Control Who Can See What You Share
Privacy Settings and Privacy Checkup
How can I adjust my Facebook privacy settings?
How can I adjust my Facebook privacy settings?
To view and adjust your privacy settings:
1
Tap 
in the top right of Facebook.
in the top right of Facebook.2
Scroll down and tap Settings.
3
Scroll down to Privacy and select Privacy Settings.
For other things you share on Facebook, you can select the audience before you share. Learn more about basic privacy settings and tools on Facebook.
Some other ways to review and manage your information on Facebook:
Update your News Feed preferences to see more content on your News Feed that you're interested in.
Customize your Ad Preferences to see ads that are more relevant to you. From here, you can update your ad settings to control things like if we show you ads based on your use of apps and websites off Facebook.
You can also hide an ad that isn't interesting or useful to you or review why you're seeing a particular ad.
Walk through Privacy Checkup to make sure you're sharing your information with who you want.
Visit Access Your Information to see and manage your Facebook information, or download your Facebook information for review.
Manage some of the content you share on Facebook, like posts, photos and videos, from the Manage Activity section of your activity log.
What's Privacy Checkup and how can I find it on Facebook?
What's Privacy Checkup and how can I find it on Facebook?
Privacy Checkup guides you through some of your privacy and security settings, so you can review your choices to help make sure that you’re sharing with who you want.
To go to Privacy Checkup:
1
Tap in the top right of Facebook.
in the top right of Facebook.2
Scroll down and tap Privacy Shortcuts.
3
Tap Review a few important privacy settings and follow the on-screen instructions.
To set up Privacy Checkup reminders:
You can choose how often you get reminded to walk through Privacy Checkup.
1
Tap in the top right of Facebook.
in the top right of Facebook.2
Scroll down and tap Privacy Shortcuts.
3
Tap Review a few important privacy settings.
4
Tap 
in the top right, then tap Set Up Reminders.
in the top right, then tap Set Up Reminders.5
Tap the circle next to how often you want to get reminded to do a Privacy Checkup.
Things you can review in Privacy Checkup:
Who can see what you share. This section guides you through things like:
Choosing who can see certain information on your profile, like your phone number, email, birthday and relationship status.
Updating who can see your future and past posts.
Reviewing who you’ve blocked on Facebook. For example, you can add people to your blocked list. Learn more about what happens when you block someone on Facebook.
How to keep your account secure. This section will guide you through things like:
Updating your password. Learn more about creating a strong password.
Turning on alerts to help let you know if someone logs into your account from a place we don’t recognize.
How people can find you on Facebook. This section lets you choose who can:
Send you friend requests.
Look you up on Facebook by your phone number or email address.
Your data settings on Facebook. This section guides you through things like:
Reviewing and removing recently used apps and websites from other companies that you’ve used Facebook to log into.
Your ad preferences on Facebook. This section guides you through things like:
Reviewing and choosing what information on your profile can be used by advertisers to reach you.
Choosing who can see your social interactions (example: things you’ve liked or followed on Facebook) next to an ad.
Other ways to manage your privacy:
Learn more about how to control who can see what you share. From here, you can learn how to:
Select an audience for your posts.
Change the audience for your past posts.
Edit basic info on your profile and choose who can see it.
You can also adjust privacy settings for apps and games.
What is public information on Facebook?
What is public information on Facebook?
Something that’s public can be seen by anyone. That includes people who aren’t your friends, people off of Facebook and people who use different media such as print, broadcast (example: television) and other sites on the Internet. For example, if you use our services to provide a real-time public comment to a television show, that may appear on the show or elsewhere on Facebook.
What information is public?
Information you share that is always public: Some of the information you give us when you fill out your profile is public, such as your age range, language and country. We also use a part of your profile, called your Public Profile, to help connect you with friends and family. Your Public Profile includes your name, gender, username and user ID (account number), profile picture, cover photo and networks. This info is also public. Some of the ways this helps us connect you are:
Your name, profile picture and cover photo help people recognize you.
Gender helps us describe you (example: "Add her as a friend").
Listing your networks (example: school, workplace) allows others to find you more easily.
Username and user ID (example: your account number) are in the URL of your profile.
Age range helps provide you with age-appropriate content.
Language and country help us provide appropriate content and experiences.
Information you share publicly: When you choose to share something with Public (example: when you select Public from the audience selector), it’s considered public information. If you share something and you don’t see an audience selector or another privacy setting, that information is also public. Learn more about about editing who can see your basic info on your Facebook profile and using the audience selector to control who you share with when you post to Facebook.
Stuff other people share: If other people share info about you, even if it’s something you shared with them but did not make public, they can choose to make it public. Also when you comment on other people’s public posts, your comment is public as well.
Posts on Facebook Pages or public groups: Facebook Pages and public groups are public spaces. Anyone who can see the Page or group can see your post or comment. Generally, when you post or comment on a Page or to a public group, a story can be published in News Feed as well as other places on or off Facebook.
Remember that public information can:
Be associated with you, even off Facebook.
Show up when someone does a search on Facebook or on another search engine.
Be accessible to Facebook-integrated games, applications and websites you and your friends use.
Be accessible to anyone who uses our APIs, such as our Graph API.
Who Can See What You Post
When I post something on Facebook, how do I choose who can see it?
When I post something on Facebook, how do I choose who can see it?
The audience selector can be found in most places where you share content on Facebook, such as posts, photos and for some information on your profile.
To choose who you share content with:
1
At the top of your News Feed or on your profile, tap What’s on your mind? From here, you can do things like post a status update, photo, video or check in to an event.
2
Below your name, tap the audience selector (example: Share with: Your Friends).
3
Tap the circle to the right of the audience you’d like to see your content (example: Friends, Public or Only Me). Learn more about the audiences you can choose on Facebook.
The audience selector will also appear on things you've already shared, so you can see who you've shared each post with. After you've shared a post, you have the option to change who it's shared with.
When sharing on Facebook, keep in mind:
Some things you share on Facebook will always be public. For example, when you post or comment in a public group, your post or comment will be public and can be seen by anyone. Learn more about public information on Facebook.
When you select an audience for your post, the audience selector will use the same audience when you share a post again unless you change it. For example, if you choose Public for something you’re posting right now, your next post will also be Public.
When you change the audience on one device, the audience will update on all devices. For example, if you change the audience of your post on your computer, it will also change the audience of your post in your app.
Your post will show up in News Feed, on your profile and in search results.
When you post to another person's profile, that person controls who can see the post.
When you post, people in the audience may be able to see it across the Facebook Products.
If you tag someone in a post, the tagged person’s friends may also see the post.
If you’ve chosen to lock your profile, your sharing choices are more restricted.
Other ways to manage who can see your content:
Review and update your privacy settings for your profile.
Limit who can see your past posts.
Go to your Activity Log to review your posts and things you’ve been tagged in.
Visit your Profile and Tagging settings to manage things like who can see what other people post on your profile and review who can see content you’re tagged in.
Edit basic info on your Facebook profile and choose who can see it.
Learn more about who can
see your posts in groups
or
on a Page
, and how to choose
who can see your story
.
Who can like or comment on things that I post on Facebook?
Who can like or comment on things that I post on Facebook?
When you post something on Facebook, you can use the audience selector to choose who can like or comment on it.
If you create a public post, by default everyone can like or comment, even people who aren't following you. However, you can change who can like or comment on your public posts in your follower settings.
When someone re-shares something I posted, who can see it?
When someone re-shares something I posted, who can see it?
When someone taps Share below your post, they aren’t able to share your photos, videos or status updates through Facebook with people who weren’t in the audience you originally selected to share with. Only the people who could see those posts when you first made them are able to see them when someone taps Share. Use the audience selector to adjust who you share posts with.
Note: When a friend shares a link that you posted, they can share the link with a wider audience than you originally shared it with. Keep in mind that any text you added in your post will not be shared.
Who can see my posts when I use hashtags?
Who can see my posts when I use hashtags?
When you add a hashtag to your post, the people you’ve shared your post with can also see it in that hashtag's feed. For example, if you share a post with a hashtag with the audience Friends, people you're friends with can see your post in that hashtag’s feed.
If you use a hashtag in a post you share to a Public audience, and allow people to follow you, your post will appear on your public profile and in that hashtag's feed.
How do I set the audience when I’m using an older version of Facebook for mobile that doesn’t have an audience selector?
How do I set the audience when I’m using an older version of Facebook for mobile that doesn’t have an audience selector?
How do I set the audience when I’m using an older version of Facebook for mobile that doesn’t have an audience selector?
When using Facebook on your mobile device, some apps and features don't have an audience selector to control the audience of posts and other things you share. To select the audience things are shared with from these apps:
1
Tap in the top right of Facebook.
in the top right of Facebook.2
Scroll down and tap Settings.
3
Scroll down to the Security section and tap Apps and Websites.
4
Scroll down and tap Old versions of Facebook for mobile.
5
Review your current audience settings or select a new audience (such as Only Me).
Your Profile Info
How do I control who can see what's on my Facebook profile and timeline?
How do I control who can see what's on my Facebook profile and timeline?
From your Privacy settings, you can control things like who can see your profile info (example: relationships, birthday), and limit who can see your past posts.
1
Tap in the top right of Facebook.
in the top right of Facebook.2
Scroll to the bottom and tap Settings.
3
Scroll down to Privacy and tap Privacy Settings.
How do I edit basic info on my Facebook profile and choose who can see it?
How do I edit basic info on my Facebook profile and choose who can see it?
To edit the basic personal info on your profile:
1
Tap in the top right of Facebook, then tap your name.
in the top right of Facebook, then tap your name.2
Tap Edit Profile below your name.
3
Tap to add information, or tap EDIT next to the info you want to change.
To choose who can see your info, use the audience selector in each section.
If you set your gender to Custom and select one or more genders, you can also select an audience for your custom gender. In addition to your custom gender, you'll choose a Pronoun. The pronoun you select is always public. This feature isn't available in all locations.
Keep in mind, some information on Facebook is always public. Learn more about public information on Facebook.
You can also:
Edit your name.
Change your relationship status.
Add or edit your email.
Add a mobile phone number.
If you don't see the option to edit something from your mobile phone, please visit Facebook from a computer.
How can I see what my profile looks like to people on Facebook I'm not friends with?
How can I see what my profile looks like to people on Facebook I'm not friends with?
You can see what your profile looks like to people on Facebook who you're not friends with.
To use View As:
1
Tap in the top right of Facebook, then tap your name.
in the top right of Facebook, then tap your name.2
Tap 
then select View As.
then select View As.To exit View As, tap Exit at the top.
Keep in mind that posts and photos you've hidden on your timeline are still visible to the audience they're shared with other places on Facebook, like News Feed and search. Learn more about public information.
How do I control who can see my email on my Facebook profile?
How do I control who can see my email on my Facebook profile?
To change who you share your email with:
1
Tap in the top right of Facebook, then tap your name.
in the top right of Facebook, then tap your name.2
Tap See Your About Info, scroll down to Contact Info, then tap Edit.
3
Tap Manage Contact Info, then tap the email address you’d like to update.
4
Below Who can see this email address? tap the dropdown menu and select a new audience.
Who can see the Friends section of my Facebook profile?
Who can see the Friends section of my Facebook profile?
By default, the Friends section of your profile is public, meaning everyone can see it.
To adjust who can see your Friends section:
1
Tap in the top right of Facebook.
in the top right of Facebook.2
Scroll down and tap Settings.
3
Scroll down to Audience and Visibility and tap How People Find and Contact You.
4
Tap Who can see your friends list?
5
Select the audience of people (such as Friends) you'd like to have access to your friends list.
Keep in mind:
You can only control who can see your friends list on your profile. Your friends also control who can see their friendships on their own profiles.
For example, if you set your friends list to Only Me, only you'll be able to see your full friends list on your profile. But, if your friend has their friends list set to Public, anyone can see that you're friends.
If people can see your friendship on another profile, they'll also be able to see it in News Feed, Search and other places on Facebook.
People may see mutual friends when they visit your profile.
How do I control who can see my contact info on my Facebook profile?
How do I control who can see my contact info on my Facebook profile?
You can control who can see your contact info right from your profile:
1
Tap in the top right of Facebook, then tap your name.
in the top right of Facebook, then tap your name.2
Tap See Your About Info, scroll down to Contact Info, then tap Edit.
3
From here, you can update who can see your:
Mobile Phones. Tap Add another phone or Remove mobile phones in Account Settings to update. Tap the dropdown menu and select a new audience.
Emails. Tap Add/Remove Emails in Account Settings, then tap the email address you’d like to update. Tap the dropdown menu and select a new audience.
Address. Tap the dropdown menu to the right of Address and select a new audience, then tap Save at the bottom.
Social Links. Tap the dropdown menu to the right of Social Links and select a new audience, then tap Save at the bottom.
Websites. Tap the dropdown menu to the right of Websites and select a new audience, then tap Save at the bottom.
Your Timeline
Can I tell who's looking at my Facebook profile?
Can I tell who's looking at my Facebook profile?
No, Facebook doesn't let people track who views their profile. Third-party apps also can't provide this functionality. If you come across an app that claims to offer this ability, please report the app.
Can people see my private messages on my Facebook timeline?
Can people see my private messages on my Facebook timeline?
No. Private messages only appear in your inbox on Facebook or on the Messenger app.
Learn more about
what people can see on your timeline.
How do I choose who can see previous posts on my timeline on Facebook?
How do I choose who can see previous posts on my timeline on Facebook?
When you share something on your profile, you can use the audience selector to choose who it's shared with. If you want to change who can see things you've already posted, you can:
Choose a new audience for one of your past posts.
Change who can see all of your past posts to Friends at one time with Limit Past Posts.
To choose a new audience for one of your past posts:
1
Tap in the top right of Facebook, then tap your name.
in the top right of Facebook, then tap your name.2
Scroll down to the post you want to edit.
3
Tap 
on the post, then tap Edit Privacy.
on the post, then tap Edit Privacy.4
Select who can see the post from the options that appear (example: Public, Friends, Only Me). Learn more about the different audiences you can choose.
To change who can see all your past posts at one time:
If you'd like to limit who can see all of your past posts at one time, you can Limit Past Posts in your account settings. This will change all your past posts visible to more people than just your friends (example: posts shared with Public) to be visible to only your Friends.
1
Tap in the top right of Facebook.
in the top right of Facebook.2
Scroll down and tap Settings.
3
Scroll down to Audience and Visibility and tap Posts.
4
Tap Limit who can see past posts.
5
Tap Limit Old Posts, then tap Confirm to confirm your decision.
When you use Limit Past Posts to change the audience of all your past posts:
When you Limit Past Posts, you’ll change the audience of all your past posts to Friends. If you want to change the audience of your posts back to what they were, you'll need to change the audience of each individual post. Limiting the audience of your previous posts cannot be reversed in one click.
If you have shared a previous post with a custom audience, such as Friends except Acquaintances or Close Friends, Limit Past Posts won’t change the audience for those past posts.
If you tagged someone in the post, the audience of the post will still include the person you tagged and people they include in posts they're tagged in. Learn more about how to change the audience of a post to just your friends when you tag someone. You can also remove the tag.
Limit Past Posts only controls the audience for posts you've shared. If you've been tagged in someone else's post, they control the audience for their posts.
When you share something on someone else's profile, that person controls the audience for the post.
Learn more about how to control what people can see on your profile.
How do I control who can see posts that friends make on my profile on Facebook?
How do I control who can see posts that friends make on my profile on Facebook?
To select the audience for things your friends share on your profile:
1
Tap in the top right of Facebook.
in the top right of Facebook.2
Scroll down and tap Settings.
3
Scroll down to the Audience and Visibility section and tap Profile and Tagging.
4
Tap Who can see what others post on your profile?
5
Select an audience (example: Friends).
Note: Posts in your profile may appear other places on Facebook, like News Feed and Search, for people who are in the audience they're shared with (example: friends, public, custom).
How do I control who sees posts and photos that I’m tagged in on my Facebook profile?
How do I control who sees posts and photos that I’m tagged in on my Facebook profile?
To choose who can see posts you’ve been tagged in after they appear on your profile:
1
Tap in the top right of Facebook.
in the top right of Facebook.2
Scroll down and tap Settings.
3
Scroll down to Audience and Visibility and tap Profile and Tagging.
4
Tap Who can see posts you're tagged in on your profile?
5
Select the audience of people (such as Friends) that you'd like to be able to see the posts you've been tagged in.
You can also review photos and posts you're tagged in before they appear in your profile using Review posts you're tagged in before the post appears on your profile? in your Profile and Tagging settings.
Keep in mind, photos and posts you hide from your profile are visible to the audience they're shared with other places on Facebook, such as in News Feed and Search.
How do I change the audience of a post I've shared on my Facebook timeline?
How do I change the audience of a post I've shared on my Facebook timeline?
You can use the audience selector to change who can see things (example: posts and photos) you share on your timeline after you share it. Keep in mind, when you share something on someone else's timeline, they control the audience for the post.
To change the audience of things you've shared on your timeline:
1
Tap in the top right of Facebook, then tap your name.
in the top right of Facebook, then tap your name.2
Scroll down to the post you want to edit.
3
Tap 
in the top right of the post and select Edit Privacy.
in the top right of the post and select Edit Privacy.4
Select a new audience from the options that appear (example: Public, Friends, Only Me).
Learn more about how to control what people can see on your profile and timeline.
Something I hid from my profile is showing up in search on Facebook.
Something I hid from my profile is showing up in search on Facebook.
Keep in mind that things you've hidden from your profile may still show up in other places on Facebook, including News Feed and search (example: if you shared a photo or post with someone). To limit who can see your things in search, you can change the audience for something you share, or you can remove it from Facebook.
To review all the posts you’ve hidden from your profile, go to your activity log.
I've hidden tagged photos or posts from my Facebook timeline, but people can still see them.
I've hidden tagged photos or posts from my Facebook timeline, but people can still see them.
When you hide a photo or post you're tagged in on your timeline, people won't be able to see it when they visit your timeline. But the photo or post will still be visible to the audience it's shared with in other places on Facebook, such as in News Feed or Search.
Keep in mind:
The person who uploaded a photo chooses the audience for that photo. If you're tagged in something you don't like, you can remove the tag or ask the person who posted it to take it down.
You can also adjust your profile and tagging privacy setting to choose the audience who can see the content on your timeline.
