Where to find Facebook notification settings
Facebook stores notification controls in different places depending on whether you use your phone or computer. On a phone, you'll go through Facebook's own settings menu. On a computer, you can control notifications either through Facebook's settings or through your browser itself — and the browser method often works better because it stops notifications even if you're not logged in.
The fastest way to turn off a single notification is to tap or click the notification itself when it arrives and look for a "Turn off" or settings option right there. But if you want to stop entire categories of notifications — like all friend requests, all comments, or all messages — you'll need to go into the full settings menu. That's where you can be specific about what you do and don't want to see.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone or Android, open Facebook, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), scroll to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Notifications, and toggle off the categories you don't want.
- On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right, select Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Notifications, and uncheck the boxes next to notification types.
- Browser notifications (the pop-ups that appear on your screen even when Facebook isn't open) are controlled through your browser settings, not Facebook's app — this is often the fastest way to silence them completely.
- You can turn off notifications for specific people or groups by visiting their profile or the group page and using the notification bell icon to mute them.
- Turning off notifications does not delete your messages, comments, or friend requests — it only stops the alerts, and you can still see everything when you open Facebook.
Turning off notifications on iPhone or Android
Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down until you see "Settings and Privacy," then tap it. From there, tap "Settings."
Look for "Notifications" in the menu — it's usually near the middle of the list. Tap it. You'll now see a list of notification types: Messages, Friend Requests, Comments, Likes, Tags, Group Activity, Event Invitations, and others depending on your phone and Facebook version. Next to each one is a toggle switch. Tap the toggle to turn it off. The switch will turn gray when it's off.
If you want to be more selective — for example, keeping message notifications but turning off everything else — you can toggle each category individually. Some categories have a second level of control: tap the category name itself (not just the toggle) and you'll see options like "All," "Close Friends," or "Off." This lets you keep notifications from certain people while silencing the rest.
Turning off notifications on Windows or Mac
On a computer, click the downward-pointing arrow in the top right corner of Facebook (next to your profile picture). Click "Settings and Privacy," then "Settings." On the left side, you'll see a menu — click "Notifications."
You'll see a list of notification types with checkboxes next to each one. Uncheck the box next to any notification type you want to turn off. Unlike the phone app, the computer version doesn't always have a second level of control for each category, so if you want to silence only certain people, you may need to use the mute feature on their profile instead (see the section below).
If you're using Firefox, Chrome, or Safari, you can also control notifications through your browser settings. This is often more effective because it stops the browser pop-ups that appear even when you're not actively using Facebook. In Chrome, click the three vertical dots in the top right, go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Site Settings, then Notifications. Find facebook.com in the list and click it, then set it to "Block."
Stopping browser notifications completely
Browser notifications are the pop-ups that appear on your screen even when you're not on the Facebook website. They're separate from the notifications you see inside the Facebook app or website. If you're getting notifications on your desktop or laptop screen, you're dealing with browser notifications, and turning off Facebook's in-app settings won't stop them.
In Chrome, click the three vertical dots in the top right corner, then Settings. Click "Privacy and Security" on the left, then "Site Settings." Scroll down and click "Notifications." You'll see a list of websites that have permission to send notifications. Find facebook.com and click it. Change the setting from "Allow" to "Block." Close the tab and you're done.
In Firefox, click the three horizontal lines in the top right, then Settings. Click "Privacy and Security" on the left. Scroll down to "Permissions" and find "Notifications." Click "Settings" next to it. Look for facebook.com in the list. If it's there, click it and then click "Remove Website." If it's not there, Facebook doesn't have permission to send you browser notifications and you can stop looking.
In Safari on Mac, click "Safari" in the top menu, then "Settings." Click the "Websites" tab at the top. On the left side, click "Notifications." Look for facebook.com in the list on the right. Click it and change the dropdown from "Allow" to "Deny."
Muting notifications from specific people or groups
If you want to keep most notifications but silence one person or one group, you don't have to turn off the whole category. Instead, visit that person's profile or the group page and use the notification bell icon.
On a person's profile, look for the bell icon (usually near the top right of their cover photo). Click or tap it and you'll see options like "All," "Important," or "Off." Choose "Off" to stop getting notifications about that person's activity. On a group page, look for the bell icon near the group name and do the same thing. This way, you'll still get notifications from everyone else, but not from that specific person or group.
What happens when you turn off notifications
Turning off a notification does not delete anything. Your messages stay in your inbox. Comments on your posts stay there. Friend requests stay in your requests folder. The only thing that changes is that you won't get an alert when these things happen. You can still see everything when you open Facebook and look at your inbox, notifications tab, or the relevant page.
If you change your mind later, you can turn notifications back on by going back to the same settings menu and toggling them on again. There's no penalty for turning them off and back on as many times as you want. Some people turn notifications off during work hours and back on in the evening, or turn off certain categories during the week and back on on weekends.
Troubleshooting notifications that won't turn off
If you've turned off notifications but they're still appearing, the problem is usually browser notifications rather than app notifications. Check your browser settings using the steps in the "Stopping browser notifications completely" section above. Browser notifications often override app settings, so turning off the browser permission will stop them even if Facebook's app settings are still on.
Another common issue is that you've turned off notifications in one place but not another. For example, you might have turned them off in the Facebook app but not in your browser, or vice versa. If you use both, you need to turn them off in both places. On your phone, check both the Facebook app settings and your phone's own notification settings (in iPhone Settings or Android Settings, look for "Apps" or "Notifications" and find Facebook there).
If notifications are still coming through after you've checked all these places, try logging out of Facebook completely, closing the app or browser, waiting a few minutes, and logging back in. Sometimes the settings don't take effect until you refresh your session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will people know I turned off notifications from them?
No. Turning off notifications is completely private. The person won't be notified, and there's no way for them to see that you've muted their activity. They can still message you, comment on your posts, and interact with you normally — you just won't get an alert when they do.
Can I turn off notifications for just messages but keep notifications for everything else?
Yes. In your notification settings, you'll see each notification type listed separately. Toggle off only the ones you don't want. You can keep Messages on and turn off Comments, Likes, Friend Requests, and everything else if that's what you prefer.
What's the difference between turning off notifications and blocking someone?
Turning off notifications just silences the alerts — the person can still message you and interact with you normally. Blocking someone prevents them from seeing your profile, messaging you, or finding you on Facebook at all. Blocking is much stronger and is meant for people you don't want contact with.
If I turn off browser notifications, will I still see notifications inside the Facebook app?
Yes. Browser notifications and app notifications are separate. Turning off browser notifications only stops the pop-ups on your screen. You'll still see notifications when you open the Facebook app or website. If you want to turn those off too, you need to change the settings inside the app or website itself.
How do I turn notifications back on if I change my mind?
Go back to the same settings menu where you turned them off and toggle them back on. On a phone, that's Settings and Privacy > Settings > Notifications. On a computer, it's the downward arrow > Settings and Privacy > Settings > Notifications. The toggle will turn blue when it's on.