Facebook push notifications are messages that appear on your phone or computer even when you're not in the Facebook app
A push notification is a short message Facebook sends directly to your device. It shows up as a pop-up on your phone's lock screen, in your notification center, or as a banner at the top of your computer screen. You don't have to open Facebook to see it — the message arrives whether the app is closed, running in the background, or you're using a different app entirely.
Facebook sends these notifications to tell you something happened: someone commented on your post, a friend went live, a group you're in has new activity, or someone sent you a message. The notification usually includes a preview of what happened and who it involves, so you can decide whether to tap it and open Facebook.
Push notifications are different from messages that only appear inside the Facebook app itself. Those in-app messages vanish when you close the app. Push notifications stay on your device until you dismiss them, and they can wake your screen or make your phone vibrate, depending on your settings.
Key Takeaways
- Push notifications arrive on your lock screen or notification center, not just inside the Facebook app, and they work whether the app is open or closed.
- Facebook sends notifications for comments, messages, friend requests, live videos, group activity, and other events tied to your account.
- Each type of notification can be turned off separately — you can keep message alerts but silence birthday reminders, for example.
- Your phone's operating system controls whether notifications can reach your device at all, so turning them off in Facebook alone may not stop them if your phone settings allow them.
Why Facebook sends notifications in the first place
Facebook sends notifications because they bring people back to the app. When you get a notification that someone commented on your post, you're more likely to open Facebook to read it and reply. That keeps you using the platform longer, which is how Facebook makes money — through advertising shown to active users.
From your perspective, notifications can be useful: they let you know about messages from friends, activity on things you care about, or events happening in groups you follow. But they can also interrupt you constantly, especially if you follow many people or belong to active groups. That's why Facebook lets you control which notifications reach you and how.
The types of notifications Facebook can send
Facebook groups notifications into categories so you can turn off the ones you don't want. The main categories are:
- Messages and chats: Someone sent you a direct message or replied in a group chat.
- Comments and reactions: Someone commented on your post, replied to your comment, or reacted with an emoji.
- Friend activity: A friend posted something, went live, or had a birthday.
- Group notifications: Someone posted in a group you're in, or a group admin made an announcement.
- Event notifications: An event you're invited to is coming up, or someone you know is going.
- Video and live: A friend started a live video or uploaded a video you might want to watch.
- Suggestions: Facebook recommends a new group, page, or person to follow.
You can turn each category on or off independently. For example, you might want notifications for direct messages but not for every comment on your posts.
Where push notifications appear on your devices
On an iPhone or iPad, push notifications show up in the Notification Center, which you access by swiping down from the top of the screen. They also appear on your lock screen and can trigger a sound, vibration, or banner depending on your settings. If you have Focus modes turned on (like Do Not Disturb), they can be silenced automatically.
On Android phones, notifications appear in your notification shade, which you access by swiping down from the top. They can also appear as a banner at the top of your screen if you're using the phone when the notification arrives. Android lets you customize the sound, vibration, and whether the notification shows a preview of the message.
On a computer, push notifications from Facebook appear as a small pop-up in the corner of your screen, usually in the bottom right on Windows or top right on Mac. These only work if you have Facebook open in your web browser and have allowed notifications in your browser settings.
How Facebook decides when to send you a notification
Facebook uses information about your activity to decide which notifications to send. If you often interact with a friend's posts, Facebook is more likely to notify you when that friend posts something new. If you never interact with a certain type of content, Facebook may stop notifying you about it.
Facebook also considers your past behavior with notifications. If you always dismiss notifications about a certain topic without opening them, Facebook learns that you're not interested and sends fewer of them. This is why your notification patterns may change over time — Facebook is adjusting based on what you actually engage with.
Your location, time of day, and device type also play a role. Facebook might hold back notifications if you're usually offline at a certain time, or if you're using a device where you rarely open the app. The goal is to send notifications when you're most likely to see and respond to them.
The difference between push notifications and in-app notifications
An in-app notification only appears when you're actively using Facebook. It might be a small red badge on a message icon, a number next to a comment, or a notification center inside the app. These disappear when you close Facebook.
A push notification reaches you outside the app. It works even if Facebook is completely closed or you're using your phone for something else. Push notifications are more intrusive because they interrupt whatever you're doing, but they're also more likely to get your attention.
You can have push notifications turned on while in-app notifications are off, or vice versa. Some people turn off push notifications to avoid interruptions but keep in-app notifications so they can see activity when they choose to open Facebook.
How your phone's settings affect Facebook notifications
Even if you turn on notifications in the Facebook app, your phone's operating system has the final say. On iPhone, you control this in Settings > Notifications > Facebook. On Android, it's in Settings > Apps > Facebook > Notifications. If you've blocked notifications at the phone level, Facebook cannot send them to you no matter what the app settings say.
Your phone also lets you control how notifications behave. You can choose whether they make a sound, trigger a vibration, show a preview of the message, or appear on your lock screen. Some phones let you create a separate notification channel for Facebook so you can have different rules for Facebook notifications than for other apps.
If you've turned off notifications in Facebook but they're still arriving, check your phone settings first. The Facebook app settings control which notifications Facebook tries to send, but your phone decides whether they actually reach you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off notifications for one person but keep them for everyone else?
Not directly through Facebook's main notification settings. However, you can mute notifications from specific people by going to their profile, tapping the three dots, and selecting "Mute." You can choose to mute their posts, stories, or both. This stops notifications about their activity without unfriending them.
Why am I getting notifications from groups I barely use?
Facebook sends group notifications based on your membership and past activity. If you joined a group but never interact with it, you can mute notifications from that group specifically. Go to the group, tap the bell icon, and select "Mute notifications." You can also leave the group entirely if you don't want to be part of it.
Do push notifications use data or battery?
Push notifications use very little data — usually just a few kilobytes per notification. They do use a tiny amount of battery because your phone has to wake up to display them, but the impact is minimal unless you're receiving hundreds per day. If battery life is a concern, turning off notifications will help slightly, but the savings are usually small.
What's the difference between a notification and a badge?
A badge is a small red number that appears on the Facebook app icon on your home screen, showing how many unread items you have. A notification is an active alert that pops up or appears in your notification center. You can have badges without notifications, or notifications without badges — they're controlled separately in your phone settings.
Can Facebook send notifications if I've deleted the app?
No. If you've completely removed the Facebook app from your phone, you won't receive push notifications. However, if you access Facebook through a web browser on your phone or computer, you can still receive notifications if your browser allows them. Check your browser settings to control whether Facebook can send notifications through the browser.