Where to find notification settings on Facebook
Facebook stores notification controls in your account settings, not in the main menu. On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of any Facebook page, then select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left sidebar, click Notifications. On a phone or tablet, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon), scroll down to Settings and privacy, tap Settings, then scroll to find Notifications.
Once you reach the Notifications page, you will see categories of alerts — messages, friend requests, comments, likes, and others. Each category has its own on-and-off controls. You do not have to turn off all notifications at once; you can disable only the ones that bother you and leave the rest active.
Key Takeaways
- Notification settings are in Settings and privacy > Settings > Notifications on both desktop and mobile apps.
- You can turn off notifications by type — messages, comments, likes, friend requests — rather than disabling everything at once.
- Desktop and mobile have separate notification controls, so you may need to adjust both if you use Facebook on multiple devices.
- Turning off notifications in Facebook settings does not stop the app from sending alerts; you must also disable notifications in your phone's system settings if you want no alerts at all.
- Muting a specific person or group stops their notifications without unfriending them or leaving the group.
Turning off notifications by type on desktop
In the Notifications section on a computer, you will see a list of notification types with toggles next to each one. Messages covers direct messages from friends. Friend requests alerts you when someone wants to add you. Comments notifies you when someone replies to your post or a post you commented on. Likes tells you when someone reacts to your content. Tags alerts you when someone tags you in a photo or post.
Click the toggle next to any category to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray when disabled. You can also click on a category name to see more detailed options — for example, under Comments you might see separate toggles for comments on your own posts versus comments on posts you commented on. This lets you stay informed about some types of comments while muting others.
Some notification types have a dropdown menu instead of a simple toggle. For instance, Suggested for you might offer options like "All", "Some", or "None" rather than just on or off. Select the level of alerts you want for that category.
Turning off notifications on the Facebook mobile app
On iPhone or Android, the Notifications settings page looks similar to desktop but is organized for a smaller screen. Tap Settings and privacy from the menu icon, then Settings, then scroll down and tap Notifications. You will see the same categories — Messages, Friend requests, Comments, Likes, and others — each with a toggle.
Tap the toggle next to any notification type to turn it off. Unlike desktop, mobile toggles do not always show a detailed breakdown of sub-options on the main page. If you want more control over a specific category, tap the category name itself (not the toggle) to open a detailed menu with additional choices.
Keep in mind that disabling notifications in the Facebook app does not stop your phone from showing alerts. Your phone's operating system has its own notification settings for the Facebook app. Even if you turn off all notifications inside Facebook, your phone may still send you alerts unless you also disable notifications for Facebook in your phone's system settings.
Disabling notifications in your phone's system settings
To stop Facebook notifications completely on a phone, you must change settings outside the Facebook app. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications, scroll down to find Facebook, and tap it. Toggle off Allow Notifications. On Android, go to Settings > Apps (or Application Manager), find Facebook, tap Notifications, and toggle off Allow notifications.
Turning off notifications at the system level will silence all Facebook alerts on your phone, regardless of what you set inside the Facebook app itself. This is the most complete way to stop notifications if you do not want any alerts from Facebook at all.
Muting notifications from specific people or groups
You do not have to turn off all notifications to reduce noise. Facebook lets you mute individual people or groups so you stop seeing their alerts without unfriending them or leaving the group. To mute someone, go to their profile, click the three dots in the top right, and select Mute. Choose whether to mute their posts, stories, or both, and for how long — options include 30 days, a custom period, or indefinitely.
To mute a group, open the group page, click the three dots next to the group name, and select Mute group. You will stay in the group and can still see posts if you visit it, but you will not get notifications about new activity. You can unmute at any time by following the same steps and selecting Unmute.
Controlling notifications for specific apps and features
Facebook has several sub-apps and features that send their own notifications — Messenger, Instagram (if you have a Meta account), and Facebook Gaming. Messenger notifications are controlled separately from main Facebook notifications. To adjust Messenger alerts, open Messenger, tap your profile picture in the top left, scroll down to Notifications and sounds, and toggle off the types of alerts you want to stop.
If you use Facebook Gaming or play games through Facebook, those notifications are also separate. Go to your main Facebook Settings > Notifications and look for a Games section. Toggle off game notifications there. Instagram notifications, if linked to your Meta account, are controlled in the Instagram app's own settings, not in Facebook.
What happens when you turn off notifications
Turning off a notification type means you will not receive alerts about that activity, but the activity still happens. If you turn off comment notifications, people can still comment on your posts — you just will not be told about it. You can still see comments if you visit your post directly. The same applies to all other notification types: disabling alerts does not change what happens on Facebook, only whether you are notified.
You can turn notifications back on at any time by returning to the same settings and toggling them back on. There is no waiting period or penalty for changing your notification preferences. Many people adjust their settings seasonally or based on how busy they are — for example, turning off notifications during work hours and turning them back on in the evening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off notifications stop Facebook from tracking me?
No. Notification settings only control whether you receive alerts. They do not affect Facebook's data collection or tracking. Facebook tracks your activity regardless of your notification settings. To limit tracking, you would need to adjust privacy settings, use Facebook's off-site activity tool, or limit the permissions you give the app.
Can I turn off notifications for just one device?
Yes, but only partially. Notification settings inside the Facebook app are device-specific — you can turn off notifications on your phone while keeping them on your computer. However, system-level settings (like your phone's notification permissions) only affect that one device. If you want to disable notifications on your computer but keep them on your phone, adjust settings in the Facebook app on each device separately.
Why am I still getting notifications after turning them off?
You may have turned off notifications in the Facebook app but not in your phone's system settings. Check your phone's Settings > Notifications and make sure Facebook is allowed to send notifications there. Also check whether you are logged into Facebook on multiple devices — notifications from one device may still come through on another. Finally, some alerts (like security warnings) cannot be turned off and will still arrive even if you disable all other notifications.
How do I turn off notifications for just messages?
In Facebook Settings > Notifications, find the Messages category and toggle it off. On mobile, you may need to tap the Messages category name to see sub-options. If you want to receive messages but not be notified about them, turn off the toggle. You can still read messages by opening Messenger directly.
What is the difference between muting and turning off notifications?
Turning off a notification type stops all alerts of that kind — for example, no comment notifications from anyone. Muting a specific person or group stops notifications only from that person or group while keeping notifications from others. Muting is useful if you want to stay friends with someone but do not want to see their activity alerts.