What Facebook push notifications are
A Facebook push notification is a message that appears on your phone or computer screen, even when you're not inside the Facebook app or website. It pops up to tell you something happened on Facebook — someone commented on your post, a friend went live, a group you're in has new activity, or Facebook thinks you might want to see a particular post.
Push notifications arrive through your device's operating system, not through the app itself. On Android, they show up in your notification shade. On iPhone, they appear on your lock screen or in the notification center. On a computer, they may appear as a small box in the corner of your screen, depending on your browser and settings.
The key difference between a push notification and other Facebook messages is that push notifications reach you outside the app. A message inside Facebook only shows up when you open Facebook. A push notification finds you wherever you are on your device.
Key Takeaways
- Facebook push notifications are messages sent to your device by Facebook's servers, designed to bring you back into the app or website.
- You receive push notifications for friend activity, comments, group posts, and content Facebook's algorithm thinks you'll engage with.
- Push notifications require permission from your device — Facebook cannot send them without you allowing it first.
- You can turn off all Facebook push notifications, or customize which types you receive, through your phone's settings or Facebook's notification preferences.
- Facebook uses push notifications partly to increase how often you open the app, so limiting them can reduce interruptions without affecting your ability to use Facebook.
Why Facebook sends you push notifications
Facebook sends push notifications for two reasons: to let you know something you probably care about happened, and to bring you back into the app. The first reason is straightforward — if a close friend comments on your photo, you might want to know. The second reason is business. Every time you open Facebook because of a notification, you see ads. The more often you open the app, the more ads you see.
This is why Facebook's default settings send you a lot of notifications. Facebook decides what counts as important based on your past behavior. If you usually like posts from a certain person, Facebook will notify you when that person posts. If you spend time in a particular group, Facebook will notify you about new activity there. If you haven't opened the app in a few hours, Facebook may send you a notification about something it thinks will pull you back in.
You are not paying Facebook money to use it. Facebook makes money by selling advertising space. The more time you spend in the app, the more ads you see, and the more valuable that advertising space becomes. Push notifications are one of Facebook's main tools for keeping you engaged.
Types of Facebook push notifications you might receive
Facebook sends different kinds of notifications depending on what's happening on your account and what Facebook thinks will interest you. Friend activity notifications tell you when someone you know posts, comments, or goes live. These are among the most common.
Group notifications alert you to new posts, comments, or events in groups you've joined. If you're in a neighborhood group or a hobby group, you might get dozens of these per day depending on how active the group is.
Comment and reaction notifications let you know when someone comments on your post or reacts to it with a like, emoji, or other reaction. These usually only arrive if you've turned them on, or if the person commenting is someone Facebook considers close to you.
Suggested content notifications are Facebook telling you about posts, videos, or pages it thinks you'll want to see. These are not about your friends or groups — they're about content Facebook's algorithm recommends. These notifications are purely about engagement; they have nothing to do with your social connections.
Event and birthday notifications remind you about upcoming events you're invited to or friends' birthdays. These are usually less frequent than other types.
How Facebook gets permission to send you notifications
When you first install the Facebook app or visit Facebook in a web browser, your device asks whether you want to allow Facebook to send push notifications. On iPhone, you see a popup asking "Allow Facebook to send you notifications?" On Android, the permission is usually granted automatically when you install the app, but you can change it later.
Facebook cannot send you push notifications without this permission. If you denied permission when you first installed the app, Facebook will not send notifications to your device. If you're not sure whether you gave permission, you can check your device's settings.
On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Facebook and look at the toggle next to "Allow Notifications." On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Facebook > Notifications and check whether notifications are turned on. On a computer, notification permissions depend on your browser and operating system.
Turning off Facebook push notifications entirely
If you want to stop receiving all Facebook push notifications, the fastest way is through your device's settings, not Facebook's app. This works because Facebook cannot override your device's permission settings.
On iPhone, open Settings, tap Notifications, find Facebook in the list, and toggle off "Allow Notifications." On Android, open Settings, go to Apps, find Facebook, tap Notifications, and toggle off "Show notifications." On a computer, the process varies by browser — in Chrome, click the lock icon in the address bar, find Notifications, and change the setting to "Block."
Turning off notifications this way stops all Facebook notifications from reaching your device. You will not see any popups, badges, or sounds. You can still use Facebook normally; you just won't be interrupted by notifications. If you change your mind later, you can turn notifications back on using the same steps.
Customizing which notifications you receive
If you want to keep some notifications but turn off others, you can customize your settings inside Facebook. This gives you more control than turning notifications off entirely, but it requires more steps.
On the Facebook app, go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Notifications. You'll see a list of notification types — Comments, Likes and Reactions, Friend Requests, Group Activity, and others. Tap each one to see options for how often you want to receive that type of notification. You can usually choose "All," "Standard," "Close Friends Only," or "Off."
On Facebook's website, go to Settings > Notifications and you'll see similar options. The exact categories vary slightly between the app and the website, but the principle is the same: you can turn each type of notification up or down.
One useful setting is "Notifications from People." You can choose to receive notifications only from close friends, or from everyone. Another is "Suggested Posts," which you can turn off entirely if you don't want Facebook recommending content to you.
Why you might still get notifications even after changing settings
Sometimes people turn off notifications in Facebook's app but still receive them. This usually means Facebook's app settings are not the problem — your device's settings are allowing notifications through. Check your device's settings first before assuming Facebook is ignoring your preferences.
Another reason you might still see notifications is that you changed the setting in one place but not another. If you use Facebook on both your phone and your computer, you need to change notification settings on each device separately. Facebook does not sync notification preferences across devices.
Finally, some notifications come from Facebook's website rather than the app. If you use Facebook in a web browser, your browser's notification settings control whether you see popups. Turning off notifications in the Facebook app will not affect browser notifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Facebook send me notifications if I don't have the app installed?
Yes. If you use Facebook in a web browser on your computer or phone, Facebook can send browser notifications if you've given permission. Browser notifications work differently from app notifications but serve the same purpose — they reach you outside the Facebook website.
Why do I get notifications about people I'm not close to?
Facebook's algorithm decides who counts as important to you based on your past behavior — who you message, whose posts you like, how long you spend looking at their content. If you've interacted with someone in the past, Facebook may notify you about their activity even if you don't consider them close.
Do push notifications use my data or battery?
Push notifications use very little data — usually just a few kilobytes per notification. Battery impact is minimal because notifications arrive through your device's system, not by Facebook constantly checking for updates. Turning off notifications will not noticeably improve battery life on most devices.
What's the difference between a push notification and an email from Facebook?
Push notifications appear on your device immediately and are designed to interrupt you. Email notifications arrive in your email inbox and you see them when you check email. You can control both separately — turning off push notifications does not affect email notifications, and vice versa.
If I turn off notifications, will I miss important messages from friends?
You will not receive notifications about direct messages, but you can still read messages when you open Facebook. If someone sends you a message, it will be waiting for you in your inbox. You just won't be alerted immediately. Some people prefer this because it lets them check Facebook on their own schedule rather than being interrupted.