Where to find Facebook's notification settings

Facebook stores notification controls in two places depending on what device you use. On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of any Facebook page, then select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On your phone or tablet, tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) in the bottom right corner, scroll down to Settings and privacy, and tap Settings.

Once you are in Settings, look for Notifications in the left sidebar on a computer, or scroll down on your phone until you see it. This is the main control center for every type of alert Facebook can send you.

Key Takeaways

  • Facebook notifications come from three sources — the app itself, your phone's system, and email — and you can turn off each one separately.
  • The fastest way to silence everything is to turn off notifications at the phone level, which stops all Facebook alerts without entering the app.
  • If you want to keep some notifications but block others, Facebook's settings let you choose which activities trigger alerts.
  • Notification badges (the red numbers on the app icon) can be turned off independently from sound and vibration alerts.

Turning off notifications inside the Facebook app

Inside the Notifications section, you will see a list of activities that can trigger alerts — things like when someone likes your post, comments on your photo, or sends you a message. Each one has a toggle switch next to it. To stop notifications for a specific activity, tap or click the toggle to turn it off. The switch will turn gray when it is off.

You can be very selective here. For example, you might want to keep notifications when someone messages you directly, but turn off notifications for likes and comments. Scroll through the entire list to see all the options available — there are usually 15 to 20 different types of alerts you can control individually.

At the top of the Notifications section, you may also see an option called Notifications with its own toggle. Turning this off will disable all notifications from Facebook at once, though you can turn individual ones back on afterward if you change your mind.

Stopping notifications at the phone level

Your phone has its own notification system that sits above the Facebook app. Even if Facebook is set to send alerts, your phone can block them before they reach you. This is the fastest way to silence Facebook completely without opening the app.

On an iPhone, go to Settings on your home screen, tap Notifications, scroll down to find Facebook, and tap it. You will see an option that says Allow Notifications — toggle this off. You can also turn off specific types of alerts here, like sounds or badges (the red numbers on the app icon).

On an Android phone, go to Settings, tap Apps or process Manager, find Facebook, tap Notifications, and toggle off Allow notifications. The exact names vary slightly between Android phones, but the process is the same.

Turning off email notifications from Facebook

Facebook can also send you alerts by email. These arrive in your inbox separately from app notifications and phone alerts. To control them, go back to Facebook Settings, find Notifications, and look for an option called Email or Email notifications.

You will see a list of email types — digests, activity summaries, friend requests, messages, and others. Toggle off any that you do not want to receive. Some people turn off all email notifications but keep app notifications on, or vice versa, depending on how they prefer to stay in touch.

Controlling notification badges and sounds separately

The red number badge that appears on the Facebook app icon is a notification, but it works differently from sounds and vibrations. You can turn off badges while keeping sound alerts, or turn off sound while keeping badges visible.

On iPhone, in the Facebook notification settings (under your phone's Settings app), look for Badge App Icon and toggle it off if you do not want to see the red number. You can control Sounds and Vibration in the same menu.

On Android, the options are usually called Badge, Sound, and Vibration in the Facebook notification settings within your phone's Settings app. Toggle each one independently based on what you want to see and hear.

What happens when you turn notifications off

Turning off notifications does not delete your messages or hide your account. It only stops the alerts from reaching you. You can still open Facebook and see everything that happened — likes, comments, messages, and friend requests will all be there. You just will not be interrupted by pings and buzzes.

If you turn off notifications for messages but someone sends you an urgent message, they will not be able to reach you through a notification. They might call you instead, or you will see the message the next time you open the app. This is why many people keep message notifications on but turn off everything else.

Turning notifications back on if you change your mind

Every toggle you turned off can be turned back on the same way. Go to Settings, find Notifications, and flip the switches back to on (they will turn blue). There is no penalty for turning notifications off and on repeatedly — Facebook does not limit how often you can change these settings.

Some people turn notifications off during work hours or bedtime, then turn them back on in the evening. You can do this as often as you want without affecting your account or your data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will people know I turned off notifications?

No. Turning off notifications is completely private. People can still message you, like your posts, and comment on your photos. They have no way of knowing whether you have notifications on or off.

Can I turn off notifications for just one person?

Facebook does not have a built-in way to mute one specific person's notifications. However, you can mute their posts so they do not appear in your feed, or you can unfriend or block them. For messages, you can mute the conversation by opening it, tapping the person's name at the top, and selecting Mute notifications.

Why am I still getting notifications after I turned them off?

Check three places: your phone's Settings app (notifications might be on there even if Facebook's app settings are off), your email inbox (Facebook might be sending email alerts), and whether you turned off the right type of notification. Some toggles control badges, others control sounds. Make sure you turned off the one you actually want to stop.

Do I have to turn off all notifications or can I pick and choose?

You can pick and choose. In Facebook's Notifications settings, each activity type has its own toggle. You might keep message notifications on but turn off likes, comments, and friend requests. This gives you control over what interrupts you.