Where to find Facebook notification settings

Facebook notification settings live in three 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 the left sidebar, click Notifications. On an iPhone or Android phone, open the Facebook app, tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu) in the bottom right, scroll down to Settings and privacy, tap Settings, then tap Notifications.

Once you are in the Notifications section, you will see categories like Messages, Comments, Friend Requests, and Events. Each category has its own on-and-off switch. You can turn notifications on for some categories and off for others — you do not have to choose all or nothing.

Key Takeaways

  • Notification settings are in Settings and privacy > Settings > Notifications on both computer and phone versions of Facebook.
  • You can turn notifications on or off for individual categories like Messages, Comments, and Friend Requests without affecting the others.
  • Turning on notifications does not mean you will be flooded — you can also choose how Facebook sends them (push notification, email, or both) and when they arrive.
  • Facebook remembers your choices, so you only need to change these settings once unless you want to adjust them later.

Choosing which types of notifications to receive

When you open the Notifications section, you will see a list of notification types. The most common ones are Messages (when someone sends you a direct message), Comments (when someone comments on your post or a post you commented on), Likes (when someone likes your post), Friend Requests (when someone wants to add you as a friend), and Events (when someone invites you to an event or an event you are interested in is coming up).

Each one has a toggle switch next to it. Tap or click the switch to turn that notification type on. A blue or filled switch means notifications are on; a gray or empty switch means they are off. You might want messages and friend requests on but likes and comments off, for example. That choice is entirely yours.

Deciding how Facebook sends you notifications

Once you turn a notification type on, Facebook gives you options for how it reaches you. You can choose push notifications (a small alert that pops up on your phone or computer), email notifications (a message sent to your email address), or both. On a phone, tap the notification type you just turned on to see these options. On a computer, click the notification type to expand it.

Push notifications arrive when ready but can feel intrusive. Email notifications are quieter but you might miss them if you do not check email often. Many people turn on push notifications for Messages (so they see direct messages right away) but choose email for Comments or Likes (so they can catch up later without constant interruptions).

Setting quiet hours so notifications do not arrive at night

Facebook has a feature called Quiet Hours that stops notifications from arriving during times you choose — usually late at night or early morning. On a phone, go to Settings > Notifications and look for Quiet Hours near the top of the screen. On a computer, the option is in the same Notifications section. Tap or click to turn Quiet Hours on, then set the start time and end time.

If you set Quiet Hours from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., Facebook will not send you push notifications during those hours, even if someone messages you or comments on your post. The notifications will still be waiting for you when you open Facebook after 8 a.m. — they are not deleted, just delayed.

Turning notifications back off if you change your mind

Notification settings are not permanent. If you turn on notifications for Comments but find yourself getting too many, you can turn them off the same way you turned them on. Go back to Settings > Notifications, find the Comments toggle, and switch it off. You can do this as many times as you want.

Some people turn notifications on for a few weeks to stay connected, then turn them off during busy periods at work or school. Others keep different settings on weekdays versus weekends. Facebook remembers whatever you choose, so you can experiment without losing your previous settings.

Why you might want notifications on for some things but not others

Turning on notifications does not mean you have to receive them for everything. Many people keep Messages on because they want to see direct conversations right away, but turn off Likes and Comments because those feel less urgent. Some turn on Friend Requests so they do not miss someone trying to connect, but turn off Events because they prefer to check the Events section when they have time.

The point of having separate toggles for each notification type is that you can match your settings to what matters to you. If you use Facebook mainly to stay in touch with close friends, you might turn on Messages and Comments but nothing else. If you use it to follow news or groups, you might turn on Group Posts but turn off Friend Requests. There is no right answer — it depends on how you actually use Facebook.

What happens when notifications are turned off

When you turn off notifications for a category, Facebook stops sending you alerts about that thing. You will not see a push notification on your phone, and you will not receive an email. However, the activity still happens — people can still comment on your posts, send you messages, and invite you to events. You just will not be told about it unless you open Facebook and look.

This is actually useful if you want to reduce distractions but do not want to miss important things entirely. You can check Facebook once a day or once a week and catch up on everything that happened. Turning off notifications does not hide anything from you; it just means you decide when to look instead of Facebook deciding when to interrupt you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn on notifications for one friend but not others?

Facebook does not let you set notifications for individual people. However, you can turn on notifications for Messages (so you see all direct messages) and turn off Comments (so you do not see every comment). If you want to stay closely connected to one person, you can message them directly instead of commenting on their posts.

Will turning on notifications drain my phone battery?

Push notifications use very little battery. The bigger drain comes from Facebook running in the background and checking for activity constantly. If battery life is a concern, turning on Quiet Hours at night and turning off notification types you do not need will help more than avoiding notifications altogether.

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

Turning off notifications means you will not be alerted about any Comments or Likes. Muting someone means you will not see their posts in your feed, but you might still get notifications if they comment on something you posted. They are two different tools for two different purposes.

If I turn notifications on, will Facebook send me a lot of emails?

That depends on how active your friends are and which notification types you turn on. If you turn on Likes, you might get many emails. If you turn on only Messages and Friend Requests, you will probably get fewer. You can always adjust which types are on and which are off based on how many emails you actually receive.

Do notification settings work the same way on the Facebook website and the Facebook app?

The settings are the same — turning on Messages on your phone means Messages are on everywhere. However, the steps to reach the settings are slightly different on a computer versus a phone. Once you are in the Notifications section, the toggles and options work the same way on both.