Open Facebook and find your feed

To check Facebook, go to facebook.com in your web browser or open the Facebook app on your phone. If you are already logged in, you will land on your Home feed — the main page that shows posts from people you follow. If you are not logged in, enter your email address or phone number and your password, then click Log In.

Your Home feed is the central place where Facebook shows you new posts. Posts appear in an order Facebook decides based on what it thinks you will interact with most, not always in the order they were posted. Scroll down to see more posts as you move through your feed.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Home feed shows posts from friends and pages you follow, and you scroll down to see more content.
  • The notification bell icon (top left on desktop, bottom right on mobile) shows you likes, comments, and friend requests in one place.
  • Your profile picture in the top left corner takes you to your own profile, where you can see posts you have shared.
  • The menu icon (three horizontal lines) on mobile or the left sidebar on desktop shows all your options, including Messenger, Groups, and Watch.
  • If you do not see posts from someone you follow, you can search for them by name or visit their profile directly.

Check your notifications and messages

Notifications tell you when someone likes your post, comments on something you shared, or sends you a friend request. On desktop, click the bell icon in the top left corner. On mobile, tap the bell icon at the bottom right of your screen. A list will open showing recent activity on your account.

Messages are separate from notifications. To read direct messages from friends, click the Messenger icon (a speech bubble) in the top left on desktop, or tap the Messenger app on your phone. Messenger shows one-on-one conversations and group chats. You can reply to any message by typing in the text box at the bottom.

Visit your own profile

Your profile is where all your posts, photos, and information live. On desktop, click your profile picture in the top left corner. On mobile, tap your profile picture at the bottom right of the screen. You will see your cover photo, profile picture, and a timeline of everything you have shared.

From your profile, you can see what other people see when they visit your page. You can also edit your profile information, change your cover photo, or review old posts by scrolling down. If you want to find a specific post you shared, use the search box at the top of Facebook and search for keywords from that post.

Search for people, pages, and groups

The search box at the very top of Facebook works for finding people, pages, and groups. Click or tap the search box and type a name or topic. Facebook will show you matching results as you type. You can narrow results by clicking the filters at the top — for example, clicking "People" shows only person profiles, while "Pages" shows only business or public pages.

If you are looking for a specific friend, type their full name. If you want to follow a business, news outlet, or celebrity, search for them and look for a blue checkmark next to their name — that means it is an official account. Groups appear in search results too; you can join a group by clicking it and then clicking the Join button.

Use the left sidebar or menu to navigate

On desktop, the left sidebar shows all your main options: Home, Friends, Watch (videos), Groups, Marketplace, and more. Click any of these to jump to that section. On mobile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right to see the same options.

Messenger is usually pinned to the top of this menu so you can reach it quickly. Groups shows communities you have joined. Marketplace is where people buy and sell items locally. Watch is Facebook's video section. If you do not see an option you want, scroll down in the menu — there are more choices below, including Settings and Privacy.

Adjust what you see in your feed

If your feed feels cluttered or you are not seeing posts from someone you follow, you can change what appears. Click the menu icon (three dots) on any post to see options like "See first" — this tells Facebook to show you that person's posts more often. You can also click "Unfollow" to stop seeing their posts without unfriending them.

To change your overall feed settings, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) on desktop or tap it on mobile, then scroll to Settings and Privacy. Click Settings. Under the Feed section, you can choose to see posts in chronological order (newest first) instead of Facebook's default order. You can also mute keywords so posts containing certain words do not appear in your feed.

Log out when you are done

If you are using a shared computer or public device, always log out when you finish. On desktop, click your profile picture in the top left, then click "Log out" at the bottom of the menu. On mobile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), scroll to the bottom, and tap "Log out".

If you are on your own device, you do not need to log out every time — Facebook will keep you logged in. However, if you ever forget your password, you can click "Forgot password?" on the login page and follow the steps to reset it using your email address or phone number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why am I not seeing posts from someone I follow?

Facebook's algorithm decides which posts to show you based on your past activity. If you have not interacted with someone's posts in a while, they may stop appearing. Visit their profile directly by searching for their name, or click "See first" on one of their posts to see more from them going forward.

How do I know if someone has read my message?

In Messenger, a small profile picture appears below your message once someone has read it. If you see just a checkmark, the message was delivered but not yet read. If you see their photo, they have opened and read the message.

Can I see posts from a specific time period?

Yes. Go to your profile and look for the search box that says "Search your posts." Type a keyword from the post you want to find, or use the filter options to narrow by date, month, or year. You can also scroll down through your timeline to find older posts manually.

What does the blue checkmark next to a name mean?

A blue checkmark means Facebook has verified that account belongs to the real person or official business it claims to be. It helps you know you are following the actual account and not a fake one.

How do I turn off notifications from a specific person or page?

Click the menu icon (three dots) on any of their posts and select "Turn off notifications for this post" or "Mute [person's name]." You can also go to Settings, click Notifications, and manage which types of activity send you alerts.