How to Adjust Your Facebook Privacy Settings

PDF download Download Article
A complete walkthrough to manage your data on Facebook
PDF download Download Article

Although most of your Facebook info is set to Public by default, you can protect your privacy by making some quick changes in your settings. While Facebook's privacy settings may seem complicated, there are easy ways to make quick adjustments to your privacy settings. This wikiHow teaches you how to thoroughly review your Facebook privacy options and control who can see your posts and personal details, with tips from Social Media Security Expert Naveh Ben Dror.

Quick Steps

  1. Click or tap your profile image in the upper-right corner.
  2. Click or tap Settings & Privacy .
  3. Click or tap Settings .
  4. Click or tap Privacy Checkup .
  5. Click one of the topics.
  6. Follow the prompts to adjust your settings.
Method 1
Method 1 of 9:

Doing a Privacy Checkup

PDF download Download Article
  1. Privacy Checkup is a Facebook feature that will quickly walk you through all the privacy features and allow you to make quick changes to them. You can find more Privacy settings in the Settings menu and/or Privacy Center. You can find the Privacy Checkup option at the top of the Settings menu. Use the following steps to open the Privacy Checkup page:
    • Click or tap your profile image or menu button.
    • Click or tap Settings & Privacy .
      • On mobile, you can skip this step and tap the Gear icon in the upper-right corner.
    • Click or tap Settings .
    • Click or tap Privacy Checkup .
  2. The first option in the Privacy Checkup page allows you to manage who can see what you post on Facebook. You can find more options to control who can see your content in the Audience Settings menu . Use the following steps to manage these options:
    • Click or tap Who can see what you share .
    • Click or tap Continue .
    • Click or tap the drop-down menu next to one of the items on your profile page.
    • Select who can see that item.
    • Click or tap Next when you have made adjustments to all items.
    • Click or tap the drop-down menu next to "Default audience."
    • Select who can see your posts by default.
      • You can adjust your audience settings for individual posts as you post them.
    • Click or tap the drop-down menu next to "Stories."
    • Select who can see your stories by default.
    • Click or tap Done .
    • Click or tap Limit to limit your past posts to "Friends only."
    • Click or tap Next .
    • Click or tap See your blocked list to see who you've blocked.
    • Click or tap Add to blocked list to block someone.
    • Enter the name of the person you want to block.
    • Click or tap Block next to the person you want to block.
    • Click or tap Next
    • Click or tap Review Another Topic .
    Advertisement
  3. The next topic on the list allows you to review your friend requests, manage who can see your email address and phone number, as well as control whether or not your profile appears in search engines outside of Facebook. You can find more options in the "How people can find and contact you" menu . Use the following steps to manage how people find you on Facebook.
    • Click or tap How people can find you on Facebook .
    • Click or tap Continue .
    • Click or tap Confirm or Delete next to any pending friend requests.
    • Click or tap the drop-down menu next to "People with your phone number."
    • Select who can see your phone number on your profile and click Done .
    • Click or tap the drop-down menu next to "People with your email address."
    • Select who can see your email address on your profile and click Done .
    • Click or tap Next .
    • Click or tap the toggle switch to allow or disallow your profile to appear in search engines outside of Facebook (i.e. Google and Bing).
    • Click or tap Next
    • Click or tap Review Another Topic .
  4. The "How to keep your account secure" topic allows you to manage your password and two-factor authentication settings. Use the following steps to manage your account security:
    • Click or tap How to keep your account secure .
    • Click or tap Continue .
    • Click or tap Change password if you want to change your password.
    • Enter your old password in the top bar.
    • Enter a new password twice in the next two bars.
    • Click or tap Save Changes .
    • Click or tap Next .
    • Click or tap Manage to open your two-factor authentication settings in the Account Center.
    • Click or tap the toggle switches next to each method to control how you receive alerts.
    • Click or tap Next .
    • Click or tap Review Another Topic .
    EXPERT TIP

    Naveh Ben Dror

    Social Media Security Expert
    Naveh Ben Dror is a Social Media Security Expert and the CEO of Spikerz based in Tel Aviv, Israel. Naveh and his team provide social media protection for content creators, businesses, and enterprises. His professional background is in international brand marketing and e-commerce. Naveh received both his Bachelor of Law and MBA from Reichman University.
    Naveh Ben Dror
    Social Media Security Expert

    Having a strong password is key. You need a combination of capital letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Change that every six months. And have a monitoring system that constantly checks for login sessions.

  5. The "Your data settings on Facebook" topic allows you to review which websites and apps you've used your Facebook login to create an account with and log into as well as remove logins you no longer want to use. Use the following steps to review what websites and apps you use Facebook to log in to:
    • Click or tap Your Data Settings on Facebook .
    • Click or tap Continue .
    • Click or tap Remove next to any websites you've used Facebook to log into that you don't want to use anymore.
    • Click or tap Next .
    • Click or tap Review Another Topic .
  6. The "Your ad preferences on Facebook" topic allows you to manage how Facebook uses your information to target you with ads and who can see your social interactions alongside ads. You can find more ad settings in the "Add Preferences" menu . Use the following steps to manage your ad preferences:
    • Click or tap Your ad preferences on Facebook .
    • Click or tap Continue .
    • Review the information and click or tap Next .
    • Click or tap the toggle switch next to the profile items you want to allow or disallow Facebook to use in targeted advertising.
    • Click or tap Next .
    • Scroll down and click or tap the drop-down menu next to "Who can see your social interactions alongside ads."
    • Select "Friends" or "Only me."
    • Click or tap Next
    • Click or tap Review Another Topic .
    7. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 9:

Changing Who Can See Profile and Content

PDF download Download Article
  1. The Audience Settings menu allows you to change who can view your Facebook profile information, as well as adjust who can see the content you post. Use the following steps to access the Audience Settings menu: [1]
    • Click or tap your profile icon or the menu button.
    • Click or tap Settings & Privacy .
      • On mobile, you can skip this step by tapping Privacy Center instead.
    • Scroll down and click or tap Privacy Center .
    • Click or tap Review Settings .
    • Scroll down and click or tap Manage audience settings .
  2. Your profile information contains information that includes your phone number, email address, birthday, hometown, relationship status, work, education, your friends list, and the people and pages you follow. You can set each of these items to Public (everyone can see them), Friends (only your Facebook friends), Only me (no one except you can see), Close friends (people you mark as a close friend), Specific friends, or Friends except (friends that you choose). Use the following steps to adjust who can see your profile information from the Audience Settings menu:
    • Click or tap Profile information .
    • Click or tap an item in the list of profile information.
    • Click or tap a preferred audience setting.
    • Select specific friends (if the option allows it.)
    • Click or tap Save .
    • Click or tap Done .
  3. You can change your audience settings for your posts, stories, or reels. You can set your audience settings for posts to Public (everyone can see them), Friends (only your Facebook friends), Only me (no one except you can see your posts), Close friends (people you mark as a close friend), Specific friends, or Friends except (friends that you choose). Use the following steps to adjust who can see your posts from the Audience Settings menu:
    • Click or tap Posts and stories .
    • Click or tap Who can see your future posts?
    • Click or tap a preferred audience setting.
    • Select friends from the list (if the option you select allows it).
    • Click or tap Save .
    • Click or tap Done .
  4. Facebook Stories are the pictures and short videos that appear above your feed from people you follow on Facebook. Unlike posts, you can only set the visibility of your stories to "Public," "Friends," or "Custom" (a custom list of friends). Use the following steps to adjust who can see your stories from the Audience Settings menu:
    • Click or tap Posts and stories .
    • Click or tap Who can see your stories .
    • Click or tap a preferred audience setting.
    • Click or tap Save .
    • Select a list of friends (if you selected "Custom.")
    • Click or tap Done .
  5. Reels are the longer vertical-form videos that appear in the Reels section on Facebook. You can set the visibility of your reels to "Public," "Friends," or "Friends except" (with a list of friends who are excluded from seeing your reel.) Use the following steps to adjust who can see your reels from the Audience Settings menu:
    • Click or tap Posts and stories .
    • Click or tap Reels can appear in Feed, Video and other places across Facebook .
    • Click or tap a preferred audience setting.
    • Select friends to exclude (if you selected "Friends except.")
    • Click or tap Save .
    • Click or tap Done .
  6. Limiting your past posts changes any posts that were once set to allow the "Public" or "Friends of Friends" to see your posts to Friends only. Use the following steps to limit your past posts from the Audience Settings menu:
    • Click or tap Posts and stories .
    • Scroll down and tap Limit next to "Limit posts posts to only friends."
    7. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 9:

Managing Who Can Tag You on Facebook

PDF download Download Article
  1. It's in the upper-right corner on Android and desktop computer. On iPhone and iPad, it's in the lower-right corner. You can set your Facebook settings so that when people tag you, you have to review their tags before they appear on your Facebook profile. You can do this for both Facebook and Instagram. [2]
  2. It's in the menu that appears when you click your profile image.
    • On mobile, you can skip this step by tapping Privacy Center .
  3. This opens the Privacy Center, which contains various privacy shortcuts to your privacy settings.
  4. It's the large blue button in the center of the page. This opens the Common Privacy Settings menu.
  5. It's at the bottom of the "Audience Settings" box.
  6. This allows you to manage what happens when you are tagged in a post.
  7. When this is turned on, you will be notified when you are tagged in a post. You will need to review the tag and approve it before it appears on your profile.
  8. You can apply this to both your Facebook and Instagram accounts.
  9. This closes the window.
    10. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 9:

Managing Who Can Find and Contact You

PDF download Download Article
  1. On Android and computers, it's in the upper-right corner. On iPhone and iPad, it's in the lower-right corner. You can control who can search and contact you in the Settings menu.
  2. It's in the menu that appears when you click your profile image.
  3. This opens the Settings menu. On desktop computer, it will appear in the menu bar to the left.
  4. This menu allows you to control how people can search for you and contact you on Facebook.
  5. Your options are "Everyone" or "Friends of Friends." If you select "Everyone", anyone can send you a friend request. If you select "Friends of Friends", then only people who are friends with people you are Facebook friends with can send you a friend request. Use the following steps to select who can send you friend requests:
    • Click or tap Who can send you friend requests? .
    • Select one of the options.
    • Click or tap Done .
  6. You can manage who can see who you are friends with. Your options are "Public" (everyone can see them), "Friends" (only your Facebook friends), "Only me" (no one except you can see your friends list), "Close friends" (people you mark as a close friend), "Specific friends", or "Friends except" (friends that you choose). Mutual friends can always see each other, no matter what your audience settings are. Use the following steps to select who can see your friends list:
    • Click or tap Who can see your friends list? .
    • Select one of the options.
    • Select a list of friends and click or tap Save (if the option allows it).
    • Click or tap Done .
  7. Your options include "Possible Contacts" (i.e. people who have your email address in their contacts), "Friends of friends" (your Facebook friends and their friends), "Friends" (only your Facebook friends), or "No one." Use the following steps to select who can see your email address:
    • Click or tap People with your email address .
    • Select one of the options.
    • Select a list of friends and click or tap Save (if the option allows it).
    • Click or tap Done .
  8. Your options include "Possible Contacts" (i.e. people who have your email address in their contacts), "Friends of friends" (your Facebook friends and their friends), "Friends" (only your Facebook friends), or "No one." Use the following steps to select who can see your phone number:
    • Click or tap People with your phone number .
    • Select one of the options.
    • Select a list of friends and click or tap Save (if the option allows it).
    • Click or tap Done .
  9. To do so, click or tap the toggle switch next to "Do you want search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile?." If this feature is on, your Facebook profile can appear in the searches on search engines outside of Facebook, like Google or Bing. To make your Facebook profile not searchable in search engines, turn this feature off.
  10. In some countries, you can lock your profile as a quick and easy way to make it private. According to online security expert Naveh Ben Dror, if you choose this option, only your friends will be able to see your profile and posts, even if they were public in the past.
    • If locking is available in your area, you can do it by going to your profile, clicking or tapping ••• near the top of the page, and selecting Lock Profile .
    11. Advertisement
Method 5
Method 5 of 9:

Managing Your Followers and Public Content

PDF download Download Article
  1. On Android and computer, it's in the upper-right corner. On iPhone and iPad, it's in the lower-right corner. The "Followers and public content" menu allows you to control who can follow you, who can see your followers, who can see the people pages, and lists that you follow, as well as who can comment on your public posts.
  2. 2
    Click or tap Settings & Privacy . It's in the menu that appears when you click your profile image.
  3. 3
    Click or tap Settings . This opens the Settings menu. On computer, it will appear in the menu bar to the left.
  4. 4
    Click or tap Followers and public content . This menu allows you to select who can follow you and who can see your followers.
  5. Your options are "Public," "Friends," "Only Me," "Custom," or "Close Friends." If you have professional mode turned on, you can only pick "Public". To change this, you need to turn professional mode off. Use the following steps to select who is allowed to follow you:
    • Click or tap Who can follow me .
    • Select one of the options.
    • Click or tap Done .
  6. 6
    Click or tap Who can see your followers on your timeline? . This allows you to select who can see your followers.
  7. 7
    Select who can see your followers. Your options are "Public," "Friends," "Only Me", "Custom," or "Close Friends." Use the following steps to select who can see your followers:
    • Click or tap Who can see your followers on your timeline? .
    • Select one of the options.
    • Click or tap Done .
  8. 8
    Select who can see the people, Pages, and lists you follow. Your options are "Public," "Friends," "Only Me," "Friends except," "Specific Friends," "Custom," or "Close Friends." Use the following steps to select who can see the people, Pages, and lists you follow:
    • Click or tap Who can see the people Pages and lists you follow? .
    • Select one of the options.
    • Click or tap Done .
  9. 9
    Click or tap Who can comment on your public posts? . This allows you to select who can comment on posts that you mark as "Public" in the audience settings.
  10. 10
    Select who can comment on your public posts. Your options are "Friends," "Friends of friends," or "Public." Use the following steps to select who can comment on your public posts:
    • Click or tap Who can comment on your public posts? .
    • Select one of the options.
  11. Your options are "Friends," "Friends of friends," or "Public." Use the following steps to select who can comment on your public profile information:
    • Click or tap Public profile info .
    • Select one of the options.
    • Click or tap Done .
    12. Advertisement
Method 6
Method 6 of 9:

Managing Your Active Status

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Open the Facebook mobile app. Your active status shows other Facebook users when you are active on Facebook. You can turn this feature on or off using the Facebook mobile app.
    • Currently, this option is not available on a desktop computer.
  2. 2
    Tap your profile icon or menu button. It's in the upper-right corner on Android, or in the lower-right corner on iPhone and iPad.
  3. 3
    Tap the Gear icon. It's in the upper right corner. This opens the Settings menu.
  4. 4
    Scroll down and tap Active Status . This displays a toggle switch that allows you to turn your active status on or off.
  5. 5
    Tap the toggle switch. This turns your active status on or off.
    6. Advertisement
Method 7
Method 7 of 9:

Changing Your Targeted Ad Preferences

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Open the "Ad preferences" menu. Facebook uses target advertising, where they use information from your profile, account activity, and even some websites you visit outside of Facebook to target you with specific ads that are tailored to your interests. The Ad Preferences menu allows you to manage how Facebook can use your information to target you with advertising. Use the following steps to open the Ad Preferences menu:
    • Click or tap your profile icon or the menu button.
    • Click or tap Settings & privacy .
    • Click or tap Settings .
    • Click or tap Account Center .
    • Click or tap Ad preferences
    • Click or tap the Manage info tab at the top.
  2. 2
    Select what profile information can be used in target ads. This allows you to select what information on your profile can be used in target advertising. Use the following steps to select what profile information can be used:
    • Click or tap Categories used to reach you on the "Ad preferences" page.
    • Click or tap the items on your profile.
    • Click or tap Yes or No to select if that information is allowed to target you with ads.
  3. 3
    Turn targeted advertising on or off. This allows you to manage if information gathered from websites you visit off Facebook can be used in targeted advertising. Use the following steps to manage targeted advertising.
    • Click or tap Activity information from ad partners on the "Ad preferences" page.
    • Click or tap Review Settings .
    • Click or tap the Yes or No to turn targeted advertising on or off.
  4. 4
    Manage ads shown outside of Meta/Facebook. In addition to the ads you see on Facebook, other companies may use information from Meta to show you ads in their own apps. Use the following steps to allow or disallow third-party apps to show you ads from Meta Services in their own apps:
    • Click or tap Ads shown outside of Meta .
    • Select Allow to allow Meta to show ads in other apps, or select Don't allow to not allow Meta to show ads in other apps.
    5. Advertisement
Method 8
Method 8 of 9:

Managing Access to Locations on Android

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Open the Settings menu. You can manage access to your location data in the Settings menu on Android devices. Use the following steps to open the Settings menu: [3]
    • Swipe down from the top of the screen.
    • Tap the Gear icon in the upper-right corner.
  2. 2
    Tap Apps . This menu allows you to manage your installed apps and their permission settings.
  3. 3
    Scroll down and tap Facebook . It should be in your list of apps.
  4. 4
    Tap Permissions . This menu allows you to manage what features of your phone Facebook can access.
  5. 5
    Tap Locations . This allows you to manage access to your location data
  6. 6
    Select one of the options. The options are as follows:
    • Allow only while using the app: This allows Facebook to access your location data while you are using Facebook.
    • Ask every time: This requires Facebook to ask your permission to access your locations every time it wants to access your location data.
    • Don't allow: This blocks Facebook from accessing your location data.
    7. Advertisement
Method 9
Method 9 of 9:

Managing Access to Locations on iPhone

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Open the Settings app
    iPhone Settings App Icon
    .     It has an icon that resembles two silver gears. Tap the Settings app on your Home screen.
  2. 2
    Tap Apps (iOS 16 only). If you are using the latest version of iOS, tap Apps to display a list of apps you have installed on your iPhone.
  3. 3
    Scroll down and tap Facebook . This allows you to manage what features Facebook has access to on your phone.
  4. 4
    Tap Location . It's next to a blue icon with an image that resembles a compass needle.
  5. 5
    Select one of the options. The options are as follows:
    • While Using the App: This allows Facebook to access your location data whenever you are using it.
    • Ask Next Time Or When I Share: This requires Facebook to ask permission whenever it wants to access your location data.
    • Never: This blocks Facebook from accessing your location data.
    6. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How can I view my profile from someone else's account?
    Community Answer
    If you log into their account you can. Maybe ask your family or close friends to log into their account and look at your profile.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 21
  • Question
    How can I stop someone from accessing my private messages?
    Community Answer
    No one can access your private messages without logging into your account. Don't share your login information with anyone else.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 25
  • Question
    How do I stop someone from copying or sharing my posted photos?
    Community Answer
    Keep your photos private. There are privacy settings that can be used if you do not want certain people seeing your profile. Change the privacy settings to "friends only" so that nobody except people you trust are able to see your content.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 22
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • While you can always make parts or all of your profile private again, once information has been released to the Internet (e.g. search engines), there's not much you can do to take it back. [4]
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Remember, even though you can control what people see on your profile, you can't always control what people see on others' profiles. In other words, whatever you post on someone else's page is viewable based on their privacy settings, not yours. Don't leave embarrassing comments on other people's walls or pictures unless you're 100% sure they're on top of their privacy settings, or else those comments might come back to haunt you on search engines.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Adjust Your Facebook News Feed
      How to
      Use Facebook
      How to
      Keep Safe on Facebook
      How to
      Quit Facebook for Good: The Complete Guide
      How to
      See Who You are Most Connected to on Facebook
      How to
      See Who Views Your Facebook Profile
      How to
      Recover a Hacked Facebook Account
      How to
      Find Out if You Have Been Restricted on Facebook
      How to
      Hide Your Profile on Facebook
      How to
      Make Facebook Private: Step-by-Step Guide
      How to
      Reveal a Fake Facebook Account
      How to
      Not Show Up in Suggested Friends on Facebook
      How to
      Reset Your Facebook Password When You Have Forgotten It
      How to
      Remove Your Birthday from Facebook: A Step-by-Step Guide
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/help/193677450678703
      2. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/help/325807937506242
      3. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/help/337244676357509
      4. ↑ http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/12/09/facebook-privacy/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Tap the menu and select Settings & Privacy .
      2. Tap Settings .
      3. Tap Privacy Settings .
      4. Adjust your posting privacy.
      5. Control who can find or contact you.
      6. Tap Timeline & Tagging to update who can see your timeline.
      7. Change your tagging preferences.
      8. Set your ad preferences.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 507,236 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Charles Padgett

        Nov 28, 2016

        "The article and info is worthwhile for anybody to take time to read and consider."
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement