Push notifications on Facebook are messages that appear on your phone or computer screen outside the app itself
A push notification is a short message that Facebook sends directly to your device — it shows up on your lock screen, in your notification center, or as a banner across the top of your screen, even when you are not inside the Facebook app. Facebook uses them to tell you when someone messages you, comments on your post, tags you in a photo, or when a page you follow posts something new.
The notification arrives instantly or within seconds of the event happening. You can tap it to jump straight into the app to that conversation or post, or you can dismiss it without opening Facebook at all. Unlike email, which sits in your inbox until you check it, push notifications are designed to interrupt you in the moment.
Key Takeaways
- Push notifications alert you to messages, comments, tags, and activity from people and pages you follow, delivered to your device screen outside the app.
- You can turn push notifications on or off entirely, or customize which types of activity trigger them — for example, allowing messages but blocking comment notifications.
- On iPhone, push notifications appear on your lock screen and in the notification center; on Android, they appear in your notification shade; on desktop, they show as browser notifications.
- Facebook sends notifications based on what it thinks you care about, but you can override those guesses by adjusting your notification settings for each type of activity.
What types of activity trigger push notifications
Facebook sends push notifications for several categories of activity. The most common are messages — when someone sends you a direct message or replies in a group chat. You also get notifications when someone comments on a post you made, reacts to your post (likes, loves, angry faces, and so on), or tags you in a photo or post.
Facebook also sends notifications when a friend requests you, when someone you follow posts something new, when a page you like posts an update, or when there is activity in a group you belong to. Some notifications are tied to events — for example, when a friend has a birthday or when an event you are interested in is coming up. Facebook can also send notifications about its own features, like when it suggests you might know someone or when it thinks you should check out a trending topic.
You do not receive a notification for every single interaction. Facebook filters notifications based on what it thinks matters to you — for instance, you might not get a notification every time someone likes your post, but you will get one if someone comments. You can change these defaults in your settings.
Where push notifications appear on different devices
On iPhone, push notifications show up on your lock screen when your phone is locked, and in the notification center (swipe down from the top) when your phone is unlocked. If you have notifications set to appear as banners, they will slide down from the top of your screen briefly while you are using your phone. You can tap the notification to open Facebook, or swipe it away to dismiss it.
On Android, push notifications appear in your notification shade (swipe down from the top of the screen). They stay there until you dismiss them or tap them. Android also lets you customize how notifications look — you can choose whether they make a sound, vibrate, or show a light.
On desktop, push notifications appear as browser notifications — small boxes that pop up in the corner of your screen, usually the bottom right. These work only if you have allowed Facebook to send notifications in your browser settings. They disappear after a few seconds or when you click them.
How to turn push notifications on or off
On iPhone, open the Facebook app, tap the three horizontal lines (menu) at the bottom right, scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Tap Notifications, then Push. You will see a list of notification types — Messages, Comments, Likes, Tags, Friend Requests, and others. Toggle each one on or off. To turn off all push notifications at once, go to your iPhone Settings app, find Facebook, tap Notifications, and toggle off Allow Notifications.
On Android, open the Facebook app, tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right, go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Tap Notifications, then Push Notifications. You will see the same list of notification types. Toggle each one on or off. You can also go to your Android Settings app, find Apps, select Facebook, tap Notifications, and toggle off all notifications.
On desktop, click the down arrow at the top right of Facebook, select Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Click Notifications on the left side. Under Push Notifications, you will see options for different notification types. Click each one to turn it on or off, or choose which notifications you want to receive.
Customizing which notifications you receive
Beyond simply turning notifications on or off, you can fine-tune which types of activity send you notifications. For example, you might want message notifications but not comment notifications. You might want to hear from close friends but not from acquaintances. Facebook's settings let you adjust these preferences.
In your notification settings, you can often choose between options like "All", "Friends", "Important", or "Off" for each notification type. "All" means you get notified about every instance. "Important" means Facebook filters the notifications and only sends you ones it thinks matter most — usually based on how often you interact with that person or page. "Off" means no notifications for that activity.
You can also customize notifications for specific people or pages. If you visit someone's profile or a page, you can click the three dots menu and choose notification preferences for just that person or page — for example, turning on notifications so you see everything they post, or turning them off so you never hear from them.
Why you might not receive an expected notification
If you are expecting a notification and do not see one, several things could be blocking it. First, check that push notifications are turned on in the Facebook app settings and in your device settings. On iPhone, go to Settings > Facebook > Notifications and make sure Allow Notifications is on. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Facebook > Notifications and make sure notifications are enabled.
Second, check your notification settings within Facebook itself. You may have turned off notifications for that specific type of activity — for example, comment notifications might be off even though message notifications are on. Go back to the notification settings described above and verify that the notification type you are waiting for is actually enabled.
Third, your device's Do Not Disturb or Focus mode might be blocking notifications. On iPhone, check your Focus settings. On Android, check your Do Not Disturb settings. These features can silence notifications even when the app has permission to send them. Finally, if you have not used Facebook in a long time, the app might have been uninstalled or your notification permissions might have been reset by your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get notifications for only one person on Facebook?
Yes. Visit that person's profile, click the three dots menu, and select Notifications. You can choose to get notified every time they post, or turn notifications off for them entirely. This works independently of your general notification settings.
Do push notifications work if I have the Facebook app closed?
Yes. Push notifications are sent by Facebook's servers directly to your device, not by the app itself. They arrive whether the app is open, closed, or not installed — as long as you have push notifications enabled in your device settings and in the Facebook app settings.
Why am I getting notifications for things I do not care about?
Facebook's default settings send notifications for many types of activity. Go to your notification settings and turn off the categories you do not want — for example, if you do not care about birthday reminders, turn off that notification type. You can also adjust settings for specific people or pages.
Can I silence notifications without turning them off completely?
Yes. On iPhone, you can set notifications to "Quiet" in your Focus settings, which will silence them but still deliver them to your notification center. On Android, you can lower the notification importance level in app settings so they do not make a sound or vibrate, but still appear in your notification shade.
What is the difference between push notifications and in-app notifications?
Push notifications arrive on your device screen outside the app. In-app notifications appear only when you are inside the Facebook app — usually as a small badge or banner. You can turn off push notifications but still see in-app notifications, or vice versa.