Where Facebook Notifications Come From and How to Stop Them

Facebook sends notifications through four separate channels: your phone's lock screen and home screen, email, text message, and the bell icon inside the Facebook app itself. Each one has its own on-off switch, and they do not all control each other. You can silence your phone notifications while still getting emails, or turn off emails while your phone buzzes constantly. Most people need to adjust at least two or three of these to actually stop seeing Facebook alerts.

The fastest way to reduce notifications is to turn them off inside the Facebook app first — this stops the bell icon from lighting up and cuts off most of the noise. Then handle your phone's system settings, which control whether Facebook can interrupt you with lock screen alerts. Email and text notifications usually require a separate trip to Facebook's settings page on a computer or browser.

Key Takeaways

  • Facebook notifications live in four separate places: the app's bell icon, your phone's lock screen, your email inbox, and text messages — turning off one does not turn off the others.
  • The quickest fix is to disable notifications inside the Facebook app itself, which stops the bell icon from lighting up and cuts off most interruptions.
  • Your phone's system settings control whether Facebook can send lock screen alerts, and these settings are separate from what you adjust inside the app.
  • Email and text notifications require you to visit Facebook's notification settings on a web browser or computer, not through your phone.
  • You can turn off all notifications from a single person or group without silencing everyone else.

Turning Off Notifications Inside the Facebook App

Open Facebook on your phone and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right of the screen. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings. Look for Notifications in the list — it usually appears near the middle of the page.

Inside Notifications, you will see categories like In-App Notifications, Push Notifications, and Email Notifications. Tap Push Notifications first. This controls the bell icon inside the app and the alerts that appear on your phone's lock screen. You can turn off all push notifications by tapping the toggle next to Push Notifications, or you can scroll down and turn off specific types — like comments, friend requests, or messages — one at a time.

If you want to keep some notifications but silence others, scroll through the list and tap the toggle next to each type you do not want to see. For example, you might keep notifications for messages from friends but turn off notifications for group posts or video recommendations.

Stopping Lock Screen and Phone Alerts Through System Settings

Even if you turn off notifications inside Facebook, your phone's operating system may still allow Facebook to send alerts to your lock screen. You need to adjust your phone's system settings separately.

On iPhone: Go to Settings > Notifications > Facebook. You will see a toggle for Allow Notifications at the top. Turn it off to stop all lock screen alerts from Facebook. If you want to keep notifications but make them silent, turn off Sounds and Badges instead, which removes the sound and the red number badge on the app icon.

On Android: Go to Settings > Apps > Facebook > Notifications. Look for a toggle labeled Show Notifications or Allow Notifications and turn it off. On some Android phones, this menu is called App Notifications instead of Notifications.

Turning Off Email and Text Message Notifications

Email and text notifications are controlled through Facebook's website, not through your phone. Open a web browser on your computer or phone and go to facebook.com. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner and select Settings & Privacy > Settings.

On the left side, click Notifications. You will see a list of notification types. Look for Email Notifications and click it. You can turn off all email notifications by clicking Off at the top, or scroll down to turn off specific types — like notifications about friend requests, comments, or events — one at a time.

Text message notifications are usually listed separately. Look for Text Message Notifications or SMS Notifications in the same menu. Click it and turn off the types you do not want, or turn off all text notifications at once. If you do not see a text message option, Facebook may not have text notifications turned on for your account yet.

Silencing One Person or One Group Without Affecting Everyone

You do not have to turn off all Facebook notifications to stop hearing from one specific person or group. Open the Facebook app and find the person's profile or the group page. Tap the three dots in the top right corner and select Mute or Mute Notifications. You can choose to mute them for 30 days or indefinitely.

When you mute someone, you will still see their posts in your feed, but you will not get notifications when they post, comment, or message you. You can unmute them anytime by going back to their profile and tapping the three dots again.

For groups, open the group page, tap the bell icon at the top, and select Mute Notifications. Choose whether you want to mute all notifications from that group or just notifications about new posts.

What to Do If Notifications Keep Coming Back

Sometimes after you turn off notifications, Facebook turns some of them back on automatically — usually after an update or when you change your password. Check your settings every few weeks to make sure they stayed off.

If notifications keep returning even after you turn them off multiple times, try uninstalling and reinstalling the Facebook app. This clears out any corrupted settings files. Go to your phone's app store, find Facebook, and select Uninstall. Then search for Facebook again and reinstall it. When you open it, go straight to Settings > Notifications and turn off what you do not want.

If you use Facebook through a web browser instead of the app, notifications may behave differently. Some browsers allow websites to send notifications to your desktop. If you see Facebook notifications popping up on your computer screen, go to your browser's settings and look for Notifications or Site Permissions. Find Facebook in the list and change its permission from Allow to Block.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off notifications stop me from seeing messages from friends?

No. Turning off notifications only stops the alerts — you will still see messages when you open the app. The message will be waiting in your inbox, but you will not get a buzz or alert telling you it arrived.

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

Yes. In the Notifications menu inside the Facebook app, you can scroll through and toggle off specific types — like comments or friend requests — while leaving others on. This gives you control over what interrupts you.

Why do I still get notifications after I turned them off?

You likely turned off notifications in one place but not another. Check that you adjusted settings in the Facebook app, your phone's system settings, and your email settings. Facebook updates sometimes reset these switches, so check back if notifications suddenly return.

What is the difference between muting someone and turning off notifications?

Muting someone stops notifications from just that person or group. Turning off notifications in your settings stops alerts from everyone. Muting is useful when one person posts too much; turning off notifications is useful when you want peace from all of Facebook.

Do I need to turn off notifications on both my phone and computer?

Yes, if you use Facebook on both devices. Phone notifications are controlled through your phone's settings. Computer notifications are controlled through your browser's site permissions. You need to adjust both to stop all alerts.