Creating a poll on Facebook takes about two minutes and works on both desktop and mobile

Facebook polls let you ask your friends or followers a question and see their answers in real time. You can create a poll directly in a group, on your timeline, or in a Facebook event. The process is slightly different depending on where you want the poll to appear, but the core steps are the same: find the poll option, write your question, add your answer choices, and post.

Polls are useful if you want quick feedback — where to eat dinner, which movie to watch, what time works for a group hangout. They're also a way to start conversations in groups or on your page. Unlike a regular post where people comment, a poll gives people preset options to choose from, which makes responses faster and easier to read at a glance.

Key Takeaways

  • On desktop, click "Poll" in the post creation box on your timeline or in a group; on mobile, tap the three dots and look for "Poll" in the menu.
  • Write a clear question and add two to four answer options — Facebook won't let you post with fewer than two or more than four choices.
  • Polls in groups and events are visible to all members; polls on your timeline are visible to whoever can see your posts based on your privacy settings.
  • You cannot edit a poll after you post it, so double-check your question and answers before you hit the post button.

How to create a poll on your timeline using desktop

Open Facebook and go to your home feed or your profile. Look for the post creation box at the top — it usually says "What's on your mind?" Click anywhere in that box to open the full post composer. Below the text field, you'll see a row of icons. One of them is labeled "Poll" and looks like a bar chart. Click it.

A poll template will appear. Type your question in the "Ask a question..." field. Then fill in the answer options. Facebook gives you two answer fields by default. Type your first answer in the first field and your second answer in the second field. If you want to add a third or fourth option, click the plus sign to add more fields. You can have a maximum of four answers.

Once you've written your question and all your answers, click "Post." Your poll will appear on your timeline and people who can see your posts will be able to vote.

How to create a poll on your timeline using mobile

Open the Facebook app and tap the post creation box at the top of your feed. Tap in the text field to open the composer. Look for a row of icons below the text field. Tap the three dots (more options) icon on the right side of that row. A menu will appear with different post types. Scroll down or look for "Poll" in that menu and tap it.

The poll template will open. Tap the "Ask a question..." field and type your question. Then tap each answer field and type your answer options. You can add up to four answers total. When you're done, tap "Post" to publish your poll.

Creating a poll in a Facebook group

Go to the group and find the post creation box. On desktop, click in the box and look for the "Poll" icon in the row of options below the text field. On mobile, tap in the box, then tap the three dots and select "Poll" from the menu. The process for writing your question and answers is the same as on your timeline.

Polls in groups are visible to all group members, so everyone in the group will see the question and be able to vote. This is useful for group decisions — scheduling a meetup, choosing a topic for discussion, or just having fun with a lighthearted question.

Creating a poll in a Facebook event

Open the event and look for the discussion or post section. On desktop, click in the post box and select "Poll" from the icons below. On mobile, tap the three dots and choose "Poll." Write your question and answers the same way you would for a timeline or group poll.

Event polls are visible to everyone invited to the event, which makes them good for coordinating details — asking what time people prefer, what food allergies to plan for, or whether people want to do an activity before or after the main event.

What happens after you post a poll

Once your poll is live, people can vote by clicking or tapping their choice. As votes come in, you'll see the results update in real time. The poll shows a percentage breakdown of how many people chose each answer. You can see who voted for what if you click on the individual answer options.

You cannot edit or delete a poll after you post it. If you made a mistake in your question or answers, you'll need to delete the entire post and create a new poll. For this reason, it's worth reading through your question and answers one more time before you hit post.

Polls stay on your timeline, in the group, or in the event until you delete them. There's no time limit — people can keep voting on an old poll if they see it.

Privacy and who can see your poll

Polls on your timeline follow the same privacy rules as your regular posts. If your timeline is set to public, anyone can see and vote on your poll. If it's set to friends only, only your friends can vote. If it's a custom setting, only the people you've chosen can see it.

Polls in groups are always visible to group members only. Polls in events are visible to people invited to that event. You cannot change the privacy of a poll after you post it — the privacy is locked to whatever setting the post itself has.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add more than four answer options to a poll?

No. Facebook limits polls to a maximum of four answer choices. If you need more options, you can create a regular post and ask people to comment with their choice instead.

What if I made a typo in my poll question?

You cannot edit a poll after you post it. You'll need to delete the entire post and create a new poll with the correct wording. Click the three dots on the poll post and select "Delete."

Can people see who voted for what answer?

Yes. When you click on an individual answer option in a poll, you can see the names of people who voted for that choice. This is visible to anyone who can see the poll itself.

Do I have to vote in my own poll?

No. You can create a poll and not vote in it. Your vote counts the same as anyone else's if you do choose to vote.

Can I see poll results before the poll closes?

Yes. Results update in real time as people vote. There is no closing time for a Facebook poll — it stays open indefinitely until you delete it.