Turn off notifications in Facebook's settings

Open Facebook on the device where you want to stop notifications. On a phone, tap the three horizontal lines (menu) at the bottom right, scroll down to Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings. On a computer, click the downward arrow at the top right, then Settings & Privacy, then Settings.

Look for Notifications in the left menu. You will see a list of notification types: Messages, Friend Requests, Comments, Likes, Tags, Events, and others. Tap or click each one to see your options.

For each notification type, you can choose Off (no notifications at all), Email only, or In-app only (you see them only when you open Facebook). Most people who want fewer interruptions choose Off for notifications they do not need to see when ready.

Save your changes. Facebook will explore them right away.

Key Takeaways

  • Facebook's notification settings let you turn off each type separately — you can keep Messages but disable Likes, for example.
  • The fastest way to silence all notifications is to turn off notifications at the device level (phone or computer settings), which stops Facebook from sending any alert at all.
  • Email notifications are separate from phone and in-app notifications, so turning off one does not affect the others.
  • Muting a specific person or group stops their notifications without unfriending them or leaving the group.
  • Notification settings sync across your devices, so changing them on your phone affects what you see on your computer too.

Silence notifications from specific people or groups

You do not have to turn off all notifications to reduce interruptions. Facebook lets you mute individual people, groups, or pages so you stop seeing their alerts without unfriending or leaving.

On your phone, go to a person's profile or a group page. Tap the three dots at the top right, then Mute. Choose how long to mute them: 30 days, 3 months, or Until I turn it back on. You can mute notifications only, or mute both notifications and their posts from your feed.

On a computer, hover over a person's name or group name and click the three dots, then Mute. The options are the same.

Muting is temporary and reversible. The person or group will not know you muted them, and you can unmute anytime by going back to their profile or group page.

Turn off notifications at the device level

If you want Facebook to stop sending any notifications at all, the fastest route is to disable them in your phone or computer settings, not in Facebook itself. This stops all Facebook alerts without logging into the app.

On iPhone: Go to Settings > Notifications > Facebook. Toggle Allow Notifications off. You can also choose which types of alerts to block (badges, sounds, banners) without turning off notifications entirely.

On Android: Go to Settings > Apps > Facebook > Notifications. Toggle Allow notifications off, or tap Advanced to block specific notification channels.

On Windows or Mac: Go to your system settings and find the Notifications section. Search for Facebook and toggle notifications off. On Mac, this is in System Settings > Notifications. On Windows, it is Settings > System > Notifications.

Stop email notifications from Facebook

Facebook sends emails about friend requests, comments, messages, and activity on your posts. These are separate from phone and in-app notifications, so you may need to turn them off separately.

In Facebook Settings, find Notifications and look for Email at the top. You will see a list of email notification types. Click each one and choose Off for any you do not want to receive.

Alternatively, when you receive a Facebook email, scroll to the bottom and click Unsubscribe from that specific notification type. This works when ready but only for that one type of email.

Adjust notification timing and frequency

If you want to keep notifications but receive them less often, Facebook offers a Notifications Digest option. Instead of getting an alert every time something happens, you get one email summarizing activity from the past day or week.

In Settings > Notifications, look for Email Digest. Choose Daily Digest, Weekly Digest, or Off. A digest bundles multiple notifications into one email, which reduces interruptions while keeping you informed.

You can also set Quiet Hours in some versions of Facebook. This stops notifications during times you choose — for example, between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. Go to Settings > Notifications and look for Quiet Hours if your version of Facebook offers it.

Manage notifications on Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger sends its own notifications separately from the main Facebook app. If you use Messenger, you may need to adjust those settings too.

Open Messenger and tap your profile picture at the top left. Go to Notifications and Sounds. You can turn off notifications entirely, choose which sounds play, or set Do Not Disturb hours.

You can also mute notifications from specific people in Messenger without muting them on Facebook itself. Swipe left on a conversation (on iPhone) or long-press it (on Android), then tap Mute.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will people know if I turn off their notifications?

No. Turning off notifications, muting someone, or disabling Facebook alerts at the device level is invisible to other people. They cannot see your notification settings, and you will still receive messages and comments — you just will not get an alert when they arrive.

Can I turn off notifications for one type but keep others?

Yes. In Facebook Settings > Notifications, each type (Messages, Likes, Comments, Friend Requests, etc.) has its own on/off switch. You can disable Likes and Comments but keep Messages and Friend Requests, for example.

What is the difference between muting and unfriending?

Muting stops notifications and hides their posts from your feed, but you stay friends and can still message each other. Unfriending removes them as a friend entirely. Muting is temporary and reversible; unfriending is permanent unless you send a new friend request later.

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

You will still receive messages and comments — you just will not get an alert. You can check them anytime by opening Facebook. If you want to keep notifications for Messages but turn off everything else, adjust each notification type separately in Settings.

Do notification settings on my phone affect my computer?

Facebook notification settings sync across devices, so changing them on your phone affects your computer too. However, device-level settings (like iPhone Settings > Notifications) only affect that specific device.