Where to find Facebook notification settings

Facebook sends you emails about comments, friend requests, messages, and activity on your posts. You can turn off any of these emails without leaving Facebook or changing how you use the platform. The settings are in one place: your account preferences, accessible from any device where you log in.

Start by opening Facebook in a web browser or the mobile app. In the top right corner, you'll see a downward-pointing arrow or three horizontal lines (called a menu icon). Click or tap that, then look for "Settings and privacy" or just "Settings". This opens your account control panel.

Once you're in Settings, look for a section called "Notifications" or "Email" on the left side. The exact name varies slightly depending on whether you're on mobile or desktop, but it's always in this same area. Click it to see every type of email Facebook can send you.

Key Takeaways

  • Facebook notification settings are in your account menu under Settings, then Notifications or Email — the same place on mobile and desktop.
  • You can turn off individual email types (comments, friend requests, messages) without affecting notifications you see inside Facebook itself.
  • The "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of any Facebook email also works, but changing settings in your account is faster if you want to turn off multiple types.
  • Facebook sometimes adds new notification types, so checking your settings every few months catches emails you didn't know you were receiving.

Turning off specific email types

Once you're in the Notifications section, you'll see a list of every email Facebook can send. Common ones include "Comments on your posts", "Friend requests", "Messages", "Someone tags you in a photo", and "Weekly summary". Each one has a toggle switch or checkbox next to it.

Click the toggle to turn off any email type you don't want. If it's switched on, it will turn gray or show "Off". You don't need to save or confirm — Facebook updates this when ready. If you change your mind later, you can turn any of them back on the same way.

A useful middle ground: keep "Messages" on but turn off everything else. This way you'll still know when someone sends you a direct message, but you won't get emails about every comment or like. Choose what matters to you.

Using the unsubscribe link in emails

If you're already looking at a Facebook email and want to stop that specific type, scroll to the very bottom. You'll find a link that says "Unsubscribe from these emails" or "Unsubscribe from [notification type]". Click it, and Facebook turns off just that email type.

This method works, but it's slower if you want to turn off multiple types. You'd have to unsubscribe from each email separately. It's most useful when you get an unexpected email and want to stop it right away without logging into your account.

What happens when you turn off notifications

Turning off email notifications does not change what you see inside Facebook itself. If you turn off "Comments on your posts", you'll still see comments when you open the app or website — you just won't get an email about them. The notifications stay in Facebook; they just don't reach your inbox.

This is important because some people worry they'll miss activity on their posts. You won't. You can still see everything by opening Facebook and checking your notifications bell icon. You're only stopping the email reminders.

Handling unwanted emails that don't have a setting

Occasionally Facebook sends emails about account security, password changes, or login attempts from new devices. These are not in your notification settings because they're security alerts, not activity notifications. You should not turn these off — they protect your account.

If you're getting emails about things that don't appear in your notification settings, check whether they're security-related. Look at the subject line and content. If it's about unusual login activity or a password reset you didn't do, report it to Facebook when ready by clicking the "Report" or "This wasn't me" link in the email itself.

Checking settings on mobile devices

The process is the same on iPhone and Android, but the menu looks slightly different. Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner (iPhone) or top right corner (Android). Scroll down and tap "Settings and privacy", then "Settings".

From there, tap "Notifications" and then "Email". You'll see the same list of notification types as on desktop. Toggle each one off the same way. Mobile sometimes groups notifications differently — for example, "People" might contain friend requests and tags together — but the principle is identical.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Facebook send me fewer emails if I turn off notifications?

Yes. Turning off a notification type stops Facebook from sending that email. If you turn off all notification types, you'll only receive security and account-related emails. You control exactly which activity emails reach your inbox.

Can I turn notifications back on later?

Yes. Go back to Settings, then Notifications or Email, and toggle any notification type back on. There's no limit to how many times you can change these settings. You can also change them any time you want different notifications.

What if I unsubscribed from an email but still want to get those notifications?

Go to Settings, find Notifications or Email, and toggle that notification type back on. Unsubscribing from an email does the same thing as turning off the setting, so turning it back on in your account settings will restart those emails.

Do notification settings work the same way on Facebook and Instagram?

Instagram has its own separate notification settings. Turning off Facebook emails does not affect Instagram emails. If you use both and want to control both, you'll need to adjust settings in each app separately. Instagram's settings are in the same place — your account menu under Notifications.

Why am I getting emails about things I don't see in my notification settings?

Facebook sometimes sends emails about new features, security alerts, or account changes that aren't in the notification list because they're not optional. Security emails especially should stay on. If you're getting unexpected emails, check the subject line to see what triggered them, then search your notification settings for a matching option.