How to Stop Facebook Notifications: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
Facebook notifications are designed to keep users engaged, informed, and active on the platform. While they can be useful, they often become overwhelming. Likes on old posts, comments from distant acquaintances, group updates you no longer follow, and constant reminders can quickly turn into a digital noise storm. If you find yourself distracted, stressed, or simply annoyed by Facebook notifications, the good news is that you can control them.
This article explains how to stop Facebook Alert effectively, whether you are using a mobile phone, tablet, or computer. It also covers advanced options so you can fine-tune what you receive instead of turning everything off blindly.
Understanding Facebook Notifications
Before disabling notifications, it helps to understand how Facebook categorizes them. Notifications generally fall into these groups:
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Activity on your posts such as likes, comments, and shares
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Friend requests and friend suggestions
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Group activity
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Page updates
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Event reminders
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Marketplace activity
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Memories and suggested content
Facebook sends notifications in three main ways:
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Push notifications on your phone
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In-app notifications inside Facebook
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Email and SMS Alerts
Each method can be controlled separately.
How to Stop Facebook Notifications on Mobile (Android and iPhone)
Most people use Facebook on their phones, where Alerts are most disruptive. Here is how to manage them.
Step 1: Open Facebook Notification Settings
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Open the Facebook app.
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Tap the menu icon (three lines).
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Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy.
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Tap Settings.
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Select Notifications.
You will now see a list of Alert categories.
Step 2: Turn Off Specific Notification Types
Tap any category, such as Comments, Likes, or Groups. Inside each category, you can choose:
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Push notifications: On or Off
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Email notifications: On or Off
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SMS notifications: On or Off
To stop notifications entirely for a category, turn off all three.
This method allows you to silence the most annoying alerts while keeping important ones, such as security alerts.
Step 3: Pause All Push Notifications
If you want immediate peace without permanent changes:
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Go to Settings > Notifications.
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Tap Notification Settings.
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Select Pause Alert
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Choose a duration, such as 1 hour, 8 hours, or 24 hours.
This is ideal during work hours, meetings, or sleep.
How to Stop Facebook Notifications on Desktop
Facebook also sends notifications through your browser.
Step 1: Access Notification Settings
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Open Facebook in a web browser.
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Click your profile picture in the top right.
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Select Settings & Privacy.
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Click Settings.
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Click Notifications in the left menu.
You will see the same Alert categories as on mobile.
Step 2: Disable Browser Message
Click on Browser under Alert and turn them off. This prevents pop-ups from appearing even when Facebook is not open.
How to Stop Facebook Notifications Using Device Settings
Sometimes Facebook notifications persist because your phone’s system settings allow them.
On Android
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Open Settings on your phone.
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Tap Apps.
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Select Facebook.
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Tap Notifications.
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Toggle Alert off completely or customize alert types.
This method blocks notifications at the system level.
On iPhone
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Open Settings.
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Tap Message
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Select Facebook.
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Turn off Allow Notifications.
This immediately stops all Facebook notifications from reaching your phone.
How to Stop Email and SMS Notifications from Facebook
Facebook may still send emails even after you disable push notifications.
Steps to Stop Email Notifications
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Go to Settings > Notifications.
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Tap Email.
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Choose Only notifications about your account or Off.
This prevents promotional emails and unnecessary updates.
Steps to Stop SMS Notifications
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Go to Settings > Notifications.
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Tap SMS.
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Turn off SMS notifications.
This is especially important if you receive frequent text alerts.
How to Stop Notifications from Facebook Groups
Groups are a major source of excessive notifications.
Option 1: Change Group Notification Settings
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Open the group.
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Tap the three dots or group settings.
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Select Notifications.
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Choose Off or Highlights.
This keeps you in the group without constant interruptions.
Option 2: Leave the Group If a group no longer adds value:
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Open the group.
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Tap Leave group.
This permanently stops all notifications from that group.
How to Stop Message from Facebook Pages
If pages you follow send too many updates:
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Go to the page.
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Tap Following.
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Select Message
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Turn them off or limit them.
You can also unfollow a page while still liking it.
How to Stop Marketplace and Message
Marketplace and event reminders can also be disabled.
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Go to Settings > Notifications.
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Tap Marketplace or Events.
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Turn off push, email, and SMS notifications.
This prevents alerts about listings or events you are no longer interested in.
How to Stop All Facebook Notifications Completely
If you want total silence, use a combination of these steps:
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Disable push message in Facebook settings
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Turn off notifications in your phone’s system settings
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Disable browser Message
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Turn off email and SMS notifications
This ensures Facebook cannot notify you through any channel.
Why Managing Notifications Matters
Constant Alert can reduce focus, increase stress, and create a habit of compulsive checking. By controlling Facebook Alert, you reclaim your attention and use social media on your terms instead of reacting to every alert.
You do not have to delete Facebook to regain balance. Thoughtful message management is often enough.
Final Thoughts
Facebook gives users extensive control over Alert, but these settings are spread across menus, making them easy to overlook. By taking a few minutes to adjust your notification preferences, you can dramatically reduce interruptions and improve your digital well-being.
Whether you want fewer alerts or complete silence, Facebook allows you to customize notifications to match your lifestyle. Once configured, your phone will feel calmer, your focus sharper, and your relationship with social media more intentional.