The quickest way to log out of Facebook

To log out of the Facebook app on your phone, open the app and tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) at the bottom right of the screen. Scroll down and tap "Log Out". On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of Facebook, then select "Log Out" from the dropdown menu. Either way takes about five seconds.

If you're using Facebook through a web browser instead of the app, the process is identical on desktop — click the arrow, select Log Out. On a mobile browser, tap the menu icon (three lines) at the bottom right, scroll to find "Log Out", and tap it.

After you log out, you'll be returned to the Facebook login screen. You won't receive notifications, messages, or see any activity until you log back in with your password.

Key Takeaways

  • On the Facebook app, tap the menu icon (three lines) at the bottom right, scroll down, and tap "Log Out".
  • On a computer, click the arrow icon in the top right corner and select "Log Out" from the menu.
  • Logging out removes your active session, so you won't see notifications or messages until you log back in.
  • If you want to stay logged out on a shared device, delete the Facebook app or clear your browser cookies after logging out.

Why you might want to log out

Logging out is useful when you're using Facebook on a device you share with other people — a family computer, a work tablet, or a friend's phone. Once you log out, the next person who opens Facebook will see the login screen, not your account.

Logging out also stops background activity on that device. Facebook continues to track some information even when you're not actively using it, so logging out on a device you don't own regularly is a straightforward way to limit that tracking to times when you're actually using the app.

Logging out on a shared device

If you share a device with family members or coworkers, logging out is the minimum step — but it's not always enough. Someone could log back in with your password if they know it, or if your password is saved in the browser.

To make logging out more secure on a shared device, clear your saved passwords after you log out. On iPhone, go to Settings > Passwords and find Facebook, then delete it. On Android, open your browser settings, find Passwords, search for Facebook, and delete it. On a computer, most browsers let you clear saved passwords through Settings > Passwords or similar.

If the device belongs to someone else entirely — a library computer, a school lab, a friend's laptop — delete the Facebook app or clear all browser data before you leave. This removes not just your login but also cookies and cached data that could let someone else access your account.

What happens after you log out

Once you log out, Facebook stops sending you notifications on that device. You won't see message alerts, friend requests, or activity notifications until you log back in. If you use Facebook Messenger as a separate app, logging out of the main Facebook app does not log you out of Messenger — you have to log out of Messenger separately.

Your account itself remains active. Your profile, photos, and messages are still there. Logging out just ends your session on that particular device. If you want to permanently delete your account instead, that's a different process that Facebook calls "deactivation" or "deletion" depending on whether you want to keep the option to come back.

If you're locked out after logging out

If you log out and then forget your password, go to the Facebook login screen and tap "Forgotten password?" Enter your email address or phone number, and Facebook will send you a link to reset your password. Check your email (including spam folders) for the reset link.

If you don't have access to the email or phone number attached to your account, you can use a trusted contact — someone you've designated in advance who can help you regain access. You set this up in Settings > Security and Login > Choose 3 to 5 trusted contacts. If you haven't set this up yet and you're locked out, you'll need to use Facebook's account recovery form, which asks you to verify your identity with a photo ID.

Logging out remotely from other devices

If you want to log out of Facebook on a device you don't have in front of you — an old phone you sold, a computer at work, a tablet you left at a friend's house — you can do this from any device where you're currently logged in. Go to Settings > Security and Login > Where You're Logged In. You'll see a list of devices and browsers with active Facebook sessions. Click or tap "Log Out" next to any device you want to remove.

This is useful if you realize you forgot to log out somewhere, or if you think someone else might have access to one of your sessions. You can log out of all devices at once by clicking "Log Out of All Sessions" at the bottom of that page, though this will log you out everywhere — including the device you're currently using.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does logging out delete my messages or photos?

No. Logging out only ends your session on that device. Your messages, photos, and all account data remain on Facebook's servers and will be there when you log back in.

If I log out, can someone else see my account on that device?

Not unless they know your password. Logging out removes your session, so they'll see the login screen. However, if your password is saved in the browser, they could log in without knowing it — so clear saved passwords on shared devices.

What's the difference between logging out and deactivating my account?

Logging out ends your session on one device. Deactivating temporarily hides your profile from Facebook, though you can reactivate it later. Deletion is permanent. Logging out is the lightest option and doesn't affect your account at all.

Will I still get Facebook notifications after I log out?

No. Once you log out, that device stops receiving notifications. If you have the Facebook app installed, you can turn off notifications in your phone's settings instead of logging out completely.

Can I log out of Facebook Messenger without logging out of Facebook?

Yes. Messenger is a separate app with its own login. You can log out of Messenger while staying logged into Facebook, or vice versa. Open Messenger, tap your profile icon, go to Legal and Policies, and select "Log Out".