Where to find the About section and what you can edit
The About section in a Facebook group is the text area that appears on the group's main page, below the group name and member count. It tells people what the group is for, what rules members should follow, and any other information the group admin wants to display. You can change this text at any time if you are the group admin or have been given permission to manage the group.
The About section is different from the group description that appears in search results. The About section is longer and more detailed — it is the first thing people see when they visit the group page itself. You can include links, line breaks, and multiple paragraphs to make it easier to read.
Key Takeaways
- Only group admins and members with editing permissions can change the About section in a Facebook group.
- You access the About editor by clicking the pencil icon next to the current About text on the group's main page.
- Facebook allows you to format your About text with line breaks and links, but not with bold or italic styling.
- Changes to the About section take effect immediately and are visible to all group members.
Step-by-step: Editing the About section on desktop
Open Facebook in a web browser and go to your group's main page. Look for the About section — it sits below the group name and member count, usually on the left side of the page. You should see your current About text displayed there.
Move your cursor over the About section. A pencil icon will appear in the top right corner of that box. Click the pencil icon to open the editor. A text box will open with your current About text highlighted and ready to edit. Delete the old text, type your new About section, and make any changes you want. When you are finished, click the Save button at the bottom of the box. Your changes will appear on the group page immediately.
Step-by-step: Editing the About section on mobile
Open the Facebook app on your phone and navigate to your group. Tap the group name at the top to go to the group's main page. Scroll down until you see the About section. Tap the three dots (menu icon) in the top right corner of the About box.
A menu will appear with options including "Edit About". Tap that option. The text editor will open with your current About text. Delete or change the text as needed, then tap Save at the bottom. The updated About section will appear on your group page right away.
What you can include in your About section
You can write as much text as you want in the About section. Facebook does not limit the length, though very long text may require members to scroll to read it all. You can use line breaks by pressing Enter to separate paragraphs and make the text easier to scan.
You can include links by typing the full web address — for example, www.example.com — and Facebook will automatically turn it into a clickable link. You cannot use bold or italic formatting, but you can use symbols like asterisks or dashes to draw attention to important points. Many group admins use the About section to list group rules, post meeting times, share a group mission statement, or direct members to a website or document.
Who can edit the About section
Only the group admin and members who have been given admin or moderator status can edit the About section. Regular members cannot change it. If you are the group creator, you are automatically an admin and can edit the About section at any time.
If you want to let another member edit the About section without making them a full admin, you can give them moderator permissions. Go to your group settings, find the member's name, and select "Make Moderator" from the menu. Moderators can edit the About section, but they have fewer permissions than admins — for example, they cannot delete the group or remove other admins.
Troubleshooting: Why you might not see the edit option
If you do not see a pencil icon next to the About section, you may not have admin or moderator permissions for the group. Check with the group creator to confirm your role. If you are the group creator and still do not see the pencil icon, try logging out and logging back in, or try editing from a different browser or device.
On mobile, make sure you are using the latest version of the Facebook app. Older versions sometimes have bugs that hide the edit option. If the three-dot menu does not appear when you tap it, try closing the app completely and opening it again. If the problem continues, try editing the About section from a desktop browser instead.
What happens after you change the About section
Your changes appear on the group page immediately. All group members will see the new About text the next time they visit the group. Facebook does not send a notification to members when the About section changes, so members may not notice the update unless they check the group page regularly.
If you want to let members know about an important change to the group rules or information, you can post an announcement in the group feed as well. This way, members will see the update in their notifications and will be more likely to read it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add images or videos to the About section?
No, the About section only accepts text. You cannot embed images, videos, or other media directly in the About box. If you want to share images or videos with your group, post them in the group feed instead. You can include links to external websites or documents in the About section.
How long can the About section be?
Facebook does not set a hard limit on the length of the About section. However, very long text may be harder for members to read on mobile devices. Most group admins keep the About section to a few paragraphs or a bulleted list of rules and information.
Will members get notified when I change the About section?
No, Facebook does not send notifications when the About section changes. Members will only see the update if they visit the group page. If you want to announce a change to group rules or important information, post it in the group feed so members receive a notification.
Can I format text with bold or italics in the About section?
Facebook does not support bold or italic formatting in the About section. You can use line breaks, symbols like asterisks or dashes, and links to make your text stand out. Some admins use ALL CAPS for headings or important points.
What if I accidentally delete the About section?
If you delete all the text in the About section and save, the About box will be empty. You can edit it again at any time to add text back. Facebook does not keep a version history of the About section, so you will need to retype the text if you did not save a copy elsewhere.