You can disable comments on any post you create, and Facebook gives you the option right when you publish
When you post on Facebook, you control whether people can comment. You can turn comments off before you publish, or go back and disable them on a post that's already live. The setting is called "Who can comment?" and it lives in the audience and privacy controls for each post.
Disabling comments doesn't delete existing ones — it just stops new comments from appearing. If you want to remove comments that are already there, you'll need to delete them individually or hide the post entirely.
Key Takeaways
- You can disable comments before publishing by clicking the audience dropdown and selecting "Turn off commenting" from the privacy options.
- On a post that's already published, click the three dots in the top right corner, select "Turn off commenting," and confirm your choice.
- Turning off comments stops new ones from appearing but does not delete comments that are already there.
- Only you can turn off comments on your own posts — you cannot disable comments on someone else's post unless you are the page owner or administrator.
- If you change your mind, you can turn comments back on using the same menu at any time.
How to disable comments before you publish
Before you hit "Post," look at the top of your post box. You'll see a dropdown that shows who can see your post — it might say "Friends," "Public," or a custom audience. Click that dropdown.
Below the audience options, you'll see "Who can comment?" with a dropdown next to it. Click that dropdown and select "Turn off commenting." Now when you publish, no one will be able to comment, even though they can still see the post and react to it with emoji.
This is the fastest way to prevent comments from the start, especially if you know you don't want them before you post.
How to turn off comments on a post you've already published
If your post is already live and you want to disable comments now, click the three dots in the top right corner of the post. A menu will appear with options like "Edit Post," "Delete," and "Turn off commenting."
Click "Turn off commenting." Facebook will ask you to confirm — click "Turn off commenting" again in the popup. That's it. Comments will stop appearing immediately, but any comments that were already there will stay visible.
You can do this on your own posts anytime. If you're managing a Facebook Page (not your personal profile), the same steps work, and you have the authority to turn off comments on any post the page has made.
What happens to comments that are already there
When you disable comments, existing comments don't vanish. They stay on the post for anyone to see. Turning off commenting only stops new comments from being added.
If you want to remove comments that are already there, you have two options: delete them one at a time, or hide the entire post. To delete a single comment, hover over it, click the three dots that appear, and select "Delete." To hide the post completely, use the three-dot menu on the post itself and choose "Hide from timeline."
Turning comments back on
If you change your mind, you can re-enable comments just as easily. Click the three dots on the post and select "Turn on commenting." Comments will be open again, and people can start commenting right away.
There's no time limit on this — you can turn comments off for a day and turn them back on later, or leave them off permanently. The choice is yours each time.
When you can't disable comments
You can only disable comments on posts you created. If someone else posted something on your timeline or in a group you're in, you cannot turn off their comments — only they can do that, or a group administrator if it's a group post.
If you're a Facebook Page administrator, you can disable comments on any post the page has made. If you're a group administrator, you can disable comments on posts in your group, but individual members can only disable comments on their own posts.
Why you might want to disable comments
People disable comments for different reasons. Some turn them off on sensitive posts to avoid arguments or unwanted feedback. Others use it on announcements where they don't need discussion — just information. Some disable comments temporarily while they're away and can't moderate, then turn them back on later.
Disabling comments is different from blocking people or unfriending them. It's a post-level setting, not a relationship change. The person can still see your post and react to it; they just can't type a comment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can people still see my post if I turn off comments?
Yes. Disabling comments only stops people from commenting — they can still see the post, like it, share it, and react with emoji. The post itself remains visible to whoever you set the audience to when you published it.
Will people know that I turned off comments?
Yes, they'll see "Comments are turned off" where the comment box usually is. It's not hidden — it's a visible message that tells them comments are disabled on that post.
Can I turn off comments on someone else's post?
No, unless you're a page administrator or group administrator. On your personal timeline, only you can disable comments on your own posts. If someone posted on your timeline and you want to remove it, you can delete the post itself, but you can't just disable comments on it.
If I disable comments, can I still reply to comments that are already there?
No. Once you disable comments, you cannot add new comments or replies to existing ones. If you want to respond to someone, you'll need to turn comments back on first.
What's the difference between disabling comments and hiding a post?
Disabling comments keeps the post visible but stops new comments. Hiding a post removes it from your timeline and other people's feeds entirely — they can't see it unless they visit your profile directly and you've given them permission. Hiding is more private; disabling comments is more about controlling conversation.