20 Facebook Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner
Updated: Jul. 10, 2024
Think you're Facebook savvy? These are the Facebook hacks, shortcuts, features, tips and tricks you never knew.
Facebook hacks that will change your (digital) life
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning and train your bleary eyes onto the bright glare of your phone screen? If you’re like many people, it’s checking Facebook to see what’s new—in the world and with your friends. Using the social media platform is probably second nature at this point, but we bet there are a few Facebook hacks you have no idea exist. Tech tips can be game changing, and these are no exception!
Facebook has grown exponentially since its launch in 2004, finding new ways to connect and entertain (and market to) you. There are now loads of secret Facebook hacks, hidden gems and surprising tools at your fingertips that will allow you get more from—or perhaps give less to—the site. Read on for 20 Facebook tricks that will help you get the most from the platform.
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Unfollow friends without them knowing
Everyone has a few Facebook friends whose posts are annoying, argumentative or both. You roll your eyes (or worse) every time you scroll past them. And you’ve definitely debated cutting them off for your own sanity. But if those friends are your real-life friends or relatives, unfriending them on Facebook could cause some tumult in the real world. Did you know you can just unfollow them instead? This means you’ll no longer see their posts in your feed, but they’ll be none the wiser. Here’s how:
- Navigate to the unwanted friend’s profile page by typing their name into the search box.
- Click the gray “Friends” box with the person icon below their name.
- Select “Unfollow” from the drop-down list.
You’ll stop seeing their posts, but you’ll still be “friends” with them—and their feelings won’t get hurt. Win-win! And if you’re curious if anyone has done this to you, you can technically find out who unfollowed you on Facebook.
Discover friend requests
Here’s a Facebook hack for the egomaniacs out there. It allows you to see all the people who are friend-requesting you—and the ones who have ignored your request. To see who’s made a friend request to you, follow the instructions below.
On desktop:
- Go to the “Friends” section of your profile page or on the left side of your home page.
- Click on “Friend Requests” to see who has sent requests to you.
On mobile:
- Navigate to your “Menu” page by clicking on your profile picture in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen.
- Select “Friends” from the boxes near the top. This will automatically take you to “Friend Requests.”
To view sent requests—requests you’ve sent to others who have so far ignored you—follow the instructions below.
On desktop:
- Click on “Friend Requests” in the left-hand column.
- Then click the small blue hyperlink that says “View Sent Requests” right underneath.
On mobile:
- Click “See All” from the “Friends” tab.
- Select the three dots on the upper right of the title bar.
- Click “View Sent Requests” to see who has ignored your own friend requests.
Sure, it may hurt a bit to know that these people ignored your online friendship, but it’s their loss. You’re better off without them, right? You can also cancel your pending friend requests here. Click on the gray “Cancel Request” button next to each name to save your remaining shreds of dignity.
Clear your search history
Every Facebook user makes some searches they’re not proud of, whether it’s snooping on an ex’s profile or going down a rabbit hole that’s not safe for work. But never fear: You can erase all traces of such shameful searches.
On desktop:
- Click the downward-pointing arrow at the bottom of your profile picture in the top right-hand corner of your screen.
- Go to “Settings & Privacy” and then “Activity Log.”
- Select “Your Search History.”
- Click the three dots to the right of any search you’re less than proud of, and delete it by clicking the trash-can icon.
- If you want to delete all your search history in one go, click the blue “Clear Searches” hyperlink at the top right.
On mobile:
- Select the mobile menu by clicking on your profile picture in the bottom right of the screen.
- Click on the cog icon in the top right, and scroll down until you see “Activity Log.”
- Follow the same steps as above (steps 3–5) to delete individual searches or clear all.
And here’s an extra tip: Click back one page if you want to erase a bunch of your other actions on the platform, such as groups you’ve joined, videos you’ve reacted to and comments you’ve made. There’s nothing quite like a clean digital slate!
Prioritize your favorite friends
Whether you have 100 Facebook friends or 1,000, you definitely don’t care about every single thing they post. Thankfully, you don’t have to leave it all to the whims of the algorithm—with this Facebook hack, you can prioritize the friends whose posts you actually want to see.
On desktop:
- Navigate to your profile page by clicking on your profile picture at the top left of homepage column.
- Select “Friends” from one of the horizontal tabs right below your profile picture.
- Click the three dots to the right of any friend and select “Edit Friend List.”
- Tick the “Close Friends” box.
On mobile:
- Navigate to your profile page by clicking on your profile picture.
- Scroll to the “Friends” section, and click “See All Friends.”
- Click on the friend’s profile photo to navigate to their profile page.
- Click the gray box that says “Friends” under their photo.
- Select “Edit Friend List” and then “Close Friends.”
You’ll now be notified whenever those select, lucky few post on Facebook. They’ll also be put on a “Close Friends” list, so you can share things exclusively with them. (More on that below.)
Select what you see
While we’re on the subject of feeds and favorites, did you know you can change what you see on your Facebook homepage? Although this feature is currently only available on the app, users can choose to see only updates from their friends, groups or pages they follow. Here’s how to do it.
- Tap on your profile photo in the bottom left corner of the app to bring up the menu.
- Select “Feeds” from the boxes near the top of the page. Note: You won’t see this on the iPad app, but you will on apps for iPhone and Android phones and tablets.
- Choose “All,” “Favorites,” “Groups” or “Pages” from the horizontal scrolling menu along the top.
See more of what you want to see
Mark Zuckerberg is always up to something. One of his most popular (and constantly changing) algorithms helps you prioritize what shows up first on your Facebook newsfeed. That “favorites” option we mentioned above allows you to get more of what you want to see and less of what you don’t. (Now you’ll never miss a new Reader’s Digest post!)
On desktop:
- Find a Facebook page you like, then click “Follow.” You will now see their posts in your feed.
- Navigate to their page, and click the gray “Following” button to the right of the page name. This will bring up follow preferences.
- Select “Favorites” to see their posts higher up in your newsfeed.
The steps are the same on mobile, but you need to select “Feed” before “Favorites.” This works on iPhone and Android phones, but iPad instructions will be the same as the desktop instructions above.
Post to the right people
One of the biggest frustrations of Facebook users is that the posts you’re most proud of fall into an abyss, while your mom seems to get a notification every time you do something you shouldn’t. But did you know you can help the ever-fickle algorithm out a bit by targeting your audience? Every time you post, follow these directions to one of our favorite Facebook hacks.
- Click the button that says “Public” under your name.
- Choose who can see your update—you can target just friends, specific friends or friends except certain people (sorry, Mom). You can also choose for a post to be seen by yourself only … although the point of that escapes us.
Get (and stay) informed
Facebook, believe it or not, might know more about your local government than you do. But don’t worry, the app is on a mission to help you learn, connect and even vote! Go to facebook.comvtownhall to digitally meet your local, state and federal representatives. If you interact with your local representative on Facebook in any way, you’ll earn yourself a “Constituent Badge,” which the representative and others will be able to see when you post to their page, message or tag them. You can turn this function on or off by sliding the toggle under the settings section (cog icon) on your Town Hall Page. You can also opt-in for reminders about upcoming elections and when to get out and vote.
Practice a language
Facebook is used by 3 billion active users worldwide. That means the app and site need to understand, write and be available in the languages of all users. There are currently around 200 languages supported by Facebook’s AI translation software. If you’re studying for a test, planning a holiday abroad or trying to woo someone who speaks another language, try switching your social media to your language of choice.
On desktop:
- Click on your profile picture at the top right of your screen, and select “Settings & Privacy.”
- Select “Language” and then “Facebook Language.”
- Choose your desired language from the drop-down list.
On mobile:
- Click your profile picture at the bottom left of the screen and then “Settings & Privacy.”
- Scroll down to “App Language” and click. This will take you to your phone’s “Settings” page for the app.
- Click “Language,” and make your change.
If you’re scrolling in a different language, however, you’ll need to be extra vigilant about avoiding online scams.
End autoplay once and for all
There’s nothing worse than when you’re trying to take a sneaky look at Facebook during office hours and a loud video blows your cover when it starts automatically playing. Luckily, turning off autoplay on Facebook takes just a few seconds.
On desktop:
- Click your profile picture in the top right, and go to “Settings & Privacy,” then “Settings.”
- Select “Media” under “Preferences” in the left-hand column.
- Click the “View” button next to “Video and Motion.”
- Select the gray “Default” button to the right of “Autoplay Videos.”
- Click the circle button to “off.”
On mobile:
- Click your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.
- Click “Settings & Privacy” and then “Settings.”
- Select “Media” under “Preferences,” and choose the circle next to “Never Autoplay Videos.”
Save content for later
If you never knew this feature existed, it may forever change the way you use Facebook. Have you ever found an article you’d love to read, but don’t have time? Or a recipe that would be perfect for a dinner this week? You can save the post for later. In the top right corner of every post, you’ll see three dots. Click those dots, and choose the first option to “Save Link/Video/Post.” You can save it for “Later,” to “Favorites” or make a new folder, such as “Recipes.” These posts can then be found under “Saved” on the left-hand column of your screen. (The folder appears only once you’ve saved a post.)
On mobile, you’ll find it after selecting your profile picture at the bottom right of your screen. And just like you can delete photos from Facebook, when you’re done with these posts, you can click the three dots under the post in your “Saved” folder and select “Unsave.”
View your memories with friends (and significant others)
Here’s another reason you and your significant other need to be Facebook official: Facebook has a pretty cute function that will show you the complete history between you and your boo (or your bestie), including photos, shared status updates and other fun memories that capture your love. Well, everything about it that you put on the platform, that is. To see your Facebook relationship with anyone in your network:
- Navigate to their profile page by typing their name into the search bar and then selecting their page.
- Click the three dots to the right of the horizontal scrolling menu near the top.
- Select “See Friendship.” You’ll be directed to what looks like a profile page just for the two of you, complete with all your precious memories.
The step for this Facebook hack are the same on mobile, but you’ll find the three dots just slightly higher up, to the right of the blue “Message” button.
Watch events from around world
On facebook.com/watch/live, you can see Facebook live streams happening in real time all over the world. It could be a makeup tutorial, a local news channel covering a developing story or someone who just likes talking to random strangers. That person could even be you, if you’re so inclined. Be careful, though. This is the world’s easiest way to waste time. Your family and your personal trainer may never forgive us.
Protect yourself from unseen threats
It’s more important than ever to protect your personal information online. Whether you see Facebook as the hero or the villain in this story, the platform can help you figure out if and when anyone has accessed your account without your knowledge. To do this:
- Click your profile picture on the top right of the page, and then click “Settings & Privacy.” (On mobile, you’ll need to select “Settings.”)
- Select “Activity Log” from the left-hand column, then “Security and Login Information.”
- Check “Logins and Logouts” to see a list of the devices that have accessed your account and where they’re located.
- Click on the three dots in that section, and then click “Not You?” if you see any red flags, like “Device Type Unknown” or a city you haven’t visited recently.
- Reset your password. You’ll be prompted to reset so whomever logged into your account won’t be able to do so again.
Check “Logins and Logouts” to see a list of the devices that have accessed your account and where they’re located. If you’re accessing this section on desktop, “Logins and Logouts” will be listed along the left-hand side.
Discover hidden messages
Are you serious? People have been trying to contact me this whole time? Why have you been hiding this from me, Facebook?! There is actually a whole new world of connections on Facebook—for better or worse. When you click on the Messenger icon near the top of your screen, you automatically see your most recent messages. But if you look closely on desktop, there’s an option for “Message Requests” at the top of this list. (You’ll need to click the cog icon first to get here from the mobile app.)
These are messages from people you’re not already connected with. If you know the sender or are happy to chat, simply reply and those messages will immediately move to your normal inbox. This doesn’t mean you’ve become “friends” with the person, though. On the other hand, if you don’t want to be in contact with the person who reached out, click “Block,” “Delete” or just do nothing and forget the whole thing ever happened. This is basically Facebook’s version of a spam inbox. Why isn’t it called the “Spam Inbox,” you ask? Because that would just be too darn simple.
Plan for the afterlife
Dealing with your digital footprint after death is a sensitive subject. While Facebook understandably may not be the biggest concern in your end-of-life matters, it’s worth noting that the platform gives you a couple of options for beyond the grave. You can either choose for your account to be deleted or memorialized after your passing. If you choose the latter, you can set up a legacy contact and have someone manage that account when you pass away. They won’t be able to post as you (otherwise, people would assume they’re talking to your ghost!), but they can pin a post detailing things like a memorial service, respond to friend requests and manage tribute posts. At the time of writing, users could only access this function via the Facebook app.
To do this:
- Navigate to your profile page by clicking on your photo in the bottom-right corner and then clicking on your photo again on the next page.
- Click the three dots next to “Edit Profile,” which will take you to “Profile Settings.”
- Scroll down and select “Memorialization Settings.”
- Choose whether you want to “Delete After Death” or “Memorialize Account.”
- Choose a legacy contact (if you’re memorializing). Type their name into the box.
- Choose whether to allow your legacy contact to download your account data or not.
- Choose whether to send that person a message to let them know about your morbidly organized decision or whether to keep it as a fun surprise.
Create an avatar
An avatar is a cartoon version of you who can do a whole bunch of fun things on your behalf, such as make comments and wish people happy birthday. They are available to (some) Facebook users, but it seems whether or not you have access to the avatar feature is purely luck. If you have the option, give it a go and see if you’re one of the lucky ones. The avatar feature is available on both mobile and desktop. To get there:
- Navigate to your profile page by clicking on your photo in the top right-hand corner.
- Select the “Edit Profile” button near the top, and scroll down to “Create Avatar” (if you have the feature).
- Choose between a wide range of skin tones, face shapes, features and hairstyles to make a digital version of yourself.
- Knock yourself out making your own hilarious memes.
Any issues? Take it up with the Metaverse.
Log out remotely
Nothing sparks fear like the thought that you might have left your work computer logged into your Facebook account. There are times you shouldn’t stay logged in, and this is one of them. Nobody wants a devious colleague making a mind-blowing life update on their behalf. But fear not: You can log out of Facebook from any device remotely.
To do this:
- Click your profile picture in the top right, and select “Settings & Privacy” (then “Settings” again if you’re on mobile) and then “Activity Log.”
- Scroll down to “Where You’re Logged In” to see a list of all the places and devices you’re logged into Facebook.
- Click the three dots to the right of any place you don’t want to remain logged in, and then click “Log Out.”
Teach people how to pronounce your name
Here’s a nifty Facebook hack for those poor souls with hard-to-pronounce names. You can actually include how to pronounce your name on your Facebook profile page. We’ve got you, Yvonne and Siobhan! At the moment, this feature is available only on desktop. To access it:
- Navigate to your profile page by clicking on your profile picture in the top right-hand corner and then clicking on it again.
- Click the “Edit Profile” button near the top, and then scroll down to “Edit Your About Info” at the bottom.
- Select “Details About You” from the “About” section in the left-hand column.
- Choose “Add a Name Pronunciation” from the list.
From here, the Facebook AI wizards will come up with a few examples of how to spell your name phonetically. If it’s still being butchered, you can add your own.
Search specifically
We all know we can search Facebook for friends and business pages, but did you know you can also search for super specific things (groups, organizations, events, classes) in your area? Try searching for “sourdough enthusiasts” or “aerial silk classes” [+ your city] and see what comes up. I bet you’re not the only person in your area with an adorably obscure hobby. The Pigeon Fanciers of Portland will be glad to have you!
Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of articles on personal technology, arming readers with the knowledge to protect themselves against cybersecurity threats and internet scams as well as revealing the best tips, tricks and shortcuts for computers, cellphones, apps, texting, social media and more. For this story on Facebook hacks, Claire Nowak tapped her experience as a digital journalist who reports on social media platforms. Then Marc Saltzman, a tech expert, journalist and author who has reported on the tech industry for a decade and hosts the podcast Tech It Out, gave it a rigorous review to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. We rely on credentialed experts with personal experience and know-how as well as primary sources including tech companies, professional organizations and academic institutions. We verify all facts and data and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Source:
- Facebook: Help Center
Originally Published: March 22, 2018
