Where to find Facebook's notification settings

Facebook stores notification controls in three places, and which one you need depends on what device you're using and what's bothering you. On a phone or tablet, open the Facebook app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, scroll down to Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings. Look for Notifications — that's where you control alerts from the app itself.

On a computer, click the question mark icon in the top right corner of any Facebook page, then select Settings and Privacy, then Settings. In the left sidebar, click Notifications. This is the master control for email and browser notifications tied to your account.

There's also a third place: your phone's own settings. Even if you turn off notifications inside the Facebook app, your phone's operating system can still send you alerts. On iPhone, go to Settings, then Notifications, find Facebook, and toggle off Allow Notifications. On Android, go to Settings, then Apps, find Facebook, tap Notifications, and turn them off there too.

Key Takeaways

  • Facebook notifications live in three places: the app itself, your computer's browser settings, and your phone's operating system — turning off one doesn't silence the others.
  • The Notifications section in Facebook Settings lets you choose which events trigger alerts (likes, comments, friend requests, group activity) and how you receive them (push, email, or both).
  • You can turn off all notifications at once or customize them by type — for example, keeping friend request alerts but silencing group posts.
  • Browser notifications on desktop require a separate toggle in your browser's settings, not just in Facebook's settings.
  • If notifications keep coming back after you've turned them off, check your phone's system settings, because the app might have permission to override your choices.

Turning off all notifications at once

If you want silence from Facebook entirely, the fastest route is to disable push notifications on your phone. In the Facebook app, go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Notifications > Push Notifications, and toggle it off. This stops the red badge numbers and alert sounds from the app.

On a computer, go to Settings > Notifications and look for the section labeled Notifications. You'll see toggles for different notification types. Click the dropdown next to each one and select Off. This includes notifications about likes, comments, friend requests, group activity, and event invitations.

Email notifications are separate. In Settings > Notifications, scroll to the Email section and toggle off the types you don't want. Facebook will still send you emails about account security and password changes — those can't be turned off because they protect your account.

Customizing notifications by type

You don't have to choose between total silence and total chaos. Facebook lets you keep alerts for things that matter and mute everything else. In Settings > Notifications, you'll see categories like Comments, Likes, Friend Requests, Group Activity, and Events.

For each category, you can choose how you're notified: Push (alerts on your phone), Email, or both. If you want to know when someone comments on your post but don't care about likes, toggle Comments on and Likes off. If you're in a group you care about but dozens you don't, you can mute notifications from specific groups without leaving them — go to the group, click the three dots, and select Mute Notifications.

The same logic applies to people. If a friend posts constantly and you're tired of the alerts, go to their profile, click the three dots, and select Mute. You'll still see their posts if you visit their profile, but they won't trigger notifications.

Stopping notifications from specific apps and websites

Facebook can send notifications through apps you've connected to your account — things like Spotify, games, or shopping apps that let you log in with Facebook. These notifications often feel like they're coming from Facebook itself, but they're actually coming from the third-party app.

To stop them, go to Settings > Apps and Websites. You'll see a list of apps and websites connected to your account. Click on each one and look for notification permissions. You can remove the app entirely by clicking Remove, or just toggle off its notification permission if you want to keep using it.

Browser notifications on desktop are a separate issue. If you see a notification popup in the corner of your screen while you're on Facebook.com, your browser has permission to show them. To revoke that permission, click the lock icon in your browser's address bar (it looks like a padlock), find Notifications, and change the setting from Allow to Block.

Why notifications keep coming back

The most common reason notifications don't stay off is that you've only turned them off in one place. If you disabled push notifications in the Facebook app but didn't check your phone's system settings, your phone can still send alerts. Check all three locations: the app, your browser, and your phone's operating system.

Another reason is that Facebook sometimes resets notification settings after a major app update. If you turned off notifications weeks ago and they suddenly came back, update the Facebook app to the latest version, then check your settings again.

A third possibility is that you're seeing notifications from a connected app or website, not from Facebook itself. The notification might say "Facebook" but actually be coming from a game, shopping site, or other service you logged into with your Facebook account. Check Settings > Apps and Websites to see what's connected.

The difference between muting and turning off

Turning off a notification means you won't get an alert, but the activity still happens on Facebook. If you turn off comment notifications, people can still comment on your posts — you just won't be told about it. You can see the comments if you visit your post.

Muting is different. When you mute a person, group, or keyword, Facebook hides their posts from your feed entirely. You won't see them unless you visit that person's profile or group directly. Muting is useful if you want to stay connected to someone but don't want their constant updates cluttering your feed.

For most people trying to reduce notification noise, turning off notifications is the right move. Muting is better if the problem is too much content in your feed, not too many alerts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off notifications stop me from seeing messages?

No. Turning off notifications silences alerts, but messages still arrive in your inbox. You'll see them the next time you open the app or check your account. If you want to stop receiving messages from specific people, go to their profile and select Block or Restrict instead.

Can I turn off notifications for just one person?

Yes. Go to their profile, click the three dots, and select Mute. You can choose to mute their posts, their stories, or both. They won't know you've muted them, and you can unmute anytime.

What if I turn off email notifications but still get emails from Facebook?

Some emails can't be turned off — account security alerts, password changes, and login attempts are always sent for your protection. If you're getting other emails, check Settings > Notifications > Email and make sure each category is toggled off. Also check Settings > Apps and Websites to see if a connected app is sending emails on Facebook's behalf.

Do I need to turn off notifications on both my phone and computer?

Yes, if you use both. Turning off notifications on your phone doesn't affect your computer, and vice versa. You'll need to go through the settings on each device separately to get complete silence.

Can I schedule quiet hours so notifications only come during certain times?

Facebook doesn't have a built-in quiet hours feature like some other apps do. Your best option is to use your phone's Do Not Disturb or Focus mode (available on both iPhone and Android) to silence all notifications during specific hours, including Facebook.