A push notification on Facebook is a message that appears on your phone or computer screen, even when you are not inside the Facebook app
Facebook sends these messages to alert you about activity on your account: someone commented on your post, a friend went live, a group you joined has new activity, or someone sent you a message. The notification pops up as a small box on your phone's lock screen, in your notification center, or as a banner at the top of your computer screen. You do not have to open Facebook to see it — the notification reaches you wherever you are.
Push notifications are different from the alerts you see inside the Facebook app itself. Those in-app notifications only show up when you are actively using Facebook. Push notifications work because Facebook has permission to send messages directly to your device, bypassing the app entirely. This is why you can get a notification about a message at 2 a.m. even if you have not opened Facebook in hours.
Key Takeaways
- Push notifications are messages from Facebook that appear on your device screen outside the app, triggered by comments, messages, friend requests, and group activity.
- Facebook sends push notifications because you have granted the app permission to do so — this permission is separate from your Facebook account settings.
- You can turn off push notifications entirely, or customize which types of activity trigger them, through your phone's settings or Facebook's notification preferences.
- Disabling push notifications does not delete your Facebook account or hide your profile — it only stops the pop-up alerts from reaching your device.
Why Facebook sends you push notifications
Facebook sends push notifications because the company wants to keep you engaged with the platform. Each notification is designed to pull you back into the app — to check a comment, read a message, or see who liked your post. From Facebook's perspective, more notifications mean more time spent in the app, which means more ads you see and more data the company collects about your behavior.
The notifications also serve a practical purpose: they let you know about time-sensitive activity. If a friend messages you or goes live, you might want to know when ready rather than discovering it hours later when you next open the app. The problem is that Facebook does not distinguish between truly urgent messages and low-priority notifications like someone reacting to a post from three days ago. Everything gets the same treatment.
How Facebook gets permission to send push notifications
When you first install the Facebook app or visit Facebook on a web browser, the system asks for permission to send you notifications. On an iPhone, you see a popup asking "Allow Notifications?" On Android, the permission is granted during app installation. On a computer, your browser asks whether to allow Facebook to send notifications. Most people tap "Allow" without thinking, which is why push notifications start arriving when ready.
This permission is separate from your Facebook account settings. You can have a Facebook account, use it regularly, and still have push notifications turned off. The permission lives on your device, not in your Facebook profile. This means if you uninstall and reinstall the Facebook app, you may be asked for permission again.
The difference between push notifications and in-app notifications
In-app notifications appear only when you are inside the Facebook app — a small red number on a message icon, or a notification center showing recent activity. These notifications do not require any special permission because they are part of the app itself. You see them only if you open Facebook.
Push notifications, by contrast, reach you on your lock screen, in your notification center, or as a banner, regardless of whether the app is open. They are more intrusive because they interrupt whatever you are doing. A push notification about a comment might arrive while you are reading email, working, or sleeping. In-app notifications are passive — you only see them if you choose to look.
What types of activity trigger push notifications
Facebook can send push notifications for dozens of different activities. The most common are: someone comments on your post, someone likes or reacts to your post, someone sends you a message, a friend goes live, someone tags you in a photo or post, a group you joined has new activity, a friend request arrives, someone you follow posts something new, and Facebook thinks you might want to reconnect with an old friend.
Facebook also sends notifications about its own features and events — reminders to create a story, notifications that your memories are ready to view, or alerts about new features rolling out. Some of these are promotional in nature, designed to get you to use Facebook more rather than to inform you about genuine activity on your account.
How to turn off push notifications on your phone
On an iPhone, go to Settings, then Notifications, then Facebook. You will see a toggle for "Allow Notifications" — turn it off to stop all push notifications from Facebook. You can also scroll down to see specific notification types (Messages, Friend Requests, Comments, etc.) and turn off only the ones you do not want.
On Android, go to Settings, then Apps, then Facebook. Tap Notifications and toggle off "Show Notifications." Some Android phones organize this differently — if you cannot find it, search your settings for "Facebook notifications" and the system will take you to the right place.
On a computer, open Facebook and click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Notifications. You will see a list of notification types — click each one to turn it off or customize when you receive it.
How to customize which notifications you receive
Instead of turning off all push notifications, you can choose to receive only the ones that matter to you. On your phone, go to the notification settings for Facebook (following the steps above) and look for specific notification types. You might keep Messages and Friend Requests turned on but disable Comments, Likes, and Group Activity.
In Facebook's settings on a computer, you can be even more specific. Click on each notification type — Messages, Comments, Friend Requests, etc. — and choose how you want to be notified. Some options include "Notifications," "Email," or "Off." You can also set quiet hours so Facebook does not send notifications between certain times, like after 10 p.m. or before 8 a.m.
The key is to think about what information you actually need when ready and what can wait until you open Facebook on your own. Most people find that turning off notifications about likes and comments, while keeping messages and friend requests on, strikes a good balance.
What happens when you turn off push notifications
Turning off push notifications does not affect your Facebook account in any way. Your profile remains visible, your posts stay up, your friends can still message you, and you can still use Facebook normally. The only change is that you will no longer see pop-up alerts on your device.
You will still see notifications inside the Facebook app itself — the red numbers on icons, the notification center when you open the app. You straightforward will not be interrupted by notifications when you are doing something else. If someone sends you an important message, you will see it the next time you open Facebook, rather than being alerted when ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off push notifications for just one person or group?
Not through the main notification settings. However, you can mute notifications from specific people or groups. On Facebook, go to a person's profile or group page, click the three dots menu, and select "Mute." You will still see their posts and messages, but you will not get notifications about their activity.
Will I miss important messages if I turn off push notifications?
You will not miss messages — they will still arrive in your inbox. You straightforward will not be alerted when ready. The next time you open Facebook, you will see the message waiting for you. If someone needs to reach you urgently, they can call or text you instead.
Why do I still get notifications even though I turned them off?
Check two places: your phone's notification settings (not just Facebook's settings) and whether you have multiple devices. If you have Facebook on both your phone and tablet, you may have turned off notifications on one device but not the other. Also, some notifications come through email rather than push notifications — check your email settings in Facebook if you are still receiving alerts.
Can Facebook re-enable push notifications without asking me?
No. Once you turn off push notifications, they stay off until you manually turn them back on. Facebook cannot override your device's permission settings. However, if you reinstall the app or clear your app data, you may be asked for permission again when you first open it.
Do push notifications use my data or battery?
Push notifications use a small amount of data and battery, but the impact is minimal — usually less than a few megabytes per month and negligible battery drain. If you are concerned about data or battery life, turning off notifications will help slightly, but the real drain comes from the app running in the background, not from notifications themselves.