How to Approve Tags on Facebook: Controlling What Appears on Your Profile
Facebook's tagging system lets friends link your name to photos, posts, and check-ins. By default, those tags can appear on your profile automatically — but Facebook gives you tools to review and approve them first. Understanding how tag approval works helps you decide what shows up publicly and what stays off your timeline.
What Is Tag Review on Facebook?
Tag review (sometimes called Timeline review) is a privacy feature that puts you in control of tagged content before it goes live on your profile. When someone tags you in a post or photo, instead of it appearing on your timeline immediately, it gets held in a queue for your approval.
This is different from simply being tagged. The tag still exists — meaning the person's post can still mention you — but the content won't appear on your profile page until you say so.
How to Turn On Tag Review
Tag review isn't enabled by default on all accounts, so you may need to switch it on manually.
On Desktop (Facebook.com):
- Click your profile picture in the top-right corner and select Settings & Privacy
- Go to Settings
- In the left sidebar, click Profile and Tagging
- Scroll to the Reviewing section
- Toggle on "Review posts you're tagged in before the post appears on your profile"
- Optionally enable "Review tags people add to your own posts before the tags appear on Facebook"
On Mobile (iOS or Android):
- Tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon)
- Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then Settings
- Tap Profile and Tagging
- Find the Reviewing section and toggle on the same options
Once enabled, any new tag will go into a pending queue rather than publishing automatically.
How to Approve or Reject Pending Tags
Once tag review is active, you'll get notifications when someone tags you. Here's how to act on them:
On Desktop:
- Click the notification bell at the top of Facebook
- Find the tag notification and click it
- You'll be prompted to Add to Profile or Hide
- Select your preference — the tag either appears on your timeline or stays off it
On Mobile:
- Tap the bell icon for notifications
- Locate the tag notification
- Tap Review or open the post directly
- Choose to Approve or Reject the tag
You can also review all pending tags in one place:
- Go to your profile page
- Tap or click the Activity Log (accessible via the three-dot menu on your profile cover)
- Filter by "Posts You're Tagged In" or "Tag Review"
The Activity Log gives you a running history of tagged content — both approved and pending — so nothing slips through unnoticed.
What Happens When You Approve or Reject a Tag
| Action | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Approve / Add to Profile | The post or photo appears on your profile timeline |
| Reject / Hide from Profile | The tag doesn't show on your profile, but the original post still exists on the tagger's page |
| Remove Tag Entirely | You can go further and request the tag be removed from the post altogether |
It's worth noting: rejecting a tag or hiding it from your profile doesn't delete the original post. If someone tags you in a public photo, that photo still exists on their profile — you've just prevented it from surfacing on yours.
Tagging in Photos vs. Posts: Small Differences
🔍 Photo tags and post tags behave slightly differently. When someone tags you in a photo, Facebook uses facial recognition (in regions where it's enabled) to suggest tags, but you still retain review control if the feature is on.
Post tags — where someone types your name in a status update or check-in — follow the same review queue rules. The process for approving both is identical once tag review is enabled.
Factors That Affect Your Tag Review Experience
Not everyone's Facebook tag setup looks identical. A few variables shape how this works in practice:
- Account age and region: Facebook has rolled out features at different times and in different markets. Older accounts or accounts in certain regions may see slightly different menu layouts.
- Facebook app version: The mobile interface changes frequently. Menu paths may shift slightly between app updates, though the underlying settings remain consistent.
- Who is tagging you: Friends, friends of friends, and the public may have different default permissions based on your broader audience settings. Tag review acts as a secondary filter on top of those audience controls.
- Privacy shortcuts: If you've previously adjusted settings through Facebook's Privacy Checkup tool, some tag-related settings may have been configured there as well.
- Shared posts vs. original content: Tags on shared posts or third-party content occasionally behave differently depending on the post's origin and audience settings.
Tags You Add to Your Own Posts
If you add a tag to your own post, different rules apply. Those tags typically go live immediately since you're the post owner. However, the person you've tagged may have their own tag review settings — meaning the content might not appear on their profile until they approve it. ✅
Beyond Approval: Additional Controls Worth Knowing
Tag review solves the "what shows on my profile" problem, but there are related tools that round out your control:
- Audience selector: Limit who can see posts you're tagged in, even approved ones
- Blocking and restricting: Prevents specific users from tagging you at all
- Face recognition settings: Controls whether Facebook suggests your name in photo tags (availability varies by region)
- Profile post visibility: Separately controls who can post directly to your timeline, which interacts with tag review
Each of these sits in the Profile and Tagging section of Settings, making it a useful place to audit your full tagging exposure at once.
The right combination of these settings depends entirely on how you use Facebook — whether that's a tightly managed professional presence, a casual personal account, or something shared across a mix of audiences you'd rather keep separate. 🔒