Where to find notification settings on Facebook
Facebook stores notification controls in two places: in the Facebook app or website itself, and in your phone or computer's system settings. To actually receive notifications, you need to turn them on in both places — if either one is off, you won't see alerts. Most people find the Facebook app settings first, but the system-level permission is what actually lets Facebook send anything to your device.
The exact steps depend on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or a computer. Each platform stores these permissions differently, and Facebook's app menu looks slightly different on each one too. Start with whichever device you use most, then repeat the process on any other devices where you want notifications.
Key Takeaways
- Facebook notifications require permission at two levels: inside the Facebook app or website, and in your phone or computer's system settings.
- On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Facebook and toggle Allow Notifications on; on Android, go to Settings > Apps > Facebook > Notifications and turn them on.
- On a computer, open Facebook, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines), select Settings and Privacy > Settings, then Notifications, and choose which types you want.
- You can control which types of notifications you receive — messages, friend requests, comments, likes — separately from whether notifications are on or off.
Turning on notifications on an iPhone
On iPhone, you control notifications through two separate menus. First, go to your phone's Settings app (the gray gear icon on your home screen). Scroll down and tap Notifications. Look for Facebook in the list and tap it.
Once you're in Facebook's notification settings, toggle the switch next to "Allow Notifications" to the right so it turns green. This gives Facebook permission to send alerts to your phone. Below that, you'll see options like "Sounds" and "Badges" — toggle whichever of these you want turned on. A badge is the small red number that appears on the Facebook app icon when you have unread messages or notifications.
After you've done this, open the Facebook app itself and check its internal settings. Tap the three horizontal lines (the menu) at the bottom right, scroll down to Settings and Privacy, then tap Settings. Tap Notifications, then tap the type of notification you want to adjust — Messages, Friend Requests, Comments, Likes, and so on. For each type, you can choose whether to receive notifications and how often.
Turning on notifications on Android
On Android, open your phone's Settings app. The location varies by phone brand, but look for "Apps" or "Application Manager." Find Facebook in the list and tap it. Look for a Notifications option — it may say "App Notifications" or just "Notifications" — and tap it.
Toggle the main notifications switch on. You may also see options for notification sounds and vibration; turn on whichever you prefer. Then go back and open the Facebook app itself. Tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right, go to Settings and Privacy > Settings, then Notifications. Choose which types of notifications you want — Messages, Friend Requests, Comments, Likes — and set the frequency for each one.
Turning on notifications on a computer
On a computer, open Facebook in your web browser and log in. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Select Settings and Privacy, then Settings. In the left sidebar, click Notifications.
You'll see a list of notification types: Messages, Friend Requests, Comments on Your Posts, Likes, Tags, and others. For each type, you can choose "On" or "Off." If you select "On," Facebook will show notifications in the bottom right corner of your screen while you're using the browser. You can also choose whether to receive email notifications for each type by clicking the dropdown next to each one.
Controlling which notifications you actually receive
Once notifications are turned on at the system level, you can fine-tune exactly what alerts you see. In the Facebook app or website, go to Notifications settings and look at the different categories. Messages, Friend Requests, Comments, Likes, and Tags are the main ones, but there are others like Events, Pages You Follow, and Groups.
For each category, you can usually choose between "On," "Off," or a frequency like "Instant," "Daily," or "Weekly." Instant means you'll get an alert right away. Daily or Weekly means Facebook will bundle notifications and send you one summary instead. If you turn a category off entirely, you won't get notifications for it, but you can still see it when you open the app or website.
What to do if notifications still aren't showing up
If you've turned notifications on in both places and still aren't seeing them, check a few things. First, make sure you're actually logged into Facebook on that device. Second, check that your phone or computer isn't in Do Not Disturb or Focus mode, which can block all notifications. On iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner to see Control Center; on Android, swipe down twice from the top to see Quick Settings.
Third, try closing the Facebook app completely and reopening it. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold the Facebook app, then swipe up to close it. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Facebook and tap "Force Stop," then reopen the app. On a computer, close the browser tab and reload Facebook. If notifications still don't work, uninstall and reinstall the Facebook app — sometimes a fresh install fixes notification problems.
Turning off specific notification types without disabling all notifications
You don't have to turn off all notifications to reduce clutter. Instead, you can turn off just the types that bother you. For example, many people turn off Like notifications but keep Messages and Friend Requests on. Go to your Notifications settings in the Facebook app or website and toggle off individual categories.
You can also adjust frequency without turning notifications off completely. If you get too many notifications, try switching from "Instant" to "Daily" for categories like Comments or Likes. This way you'll still know what happened, but you'll get one summary instead of dozens of alerts throughout the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I not getting Facebook notifications even though I turned them on?
Notifications require permission at two levels: in your phone or computer's system settings, and in the Facebook app or website. If either one is off, you won't receive alerts. Also check whether your device is in Do Not Disturb mode, which blocks notifications from all apps. Try closing and reopening the Facebook app to refresh the connection.
Can I get notifications on my computer but not my phone?
Yes. Notification settings are separate for each device. You can turn notifications on for your computer and off for your phone, or vice versa. Just go through the settings steps for each device independently and choose different preferences for each one.
What's the difference between turning off a notification type and turning off all notifications?
Turning off all notifications (at the system level) stops Facebook from sending any alerts to your device. Turning off a specific type — like Likes — means you'll still get Messages and Friend Requests, just not Likes. You can see both types when you open Facebook, but only the ones you've enabled will send you alerts.
Will turning on notifications drain my phone battery?
Notifications use very little battery. The bigger drain comes from the Facebook app running in the background and checking for updates frequently. Turning notifications on or off won't noticeably affect your battery life either way.
Can I get notifications for only certain people or pages?
Facebook's built-in notification settings don't let you choose specific people or pages. However, you can mute notifications from individual people or pages by visiting their profile, clicking the three dots, and selecting "Mute." This hides their posts from your feed and stops notifications from them without unfriending them.