Birthday notifications on Facebook come from your Friends list and the Birthdays section
Facebook sends birthday reminders in two ways: a notification that pops up on the day itself, and a list you can check anytime in the app or website. The notifications arrive because Facebook tracks birthdays from the profiles of people you follow. You control whether you see these reminders and how often they arrive.
Most people have birthday notifications turned on by default, but the settings are straightforward to find if you need to change them. The process is the same whether you use Facebook on a phone, tablet, or computer.
Key Takeaways
- Birthday notifications appear as a popup on the day of a friend's birthday, and you can also see a list of upcoming birthdays in the Birthdays section of Facebook.
- You can turn birthday notifications on or off in your notification settings, which you reach through the menu at the top of the page.
- If you want to see birthdays without getting notifications, you can visit the Birthdays section directly without turning on alerts.
- Birthday notifications only show for people whose birthdays are visible on their profile — if someone hides their birthday, you won't be notified.
How to turn on birthday notifications on a phone or tablet
Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (called the menu) at the bottom right of the screen. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings.
Tap Notifications. You will see a list of notification types. Scroll down until you find Birthdays. Tap it and choose whether you want notifications On or Off. If you choose On, you can also pick how you want to be notified — some phones let you choose between a banner at the top of the screen, a badge on the app icon, or a sound alert.
Once you have made your choice, the setting saves automatically. You do not need to press a save button or go back to confirm.
How to turn on birthday notifications on a computer
Go to Facebook.com and log in. Click the downward arrow at the top right of the page (next to your name or profile picture). Click Settings & Privacy, then click Settings.
On the left side of the page, click Notifications. Under the section labeled Where you receive notifications, look for Birthdays. Click it and choose On or Off. You can also choose which type of notification you prefer — Facebook can send you a browser notification (a small popup in the corner), an email, or both.
Where to find the Birthdays section without notifications
If you turn off birthday notifications but still want to check on upcoming birthdays, Facebook keeps a dedicated list. On a phone or tablet, tap the menu (three lines), scroll down, and tap Friends. At the top of the Friends page, you will see Birthdays. Tap it to see a list of friends with birthdays coming up in the next 30 days.
On a computer, click your name or profile picture at the top right, then click Friends. You will see Birthdays listed on the left side. Click it to view the same list.
Why you might not see birthday notifications for some friends
Facebook only sends birthday notifications for people whose birthday is set to visible on their profile. If a friend has hidden their birthday from their privacy settings, Facebook will not notify you, and their name will not appear in the Birthdays section either.
You also will not receive notifications for people you have unfollowed, even if you are still friends with them. If you want to see a friend's birthday but are not getting notified, check whether you are following them. Go to their profile, and if you see a button that says Follow, click it. If it says Following, you are already following them and the issue is likely their privacy settings.
Adjusting notification frequency and type
Facebook does not let you change how often birthday notifications arrive — you get one per person on their birthday, and that is the only option. However, you can change the type of notification you receive.
On a phone, when you tap Birthdays in your notification settings, you will see options like Notifications, Email, or Push Notifications. Choose which ones you want turned on. On a computer, the same options appear when you click Birthdays in your notification settings — you can receive browser notifications, emails, or both.
If you want to stop seeing birthday notifications entirely but keep other Facebook alerts, turn off only the Birthdays setting. This will not affect notifications for messages, friend requests, or comments.
What happens if you turn off birthday notifications and then change your mind
Turning off birthday notifications does not delete anything or cause any problems. You can turn them back on at any time by going back to your notification settings and switching Birthdays to On. Your friends will not be notified that you turned notifications off or back on.
If you missed a birthday while notifications were off, you can still see it in the Birthdays section. Facebook keeps a record of past birthdays, though the list is usually organized by upcoming dates first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get birthday notifications for only certain friends?
No. Facebook's birthday notification setting is all-or-nothing — you either get notifications for all friends whose birthdays are visible, or you get none. If you want to remember specific friends' birthdays without notifications for everyone, check the Birthdays section manually or write down the dates you care about.
Will my friend know if I did not wish them happy birthday?
No. Facebook does not tell people whether you saw their birthday or received a notification. Your friend only knows you wished them happy birthday if you write on their wall, send them a message, or interact with their birthday post.
Why am I not getting birthday notifications even though I turned them on?
Check whether your phone or browser has permission to send Facebook notifications. On a phone, go to Settings, find Facebook, and make sure notifications are turned on for the app. On a computer, your browser may be blocking notifications — look for a small icon in the address bar that says notifications are blocked, and click it to allow them.
Can I change when I get notified about a birthday?
No. Facebook sends birthday notifications on the day of the birthday itself, usually in the morning. You cannot set it to arrive earlier or later. If you want advance notice, check the Birthdays section yourself a few days before.
Do birthday notifications work the same way on Facebook Messenger?
Birthday notifications in Messenger work slightly differently — they appear as a banner at the top of your chat list on the person's birthday. You control this through the same notification settings as the main Facebook app, so turning off Birthdays in one place turns it off in both.