Where to find Facebook's email notification settings
Facebook sends you emails about comments, friend requests, messages, and activity on your posts. You can turn off any of these categories without leaving Facebook, or turn them all off at once. The settings live in one place: your account settings, under Notifications.
On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of Facebook, then select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On a phone, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right, scroll down to Settings and privacy, then tap Settings.
Once you are in Settings, look for Notifications in the left sidebar on a computer, or scroll down on a phone until you see it. Click or tap Notifications, then select Email. This is where every email notification setting lives.
Key Takeaways
- Facebook's email notification settings are in Settings and privacy > Settings > Notifications > Email, and you can reach them from any device.
- You can turn off specific types of emails (comments, friend requests, messages) without turning off all notifications, or disable email notifications entirely.
- Turning off email notifications does not stop Facebook from showing you activity in the app or website — it only stops the emails.
- Changes take effect when ready, and you can turn notifications back on at any time using the same settings.
Turning off specific types of email notifications
When you open the Email notifications page, you will see a list of notification types. Each one has a toggle switch next to it. The most common ones are: Comments, Likes, Friend requests, Messages, Tags, and Activity summaries.
To stop receiving emails about one type of activity, click or tap the toggle next to it. The switch will turn gray, and you will no longer get emails for that notification type. For example, if you turn off the toggle next to Comments, you will not receive emails when someone comments on your post — but you will still see the comment in the app or on the website if you log in.
You can turn off as many or as few as you want. Many people keep Messages turned on but turn off everything else, so they only get emails about direct messages from people they know.
Turning off all email notifications at once
If you do not want any emails from Facebook, scroll to the top or bottom of the Email notifications page and look for an option that says All email or Unsubscribe from all emails. Clicking this will turn off every email notification type at once.
This is useful if you find yourself getting too many emails and want a clean break. You can always turn specific notifications back on later if you change your mind.
What happens when you turn off email notifications
Turning off email notifications only stops the emails. It does not change what you see on Facebook itself. If someone comments on your post, you will still see that comment in the app or website when you log in — you just will not get an email about it.
Your privacy settings and who can contact you do not change. Turning off emails about messages does not prevent people from sending you messages; it just means you will not be notified by email that they arrived.
Why Facebook sends so many emails
Facebook sends emails to keep you coming back to the platform. Each email is designed to make you curious about what happened while you were away — a comment on your photo, a friend request, a message. The more emails you receive, the more likely you are to click through and spend time on Facebook.
This is not a security issue or a sign that your account is compromised. It is how Facebook's business model works. You are not required to receive these emails, and turning them off does not affect your ability to use Facebook or see your friends' posts.
Controlling email frequency without turning notifications off
If you want to keep some notifications but receive them less often, Facebook offers a middle ground. Some notification types have a dropdown menu instead of just a toggle. Click the dropdown to see options like when ready, Daily digest, or Weekly digest.
Choosing Daily digest or Weekly digest means Facebook will collect several notifications and send you one email instead of many. This reduces email clutter while keeping you informed about what matters to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off email notifications affect my privacy?
No. Email notifications are separate from your privacy settings. Turning them off only stops the emails — it does not change who can see your posts, send you messages, or contact you on Facebook.
Can I turn off notifications for one person but not others?
Facebook's email settings are not that specific. You can turn off emails about comments in general, but not just comments from one person. However, you can mute a specific person's posts in the app, which stops their activity from showing up in your feed.
If I turn off email notifications, will I miss important messages?
You will not miss messages — they will still arrive in your Facebook inbox. You just will not get an email telling you they arrived. If you want to stay on top of messages, you can keep that notification type turned on while turning off everything else.
How long does it take for the changes to take effect?
Changes to your notification settings take effect when ready. If you turn off an email notification type, you will not receive emails for that type going forward.
Can I turn notifications back on if I change my mind?
Yes. You can return to Settings > Notifications > Email at any time and turn any notification type back on by clicking the toggle switch. There is no penalty for turning notifications on and off.