Delete a notification by clicking the X next to it

Open Facebook on your phone or computer. Look at the bell icon in the top left (on desktop) or top right (on mobile) — this is your notification center. Tap or click it to open your list of recent notifications.

Find the notification you want to remove. Hover your cursor over it (on desktop) or long-press it (on mobile), and an X button will appear on the right side. Click or tap the X to delete that single notification. The notification disappears from your list immediately, but it does not affect the post, message, or event that triggered it.

Deleting a notification only removes it from your notification list. It does not undo a like, unsend a message, or cancel an event RSVP. If you want to undo the action itself — like removing a like you left on someone's post — you need to go to that post or message directly and change it there.

Key Takeaways

  • Click or tap the X button next to any notification to remove it from your notification list.
  • Deleting a notification does not undo the action that created it, such as a like or comment you left.
  • On desktop, the X appears when you hover over a notification; on mobile, long-press the notification to reveal the delete option.
  • Deleted notifications are gone from your list but can reappear if the same type of activity happens again.

Notifications reappear if the same activity continues

If someone keeps commenting on a post you are watching, Facebook will send you new notifications each time, even if you deleted the earlier ones. The same applies to friend requests, group invitations, or messages from the same person. Deleting a notification stops that one alert, but it does not mute future notifications from that source.

If you want to stop seeing notifications from a specific person or about a specific type of activity, you have other options beyond simple deletion. You can mute notifications from a particular person, turn off notifications for a group, or adjust your notification settings for different types of alerts.

Mute notifications from a specific person or group

If someone is sending you many notifications you do not want to see, you can mute them without unfriending or blocking them. Open the notification, then look for a menu icon (three dots) next to the X button. Tap or click it and select "Mute notifications from [person's name]" or "Mute this group." You will stop receiving notifications from that person or group, but you can still see their posts if you visit their profile or the group page directly.

Muting is temporary and reversible. You can turn notifications back on anytime by going to that person's profile or the group page, finding the notification settings, and switching them back on. This is different from unfriending or leaving a group, which removes your connection entirely.

Turn off notifications for specific types of activity

Facebook lets you control which types of notifications you receive at all. Go to Settings (the gear icon on desktop, or the menu on mobile), then select Notifications. You will see categories like Comments, Likes, Friend Requests, Group Activity, and Events. For each category, you can choose to receive notifications Always, Sometimes, or Never.

If you turn off notifications for a category entirely, you will not receive alerts for that type of activity, but the activity itself still happens. For example, if you turn off Like notifications, people can still like your posts — you just will not be told about it. You can change these settings back anytime.

Clear all notifications at once

If your notification list is long and you want to start fresh, you can clear all notifications without changing any settings. Open your notification center by clicking the bell icon. Look for a "Clear all" or similar option (the exact wording varies by device and Facebook version). Tap or click it, and all notifications in your list disappear at once.

Clearing all notifications does not change your notification settings or undo any actions. It simply empties your notification list. New notifications will still arrive based on your current settings.

Notifications on mobile versus desktop

Facebook's notification center works slightly differently depending on whether you use the website or the mobile app. On desktop, you click the bell icon at the top left of the page. On the mobile app, the bell icon is at the top right. On both, you hover or long-press to reveal the X button.

Mobile push notifications — the alerts that pop up on your phone screen even when you are not in the app — are controlled separately. To turn these off, go to your phone's Settings app, find Facebook, and toggle notifications off. This stops the pop-up alerts but does not affect the notifications you see inside the Facebook app itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting a notification tell the other person?

No. Deleting a notification from your list is private. The person who triggered the notification — like someone who commented on your post — has no way to know you deleted the alert. They only know if you interact with their comment or post.

Can I recover a notification I deleted by mistake?

No, deleted notifications cannot be recovered. However, if the activity that created the notification is still happening — like an ongoing conversation — new notifications will arrive. You can also visit the post, message, or event directly to see the activity without waiting for a new notification.

What is the difference between muting and deleting a notification?

Deleting removes one notification from your list. Muting stops all future notifications from that person or group. If you delete a notification but do not mute the source, you will receive new notifications the next time that person or group does something.

Why do I keep getting notifications from the same person?

Facebook sends a new notification each time someone interacts with you — a new comment, message, or tag. Deleting old notifications does not stop new ones from arriving. To stop them, mute that person or adjust your notification settings for that type of activity.

Do notification settings affect messages differently than other alerts?

Yes. Message notifications are controlled separately from other activity notifications. You can turn off notifications for likes and comments but still receive alerts for new messages. Check your notification settings under the Messages category to control this separately.