The simplest way to leave a Facebook group
To leave a Facebook group, open the group, tap or click the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Leave group" from the menu. Facebook will ask you to confirm — tap or click "Leave" again, and you are out. The whole process takes about five seconds.
Once you leave, the group no longer appears in your Groups list, you stop receiving notifications from it, and you cannot see the group's posts or members unless it is public and you search for it directly. The group's other members can still see your old posts and comments that you made while you were a member, but you cannot delete those after you leave.
If you change your mind later, you can rejoin the same group by searching for it and asking to join again — though the group admin may have to approve your request if the group is closed or secret.
Key Takeaways
- Leaving a group takes three taps: open the group, tap the three dots, and select "Leave group" from the menu.
- Your old posts and comments stay visible to group members after you leave, but you cannot delete them once you have left.
- You will stop receiving notifications from the group when ready, and the group disappears from your Groups list.
- You can rejoin a public or closed group later by searching for it, though a secret group requires an invite or admin approval.
- If a group is bothering you, muting notifications is faster than leaving if you might want to return later.
Leaving on mobile versus desktop
On iPhone or Android, open the Facebook app, go to the group, and tap the three horizontal dots in the top right corner of the group header. Scroll down and tap "Leave group", then confirm by tapping "Leave" in the popup that appears.
On a computer, the steps are identical: open the group in your browser, look for the three dots in the top right, click it, and select "Leave group" from the dropdown menu. Confirm when Facebook asks you to.
Some older versions of the Facebook app may have the menu in a slightly different spot — if you cannot find three dots, look for a gear icon or settings button near the group name. The option to leave is always in the group's settings or menu.
What happens to your posts and comments after you leave
Your posts, comments, and reactions stay in the group after you leave. Other members can still see them, reply to them, and react to them. You cannot edit or delete them once you have left the group, even if you were the one who wrote them.
If you want to remove something you posted before leaving, delete it while you are still a member of the group. Once you leave, that option is gone. This is why some people delete sensitive posts before leaving a group.
The group admin can always delete your posts or remove you from the group at any time, regardless of whether you have left on your own.
Muting a group instead of leaving
If you do not want to see a group's posts in your feed but might want to stay a member, you can mute the group instead of leaving. Open the group, tap the three dots, and select "Mute group". You will no longer see posts from that group in your News Feed or receive notifications, but you remain a member and can still access the group if you search for it.
Muting is useful when a group is active but not relevant to you right now, or when you want to step back temporarily without the awkwardness of leaving. You can unmute the group at any time by going back to the group and selecting "Unmute group" from the same menu.
If you mute a group, other members do not know you have muted it — it is a private setting on your account only.
Leaving a group you admin or moderate
If you are the admin or moderator of a group, leaving works differently. You cannot straightforward leave — you must first transfer admin rights to another member or delete the group entirely.
To transfer admin rights, open the group, go to Members, find another member you trust, tap the three dots next to their name, and select "Make admin". Once you have made someone else an admin, you can then leave the group using the normal process. If you are a moderator but not the admin, you can leave without transferring anything.
If you are the only admin and do not want to transfer the group to someone else, you can delete the entire group. Open the group settings, scroll to the bottom, and select "Delete group". Facebook will ask you to confirm, and the group and all its posts will be permanently removed.
Leaving a secret or closed group
Secret groups and closed groups work the same way as public groups when you leave — the process is identical. The difference is what happens if you want to rejoin later.
If you leave a public group, you can search for it and rejoin when ready. If you leave a closed group, you can search for it and ask to rejoin, but the admin must approve your request. If you leave a secret group, you cannot find it by searching at all — you would need someone who is still a member to send you an invite link or ask the admin to add you back.
This is why some people think carefully before leaving a secret group, since getting back in may require asking someone for help.
What to do if you cannot find the leave option
If the three-dot menu does not appear or does not show a "Leave group" option, try these steps: first, make sure you are actually in the group by checking your Groups list. Second, try closing the Facebook app completely and opening it again — sometimes the menu does not load properly. Third, try accessing the group on a computer browser instead of mobile, or vice versa.
If you still cannot leave, the group may have a setting that prevents members from leaving on their own. In that case, you can message the group admin and ask them to remove you. You can also report the group to Facebook if it is spam or violates Facebook's rules, though this is separate from leaving.
If you are trying to leave a group on a very old version of the Facebook app, updating to the latest version from your phone's app store may fix the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the group admin see that I left?
Yes, the admin can see when members leave in the group's member list. Your name will no longer appear there. However, the admin does not receive a notification that you specifically left — they would only know if they check the member list and notice you are gone.
Will people know I left the group?
No, Facebook does not announce that you have left. Other members will not see a notification or message saying you left. Your name straightforward disappears from the member list, and only the admin or moderators who actively check the list will notice.
Can I rejoin a group after I leave?
Yes, you can rejoin a public or closed group by searching for it and asking to join again. For a secret group, you cannot search for it — you need an invite from someone who is still a member or from the admin. The admin may need to approve your request to rejoin a closed group.
What if I leave a group by accident?
You can rejoin when ready by searching for the group and selecting "Join" or "Ask to join", depending on the group's privacy settings. Your old posts will still be there, and you will have the same access as before.
Do my posts disappear when I leave a group?
No, your posts stay in the group permanently. Other members can still see them, comment on them, and react to them. You cannot delete them after you leave, so delete anything you want removed before you leave the group.