Where to find Facebook notification settings

Facebook stores notification controls in one place: the Settings menu. On any device, you reach it the same way — by tapping or clicking the menu icon (three horizontal lines on mobile, a downward arrow on desktop in the top right corner), then scrolling to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. From there, select Notifications in the left sidebar.

Once you are in the Notifications section, you will see a list of every type of alert Facebook can send you: messages, friend requests, comments on your posts, activity from people you follow, and dozens more. Each one has its own on-off switch. You do not have to turn off all notifications at once — you can silence only the ones that bother you and leave the rest running.

The settings look identical whether you use Facebook on a phone, tablet, or computer. The only difference is the size of the screen and where you tap to open the menu.

Key Takeaways

  • Facebook notification settings are in Settings and Privacy > Settings > Notifications, and you can control each type of alert separately.
  • You can turn off notifications entirely, limit them to certain hours, or choose which devices receive them.
  • Turning off a notification type does not delete past messages or posts — it only stops new alerts from arriving.
  • Some notifications (like messages from friends) can be silenced for specific people rather than everyone.
  • If you turn off all notifications and later want them back, the same menu lets you turn them on again.

Turning off specific notification types

The most common reason people silence notifications is that they receive too many of one kind. For example, you might want to hear about messages but not about every comment on a photo you posted weeks ago. In the Notifications menu, find the type you want to turn off — Comments, Likes, Friend Requests, Event Invitations — and toggle the switch to Off.

Facebook groups are a frequent source of unwanted alerts. If a group you joined sends constant notifications, go to the group itself, tap the three dots in the top right, select Notification Settings, and choose Mute or turn off alerts for that group only. This way you stay in the group but stop hearing about every new post.

You can also silence notifications from specific people. If one friend tags you in everything or sends constant messages, go to their profile, tap the three dots, and select Mute Notifications. They will not know you muted them, and you can unmute them anytime.

Choosing when you receive notifications

If you want to hear from Facebook but not at certain times — like during work or after midnight — use Quiet Hours. In the Notifications menu, scroll down to find Quiet Hours and turn it on. Set the start and end times, and Facebook will hold back all notifications during those hours. The alerts will still arrive after quiet hours end, so you will not miss anything.

Quiet Hours works across all notification types at once. If you need more control — for example, silencing messages but not friend requests — you have to turn off individual notification types instead.

Controlling notifications by device

If you use Facebook on both a phone and a computer, you can choose which devices send you notifications. In the Notifications menu, look for the section labeled Notifications Across Devices or similar wording (the exact name varies by region). You will see a list of your devices — your phone, tablet, or computer — with toggles next to each one.

Turn off notifications on devices where you do not want them. For example, you might keep notifications on your phone but turn them off on your computer so you are not interrupted at your desk. You can change this anytime, and the settings take effect within a few minutes.

Stopping email and text message notifications

Facebook can send notifications three ways: as pop-ups on the app or website, as emails to your inbox, and as text messages to your phone. The Notifications menu controls the first type. To stop emails and texts, you need a different section: Email in the left sidebar of Settings.

In Email settings, you will see a long list of reasons Facebook might email you — new messages, friend requests, event invitations, and many others. Each one has a dropdown menu. Click or tap the dropdown and select No Email, or choose a frequency like Weekly Digest if you want a summary instead of individual alerts.

Text message notifications are rarer and require you to have added a phone number to your Facebook account. If you have, go to Settings > Mobile, find Text Message Notifications, and turn them off. If you do not see this option, Facebook is not set up to text you.

What happens when you turn off notifications

Turning off a notification does not change anything about your account or your posts. Your friends can still message you, comment on your photos, and tag you in posts. You will still see all of this when you open Facebook — you just will not get an alert telling you it happened. The information is still there; you are just choosing not to be interrupted about it.

If you change your mind later, go back to the same menu and toggle the notification type back on. Your settings will return to normal within a few minutes. There is no penalty for turning notifications on and off repeatedly.

Troubleshooting notifications that keep coming back

Sometimes you turn off a notification and it keeps arriving anyway. This usually happens because Facebook has multiple settings controlling the same alert, and you turned off only one of them. For example, you might have turned off in-app notifications but left email notifications on.

If notifications keep arriving, check three places: the Notifications menu (for app and browser alerts), the Email menu (for emails), and your phone's settings (for system-level notifications). On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Facebook and make sure Allow Notifications is off. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Facebook > Notifications and toggle off. These phone-level settings override Facebook's own controls.

If you have turned off notifications everywhere and they still arrive, try logging out of Facebook completely, waiting five minutes, and logging back in. This refreshes your settings on Facebook's servers. If the problem continues, the notification type may be one Facebook does not allow you to disable — in that case, your only option is to mute it for specific people or groups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will people know if I turn off notifications from them?

No. Turning off notifications is private — the other person cannot see that you muted them or that you are not receiving alerts. They will not know unless you tell them.

Can I turn off notifications for just one type of message?

Yes. In the Notifications menu, you can turn off alerts for messages, comments, likes, friend requests, or any other type individually. You can also mute notifications from one specific person while keeping them on for everyone else.

If I turn off all notifications, will I miss important messages?

You will not miss the messages themselves — they will still arrive in your inbox and you will see them when you open Facebook. You will only miss the alert that tells you a message came in. If you need to know when ready when someone contacts you, keep notifications on for messages and turn off other types instead.

Why am I still getting notifications after I turned them off?

Facebook sends notifications through multiple channels: the app, email, and text messages. You may have turned off one type but left another on. Check your email settings and your phone's notification settings for Facebook. Also check that you are logged into the account where you changed the settings.

Can I set different notification rules for different times of day?

Quiet Hours lets you pause all notifications during set times. If you need more control — like keeping messages on but turning off comments during work hours — you have to manually turn off individual notification types instead.