Push notifications on Facebook are messages that appear on your phone or computer screen, sent by Facebook to alert you about activity on your account
A push notification is a short message that pops up on your device — usually your phone — even when you are not using Facebook. Facebook sends these to tell you about things like new friend requests, comments on your posts, messages from people you follow, or activity in groups you belong to. The notification appears as a banner at the top of your screen, in your notification center, or on your lock screen, depending on your device and how you have set things up.
Push notifications are different from the notifications you see inside the Facebook app itself. Those in-app notifications only show up when you are actively using Facebook. Push notifications reach you outside the app, which is why they can feel more intrusive — they interrupt what you are doing on your phone or computer to grab your attention.
Key Takeaways
- Push notifications are messages Facebook sends to your device screen, not messages inside the app, and they arrive whether or not you are using Facebook.
- Facebook decides what types of activity trigger notifications based on your account settings, but you can turn off entire categories or all push notifications at once.
- On Android, push notifications come through Google's system; on iPhone, they use Apple's system; on desktop, they appear in your browser or operating system notification center.
- Turning off push notifications does not delete your messages or hide activity from you — you will still see everything when you open the app or website.
Why Facebook sends push notifications
Facebook sends push notifications to keep you engaged with the platform. When someone comments on your post, sends you a message, or invites you to an event, Facebook notifies you immediately rather than waiting for you to check the app on your own. This pulls you back into Facebook more often throughout the day.
The notifications also serve a practical purpose: they let you know about time-sensitive activity. If someone messages you directly, you might want to respond quickly. If a friend tags you in a photo, you may want to see it right away. Facebook uses notifications to make sure you do not miss interactions that involve you.
What types of activity trigger push notifications
Facebook can send push notifications for dozens of different activities. The most common ones are direct messages, friend requests, comments on your posts, likes on your posts, tags in photos or posts, activity in groups you belong to, birthday reminders for friends, event invitations, and suggestions for people you might know.
Facebook also sends notifications about account security — for example, if someone tries to log into your account from a new device, or if your password is changed. These security notifications are usually on by default because they protect your account, though you can turn them off if you want.
Less obvious notifications include reminders to post on your birthday, suggestions to reconnect with old friends, notifications when someone you follow posts something, and alerts about trending topics or events in your area. The full list of notification types is long, and Facebook adds new ones periodically.
How push notifications reach your device
The path a notification takes depends on what device you use. On an Android phone, Facebook uses Google's Firebase Cloud Messaging system to send the notification to your device. Google handles the delivery, and the notification appears in your Android notification center. On an iPhone, Facebook uses Apple's Push Notification service, and Apple delivers the message to your lock screen or notification center.
On a desktop computer, push notifications work differently. If you use Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, Facebook can send notifications through your browser if you have given Facebook permission to do so. These appear as small pop-ups in the corner of your screen or in your operating system's notification center. On Mac, they integrate with the Mac notification system; on Windows, they appear in the Windows notification center.
In all cases, Facebook stores your device information — a unique identifier that lets Facebook know where to send each notification. This is why you see a list of "active devices" or "active sessions" in your account settings: Facebook tracks which phones, tablets, and computers are registered to receive your notifications.
The difference between push notifications and in-app notifications
An in-app notification is a message you see only while you are using Facebook — a red number badge on the notification icon, or a small alert inside the app. These do not interrupt you outside the app. A push notification, by contrast, reaches you on your device screen regardless of whether Facebook is open.
You can turn off push notifications while keeping in-app notifications on, which means you will still see activity when you open Facebook but will not be interrupted by pop-ups throughout the day. Some people prefer this because they check Facebook on their own schedule rather than being pulled in by notifications.
How Facebook decides which notifications to send you
Facebook uses your account settings and your past behavior to decide what to notify you about. If you have turned on notifications for comments, Facebook will send you a push notification every time someone comments on one of your posts — unless you have muted that specific post or person. If you have turned off notifications for friend requests, you will not get a push notification when someone sends you a request, though you will still see it in your notification center inside the app.
Facebook also learns from your behavior. If you consistently ignore notifications about a certain type of activity, Facebook may send them less often. If you open the app immediately after receiving a notification, Facebook interprets that as interest and may send similar notifications more frequently.
Your notification settings are separate for each device. You might have push notifications on for your phone but off for your tablet, or vice versa. This means you can receive notifications on one device and not another.
What happens when you turn off push notifications
Turning off push notifications stops Facebook from sending messages to your device screen. You will no longer see pop-ups or banners about activity on your account. However, turning off push notifications does not delete your messages, hide posts, or remove you from groups. Everything is still there — you simply will not be alerted about it unless you open the app or website yourself.
If you turn off all push notifications, you will still see a red badge number on the Facebook app icon (if you have that turned on separately), and you will still see all your notifications inside the app when you open it. You just will not be interrupted by notifications outside the app.
Some people turn off push notifications entirely because they find them distracting. Others turn off specific categories — for example, keeping notifications for direct messages but turning off notifications for likes and comments. You can customize this down to individual notification types in your settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Facebook send push notifications if I have the app closed?
Yes. Push notifications are designed to reach you even when the Facebook app is completely closed. The notification goes through your phone's operating system (Android or iOS) or your browser, not through the app itself. This is why they can interrupt you at any time.
Do push notifications use my data or battery?
Push notifications use very little data — usually just a few kilobytes per notification. They do use a small amount of battery because your phone has to wake up to display the notification, but the impact is minimal. If you are concerned about battery life, turning off push notifications will save more battery than turning off most other features.
Why am I getting push notifications when I turned them off?
Check your device settings, not just your Facebook settings. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Facebook > Notifications and make sure notifications are turned off there. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Facebook and turn off "Allow Notifications". Your device settings override Facebook's settings, so if notifications are on at the device level, Facebook can still send them.
Can I get push notifications for only certain people?
Facebook does not have a built-in way to get notifications only from specific people. However, you can mute notifications from individual people or groups, which stops notifications from those sources. You can also use the "Close Friends" or "Favorites" feature to prioritize whose posts you see, though this does not directly control notifications.
What is the difference between a push notification and an SMS text?
A push notification appears on your phone screen through your internet connection and your phone's operating system. An SMS text message is sent through your phone carrier's network and appears in your text message app. Facebook can send push notifications without your phone number, but SMS messages require your phone number on file.