The quickest 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 "Leave" again and you are out. The whole process takes about ten seconds.
Once you leave, the group no longer appears in your Groups list, and you stop receiving notifications about new posts or messages. The group's members can still see your old posts and comments that you made while you were a member, but you will not see any new activity.
If you change your mind later, you can rejoin the same group by searching for it and requesting to join again — though some groups require approval from an admin before you can rejoin.
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 even after you leave, but you will not see new posts.
- You can rejoin a group later by searching for it and requesting membership again.
- If you want to hide a group without leaving it, you can mute notifications instead so posts do not clutter your feed.
- Group admins cannot see that you left unless they check the member list, and they cannot force you to stay.
Leaving on mobile versus desktop
The steps are nearly identical on phone and computer, but the menu location differs slightly. On an iPhone or Android phone, open the group and look for three dots stacked vertically in the top right corner of the screen. On a computer, the three dots appear in the same spot — the top right of the group header.
Tap or click those dots and scroll down until you see "Leave group" near the bottom of the menu. Select it, confirm your choice when Facebook asks, and you are finished. The confirmation step prevents you from accidentally leaving a group you meant to stay in.
What happens to your posts and comments after you leave
Your old posts, photos, and comments remain in the group after you leave. Other members can still see them, reply to them, and react to them with likes or emoji. You will not receive notifications about these replies because you are no longer a member.
If you want to delete something you posted before leaving, you can do that while you are still in the group — just tap or click the three dots on your own post and select "Delete". Once you leave the group, you can no longer edit or remove your posts from that group.
Some people leave groups specifically because they want their old posts to remain visible as a record, while others leave because they no longer want to be associated with the group's activity. Leaving does not erase your history there.
Muting a group instead of leaving it
If you want to stay a member but do not want to see posts cluttering your feed, you can mute the group instead of leaving. Open the group, tap the three dots, and select "Mute group". You will still be a member, but notifications will stop and posts will not appear in your feed.
Muting is useful when you are in a group you want to stay connected to but do not need to follow daily. You can unmute the group at any time by opening it again and selecting "Unmute group" from the same menu. The group will resume showing up in your notifications and feed.
Leaving a group you are an admin of
If you are an 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. Open the group settings, find the Members section, and choose another active member to promote to admin before you leave.
If you are the only admin and do not want to promote anyone, you can delete the group instead. This removes the entire group and all its posts, so use this option only if you are certain. Once deleted, the group cannot be recovered.
Leaving a private group versus a public group
Leaving works the same way whether the group is public or private. The difference is in what happens afterward. If you leave a public group, anyone can see that the group exists and can join it themselves. If you leave a private group, only people invited by current members can join.
In both cases, once you leave, you cannot see the group's posts unless you rejoin and are approved again. Private groups may require admin approval before you can rejoin, while public groups usually let you rejoin when ready by searching and clicking "Join".
What group admins see when you leave
Group admins do not receive a notification that you left. They can only find out by manually checking the Members list and noticing your name is no longer there. Most admins do not monitor who leaves, especially in large groups.
If you are worried about leaving a group because you think the admin will be upset, remember that you have the right to leave any group at any time. Admins cannot prevent you from leaving or force you to stay. Your membership is entirely your choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I leave a group without the admin knowing?
Yes. Admins do not get a notification when you leave. They can only see you left if they manually check the member list. In large groups, admins typically do not monitor individual departures.
If I leave a group, can I see old posts I made there?
No. Once you leave, you cannot see the group's posts or activity. Your own posts stay visible to current members, but you cannot view them unless you rejoin the group.
What if I rejoin a group after leaving?
You can search for the group and request to join again. Public groups usually let you rejoin when ready. Private groups may require an admin to approve your request, which can take anywhere from minutes to days depending on how active the admins are.
Does leaving a group delete my messages in the group chat?
No. Your messages stay in the group chat and other members can still see them. Leaving only removes you from receiving new messages and notifications. If you want to delete a specific message, you can do that before you leave by tapping and selecting "Remove".
Can I leave a group and then have the admin add me back?
Only if the group is private. In a private group, an admin can invite you back without your request. In a public group, you have to request to join again yourself — admins cannot add you back directly.