Where to find Facebook notification settings
Facebook stores all notification controls in one place: the Settings menu. On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of any Facebook page, then select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On a phone or tablet, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon), scroll down to Settings and privacy, then tap Settings.
Once you are in Settings, look for Notifications in the left sidebar on a computer, or scroll down to find it on a phone. This section controls every type of alert Facebook can send you — the ones that pop up on your screen, the ones that appear in the bell icon, and the ones that arrive by email or text message.
Key Takeaways
- Facebook notifications are split into three types: in-app alerts (the bell icon), push notifications (pop-ups on your phone or computer), and email or text messages, and each type has separate controls.
- You can turn off all notifications from a single person, page, or group by visiting their profile or page and using the notification settings there, without going to the main Settings menu.
- The Notifications section in Settings lets you control what kinds of activity trigger alerts — for example, you can stop getting notified when someone comments on your post but still get notified when they message you.
- Push notifications on phones and computers are controlled separately from in-app notifications, so turning off one type does not affect the other.
Turning off all notifications from one person, page, or group
The fastest way to silence notifications from a specific source is to go directly to that person's profile, page, or group. On their profile or page, look for a bell icon with a line through it, or a button that says Following or Notifications. Tap or click it, then select Turn off notifications or Mute notifications.
For groups, the process is similar. Open the group, tap or click the bell icon, and choose Mute notifications or Turn off notifications. You will stay in the group and see posts when you visit, but you will not receive alerts about new activity.
This method is useful when you want to follow someone or stay in a group but do not want constant alerts. The person or group does not know you have muted them.
Controlling notifications by activity type
In the main Notifications settings, you can choose which kinds of activity send you alerts. For example, you might want to know when someone messages you, but not when they like your photo. Facebook groups these by category: Comments, Reactions, Tags, Friend requests, Messages, and others.
For each category, you will see options like On, Off, or sometimes Friends only. Select the option that matches what you want. If you turn off Reactions, for instance, you will not be notified when someone likes or reacts to your posts, but you will still see the reactions if you visit the post yourself.
Some categories have sub-options. Under Comments, you might see choices for Comments on your posts, Comments on comments you have made, and Replies to your comments. You can control each one separately.
Managing push notifications on phones and computers
Push notifications are the pop-ups that appear on your phone screen or computer desktop, even when you are not looking at Facebook. These are controlled in a separate section called Push notifications within the Notifications settings.
On this page, you will see a list of notification types — Messages, Friend requests, Event invitations, and so on. Next to each one is a toggle or dropdown. Turn the toggle off to stop receiving push notifications for that type of activity. You can still see these alerts in the bell icon when you open Facebook, but they will not pop up on your screen.
If you use Facebook on multiple devices, push notification settings may differ between them. A setting you change on your phone does not automatically change on your computer or tablet, so you may need to adjust them separately.
Stopping email and text message notifications
Facebook can also send you notifications by email or text message. These are controlled in the Email notifications and SMS notifications sections of your Settings.
In Email notifications, you will see a long list of activities that can trigger an email — Friend requests, Messages, Event invitations, Birthday reminders, and many others. Each one has a dropdown menu. Click it and select Off to stop receiving emails for that activity. You can also choose Instant (email arrives right away) or Daily digest (Facebook sends one email per day with a summary).
SMS (text message) notifications work the same way. Not all notification types are available by text — Facebook limits these to the most important ones like messages and friend requests. If you do not see SMS notifications in your Settings, it means your account is not set up to receive them, or your region does not support this feature.
Turning off notifications while keeping your account active
If you want to stop almost all notifications but stay on Facebook, you can turn off most categories at once. Go to Notifications in Settings, and for each category, select Off. You can leave a few on — for example, Messages — if you want to stay reachable to close friends or family.
This approach is different from deactivating or deleting your account. Your profile stays visible, your friends can still message you, and you can still post and comment. You simply will not receive alerts about what is happening on the platform.
If you change your mind later, you can turn notifications back on by returning to the same settings and selecting On for the categories you want.
What happens when you turn off notifications
Turning off a notification does not delete anything or hide anything from you. It only stops the alert. If someone comments on your post and you have comments notifications turned off, the comment still appears on your post — you just will not be notified about it. If you visit your post or check the bell icon, you will see the comment there.
Similarly, muting a person or group does not unfriend them or remove you from the group. It only silences alerts. You can still see their posts if you visit their profile or the group page, and they can still see your posts if they visit your profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off notifications for just one type of post, like videos or photos?
Facebook does not offer controls that specific. You can turn off notifications by activity type (comments, reactions, tags) or by source (a specific person or group), but not by content type. If you want to avoid notifications about videos, your best option is to mute the people or pages that post them most often.
Will someone know if I turn off their notifications?
No. Muting notifications from a person or group is private. They cannot see that you have done it, and it does not affect whether they can message you, see your posts, or interact with you in any other way.
How do I stop notifications from a specific app or game on Facebook?
Apps and games send notifications through Facebook's notification system. Go to Settings, find Apps and websites, locate the app in the list, and click or tap it. Look for notification settings there, or remove the app entirely if you no longer use it. You can also control app notifications through your phone's settings — go to your phone's notification settings and turn off notifications for the Facebook app itself.
What is the difference between muting and unfriending?
Muting stops notifications but keeps the friendship. You will not see their posts in your feed, and they will not see yours, but you remain friends. Unfriending removes the friendship entirely — they cannot see your profile unless you make it public, and you cannot see theirs. Muting is temporary and reversible; unfriending is more permanent.
Can I schedule a time when Facebook does not send me notifications?
Facebook does not have a built-in quiet hours or do-not-disturb feature. Your phone or computer may have one — check your device's settings for options like Focus mode (iPhone), Do Not Disturb (Android), or Focus assist (Windows). These will silence all notifications from all apps during the hours you set.