You can disable comments on individual posts or turn them off across your entire profile
Facebook gives you two separate ways to control comments. You can turn off comments on a single post after you've published it, or you can change your default settings so that new posts don't accept comments at all. The steps are different depending on which you choose, and the settings live in different places in the app and website.
Most people use the single-post method when they want to share something but don't want to deal with replies on that specific thing. The profile-wide setting is less common but useful if you're taking a break from interaction or managing a public figure account.
Key Takeaways
- You can disable comments on any post you've already published by opening the post menu and selecting the comments-off option.
- Turning off comments on a post doesn't delete existing comments — it just stops new ones from being added.
- To prevent comments on all new posts going forward, change your privacy settings in the main Settings menu.
- People can still see your post and share it; they just cannot reply directly to it.
- You can re-enable comments on a post at any time using the same menu where you turned them off.
How to disable comments on a single Facebook post
Open the post you want to disable comments on. Look for the three dots (or sometimes three horizontal lines) in the top right corner of the post. Tap or click those dots to open a menu.
In that menu, look for an option that says "Turn off commenting" or "Disable comments." Click it. The post will now show that comments are off, and anyone viewing it will see a message saying comments aren't allowed instead of a comment box.
If you change your mind later, you can open the same post, tap the three dots again, and select "Turn on commenting" to allow replies again.
How to disable comments on all new posts from your profile settings
On the Facebook website, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of any page. Select "Settings and privacy," then click "Settings." On the left side, look for "Privacy" and click it.
Find the section labeled "Who can comment on your posts?" and click the dropdown menu next to it. Select "Friends only," "Specific friends," or "Only me" depending on who you want to allow. If you select "Only me," nobody except you will be able to comment on your posts.
On the Facebook mobile app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. Go to "Settings and privacy" > "Settings." Scroll down to "Privacy" and tap "Who can comment on your posts?" Then select your preferred setting from the options shown.
What happens to existing comments when you turn them off
When you disable comments on a post, all the comments that are already there stay visible. You're only stopping new comments from being added. If you want to hide the old comments too, you'll need to delete them individually or delete the entire post.
People who already commented can still see their own comments, but they won't be able to add new replies. The comment section will show "Comments are off" or similar language, making it clear to everyone that no new comments are being accepted.
The difference between disabling comments and hiding a post
Disabling comments is not the same as hiding or deleting a post. When you turn off comments, the post stays visible on your profile and in your friends' feeds. People can still see it, like it, and share it — they just can't comment or reply.
If you want to remove the post entirely from view, you need to delete it instead. Hiding a post is different again: it removes the post from your timeline but keeps it in your archive, so only you can see it later.
Troubleshooting: Comments are still appearing after you disabled them
If you disabled comments but people are still able to comment, the setting may not have saved. Try the process again and make sure you see a confirmation message or a visual change on the post (like a "Comments are off" label).
If you're on the mobile app and the setting isn't working, try doing it on the Facebook website instead. Sometimes the app lags behind the website for newer features. Log out completely, wait a few minutes, and log back in to force a refresh of your settings.
If comments are still appearing after you've waited several minutes, take a screenshot of the problem and report it to Facebook through the "Help and Support" menu. This is usually a temporary bug that Facebook can fix on their end.
When you might want to disable comments
People disable comments for different reasons. Some do it on posts about sensitive topics where they don't want to moderate arguments. Others use it when sharing news or announcements where they want to control the message without dealing with debate in the replies.
If you're a public figure or run a business page, you might disable comments on certain posts to prevent spam or off-topic replies. Parents sometimes disable comments on photos of their children for privacy reasons. You can also use it temporarily if you're taking a break from social media but still want to share updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I disable comments on old posts all at once?
No, you have to disable comments on each post individually. Facebook doesn't have a bulk option to turn off comments on multiple posts at the same time. If you have many posts you want to disable, you'll need to go through them one by one.
Will people know I disabled comments on a post?
Yes, they'll see a message saying "Comments are off" or similar language where the comment box would normally be. It's not hidden — it's visible to anyone looking at the post.
Can I disable comments on posts other people tagged me in?
No, you can only disable comments on posts you created yourself. If someone else posted something and tagged you, only they can turn off comments on that post. You can ask them to do it, or you can untag yourself from the post.
Does disabling comments stop people from messaging me about the post?
No, disabling comments only stops public replies on the post itself. People can still send you private messages about it if they have your messages open. If you want to prevent that, you'd need to adjust your message settings separately.
What if I want to allow comments from friends only, not everyone?
Go to your Privacy settings and select "Friends only" from the "Who can comment on your posts?" dropdown. This applies to all new posts going forward. For posts you've already published, you'll need to open each one and adjust the comment setting individually.