How to Log Out of Your Facebook Account (On Any Device)

Logging out of Facebook sounds simple — and it is — but the steps vary depending on whether you're on a phone, tablet, or computer. There's also an important distinction between logging out of one device and logging out remotely from devices you no longer have in front of you. Understanding both gives you real control over your account security.

Why Logging Out Actually Matters

Facebook stays logged in by default on most devices. That's convenient when it's your personal phone, but it becomes a genuine security concern on shared computers, borrowed devices, work laptops, or anywhere you've accessed your account and walked away. Staying logged in means anyone who picks up that device can scroll through your profile, messages, and account settings without needing your password.

Logging out properly closes the active session — Facebook's server-side record of that device being authenticated. It's one of the most basic but overlooked account hygiene habits.

How to Log Out on a Desktop or Laptop Browser 🖥️

Regardless of which browser you use — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge — the process is the same:

1. Go to facebook.com and make sure you're logged in
2. Click your profile picture or account icon in the top-right corner of the screen
3. Scroll to the bottom of the dropdown menu
4. Click "Log Out"

That's it. Facebook will return you to the login screen, and your session on that browser is ended.

One thing to note: If your browser has saved your Facebook password via autofill, logging out doesn't delete those saved credentials. The browser will likely offer to refill your login next time. If you're on a shared computer, you'll want to clear saved passwords from your browser settings separately.

How to Log Out on the Facebook Mobile App (iPhone and Android)

The mobile app layout has shifted around over the years, but the current path is consistent across both iOS and Android:

1. Tap the three horizontal lines (☰) — the menu icon — usually in the bottom-right (iPhone) or top-right (Android) of the screen
2. Scroll all the way down
3. Tap "Log Out"

Facebook may ask you to confirm. Once confirmed, you'll be taken to the login screen.

If you use Facebook on a shared phone or tablet, this step matters more than most people realize. The app retains session data until you explicitly log out.

How to Log Out of Facebook Remotely (From Devices You're Not Using Right Now)

This is where Facebook gives you genuinely useful control. If you've logged in on a friend's computer, a hotel lobby terminal, or an old phone you've since sold or lost, you can end those sessions remotely.

Here's how to access that from desktop:

1. Click your profile icon → Settings & Privacy → Settings
2. Go to "Security and Login" (or "Password and Security" depending on your current Facebook version)
3. Look for the section called "Where You're Logged In"
4. You'll see a list of devices and locations with active sessions
5. Click the three dots next to any session and select "Log Out" — or choose "Log Out of All Sessions" to end everything at once

From the mobile app:

1. Tap the menu icon → Settings & Privacy → Settings
2. Tap "Password and Security"
3. Scroll to "Where You're Logged In"
4. Tap any listed device to get the option to log it out remotely

This feature works in real time. The moment you end a session remotely, that device loses access to your account without needing the password.

Common Scenarios Where the Steps Differ 📱

Switching Accounts vs. Actually Logging Out

Many users confuse switching accounts with logging out. If you have multiple Facebook accounts added to the app, switching between them keeps both accounts actively signed in. Logging out of one account doesn't affect the other.

If your goal is to fully end a session — not just switch users — you need to go into each account and log it out individually, or remove the account from the app entirely under Account Settings.

What Doesn't Log You Out Automatically

Several things people assume would end a Facebook session don't actually do so:

• Closing the browser tab — the session stays active in the background
• Turning off your phone — the app session persists when you power back on
• Clearing browser cookies — this will log you out, but it's a side effect, not the intended method
• Changing your password — this ends other active sessions on different devices, but the one you're currently using stays logged in

Clearing cookies in your browser is actually an effective way to log out if the normal method isn't accessible for some reason, but it also wipes your login state for every other website in that browser.

The Variable That Changes Everything

How you should approach logging out depends heavily on your situation: whether you're the sole user of your devices, how many accounts you manage, how frequently you access Facebook from unfamiliar devices, and how sensitive your account information is.

Someone logging in from their personal phone they never share has very different concerns from someone who regularly uses public or shared computers, manages a Facebook Business account, or has connected Facebook to third-party apps and services. The mechanics of logging out are the same — but the which sessions to close and how often question is entirely specific to your setup.