What Facebook Check In Does

Check In is a Facebook feature that lets you tell your friends where you are right now by attaching a location to a post or photo. When you check in, Facebook adds the location name to your post, and your friends can see it in their feed. The feature works on both the Facebook website and the mobile app.

Check In is different from tagging a photo location after you post it. When you check in, you are creating a post at that moment with the location built in. Your friends see the check in appear in real time, and some may even see it on a map if they have location services turned on.

You can check in alone, with friends, or at a business. If you check in with friends, those friends get tagged in the post and notified. If the location is a restaurant, store, or other business, the check in may appear on that business's Facebook page as well.

Key Takeaways

  • Check In creates a post with your location attached, visible to your friends in their feed right away.
  • On mobile, tap the location icon in the post composer; on desktop, click the location option after you start typing a post.
  • You can check in with friends by selecting their names after you choose the location.
  • Your privacy settings control who sees your check ins — change this in your post privacy dropdown before you post.
  • You can delete a check in the same way you delete any post, and the location will no longer appear on your profile or the business page.

How to Check In on Mobile

Open the Facebook app and tap the Create Post button at the top of your feed. Type what you want to say, or leave it blank if you only want to post the location.

Below the text box, you will see several icons. Tap the location icon — it looks like a map pin. Facebook will ask for permission to access your phone's location the first time you do this. Tap Allow or Allow While Using the App.

Facebook will show you a list of nearby locations. Scroll through the list or type the name of the place you want to check in to. Tap the location name when you find it. If the exact location does not appear, tap the closest match — you can edit the name after you select it.

After you choose the location, tap Post to share it with your friends. The location will appear below your post text, and your friends will see it in their feed.

How to Check In on Desktop

Go to Facebook.com and click the Create Post box at the top of your feed. Type your post text, or leave it blank.

Below the text box, look for the row of icons. Click the location icon — it looks like a map pin or a location marker. A search box will appear asking you to enter a location.

Type the name of the place where you are. Facebook will show you a dropdown list of matching locations. Click the one you want. If you do not see the exact location, click the closest match and you can refine it.

Once you have selected the location, click Post. Your check in will appear on your profile and in your friends' feeds.

Checking In With Friends

After you select a location, you will see an option to tag friends or add people to the check in. On mobile, this usually appears as a button below the location name. On desktop, it appears in the post composer after you choose the location.

Tap or click the button to add friends. A list of your Facebook friends will appear. Select the friends you want to tag in the check in. You can add multiple friends at once.

When you post the check in, those friends will be notified and tagged in the post. The check in will appear on their profiles as well, and their friends will see that they were with you at that location.

Friends can remove themselves from a check in if they do not want to be tagged. They can click the post, select the three dots menu, and choose to untag themselves.

Controlling Who Sees Your Check Ins

Before you post a check in, you can control who sees it using the privacy dropdown. On mobile, look for a button that says Friends, Public, or Only Me — it appears above the post text. On desktop, this button is in the post composer as well.

Tap or click the privacy button to see your options. You can choose to share the check in with Friends (the default), Public (anyone on Facebook), Only Me (no one else), or a Custom list of specific people. Select the option you want before you post.

If you change your mind after posting, you can edit the privacy setting. Click or tap the three dots menu on the post and select Edit Privacy. Choose a new privacy level and save your changes.

Keep in mind that even if you set a check in to Only Me, the location may still appear on the business's Facebook page if it is a public location. Check the business page's privacy settings if you want to know more.

Deleting or Editing a Check In

If you want to remove a check in, click or tap the three dots menu on the post. Select Delete. The check in will be removed from your profile and your friends' feeds. It will also be removed from the business page's check in list.

You cannot edit the location after you post a check in, but you can delete the post and create a new one with the correct location. You can edit the text of the post by clicking the three dots menu and selecting Edit Post, but the location itself cannot be changed.

If you were tagged in someone else's check in and want to remove yourself, click the three dots menu on that post and select Remove Tag. The tag will be removed, but the post will still exist on the other person's profile.

Troubleshooting Check In Problems

If the location icon does not appear in your post composer, make sure location services are turned on for the Facebook app. On mobile, go to your phone's settings, find Facebook, and turn on Location or Location Services. On desktop, your browser may ask for permission to access your location — click Allow if it does.

If you cannot find the location you want to check in to, try typing a nearby street address or business name. Facebook's location database is not always complete, especially for small businesses or new locations. If the location still does not appear, you can type a custom location name, though it will not link to a business page.

If your check in is not showing up in your friends' feeds, check your privacy settings. If you set it to Only Me, only you will see it. Also check that you are not in Airplane Mode or without an internet connection — the post may not have sent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check in somewhere without sharing my exact address?

Yes. Facebook shows the business or location name, not your street address. When you check in at a restaurant, your friends see the restaurant name, not your home address. The location data is tied to the business page, not to your exact coordinates.

What happens if I check in at a place that is not on Facebook?

You can still create a check in by typing a custom location name. It will not link to a business page, but your friends will see the location you typed. The next time someone checks in at that same place with the same name, Facebook may recognize it and create a page for it.

Can my employer or other people see my check ins?

Only the people you set in your privacy settings can see your check ins. If you set it to Friends, only your friends can see it. If you set it to Public, anyone on Facebook can see it. Check your privacy settings before you post if you are concerned about who sees your location.

Do I have to turn on location services to check in?

No. You can type a location name manually without turning on location services. Location services just make it faster by showing you nearby places. If you turn off location services, you can still search for and select any location by typing its name.

Can I check in to the same place multiple times?

Yes. You can check in to the same location as many times as you want. Each check in creates a new post. If you check in to the same place regularly, your friends will see all of your check ins in their feed and on your profile.