap "Turn off commenting." The comment section will disappear from the post right away. You will see a note indicating that comments are disabled.
To turn comments back on, tap the three dots again and select "Turn on commenting."
What happens to comments that already exist
When you disable comments, any comments that were already posted stay visible. People can still see what others wrote — they just cannot add new comments or reply to existing ones. If you want those old comments gone, you need to delete them separately by clicking the trash icon on each comment.
This matters if you disabled comments because of something specific someone said. Disabling comments stops the conversation from growing, but it does not erase what is already there. If the existing comments are offensive or violate Facebook's rules, you can delete them individually or report them to Facebook.
Why you might want to disable comments
Some posts attract arguments or unwanted feedback. Disabling comments stops notifications from piling up and prevents the conversation from escalating. You might also disable comments on a personal announcement, a photo you want to share with close friends, or a post where you are sharing information rather than inviting discussion.
Disabling comments is also a way to manage your own experience without removing the post entirely. The post stays up for people to see, but you are not obligated to moderate or respond to a comment section.
The difference between disabling comments and limiting who sees a post
Disabling comments and changing who can see a post are two separate controls. You can disable comments on a post that is visible to everyone, or you can keep comments on but limit the post to only close friends. These settings work independently.
If you want to hide a post from certain people entirely, you would change the audience setting (usually found in the same three-dot menu). If you want to keep the post visible but stop the conversation, you disable comments. Think about what you actually want to happen: Do you want fewer people to see it, or do you want people to see it without being able to comment?
What your friends and followers see when comments are disabled
When someone visits your post and comments are disabled, they will see the post content normally — the photo, text, or link — but the comment box will not appear. Instead, there will be a note saying something like "Comments on this post have been turned off." They cannot click anything to change this; only you can re-enable comments.
People can still react to the post with emoji (like, love, angry, etc.) unless you have disabled those separately. Reactions and comments are controlled independently on Facebook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I disable comments on someone else's post?
No. You can only disable comments on posts you created yourself. If someone else posted something and you want to report it or ask them to remove it, you would need to contact them directly or report the post to Facebook if it violates their rules.
If I disable comments, can people still message me about the post?
Yes. Disabling comments only affects the public comment section on the post itself. People can still send you private messages through Facebook Messenger to discuss the post or anything else.
Will people get a notification that I disabled comments?
No. People who already commented will not be notified that comments are now off. They will only notice if they go back to the post and see the comment section is gone.
Can I disable comments on old posts from years ago?
Yes. You can disable comments on any post you created, no matter how old it is. The three-dot menu works the same way on recent posts and archived posts.
What if I want to delete the post instead of just disabling comments?
You can delete a post entirely by clicking the three dots and selecting "Delete." This removes the post from your timeline and from other people's feeds. Disabling comments keeps the post visible but stops the conversation — deleting removes it completely. Choose based on whether you want the post to stay up or disappear.