Steps to Set Your Facebook Account to Private

Key Notes

  • Set your profile to private to protect personal information.
  • Restrict who can see your posts and friend lists.
  • Control how people can contact you via search engines and email.

Protecting Your Privacy on Facebook: A Complete Guide

Given the extensive personal information shared on Facebook, it’s crucial to understand how to maintain your privacy effectively. This guide will walk you through the steps to secure your profile, allowing you to control who sees your content and information.

Understanding Facebook Privacy Settings

Facebook accounts are publicly accessible by default. However, you can adjust your settings to enhance your privacy. Here are the available options:

  • Friends: Only mutual friends can view your posts.
  • Friends Except: Everyone except selected friends can view your posts.
  • Specific Friends: Only designated friends can access your content.
  • Only Me: Only you can see your posts.

Step-by-Step: Making Your Facebook Profile Private on PC

Step 1: Accessing Privacy Settings

Click on your profile picture located in the top-right corner of the screen, then select “Settings & Privacy”.

Step 2: Opening Settings

From the dropdown menu, click on “Settings” to proceed.

Step 3: Modifying Post Visibility

Navigate to the “Privacy” section on the left, click “Edit” next to “Who can see your future posts?” and set your preferences.

Step 4: Adjusting Past Post Visibility

Return to your profile, find the posts you want to limit, and select the “Audience Selector” near each post’s date. Change the audience settings as desired.

Step 5: Limit Audience for Followers

In the privacy settings, click “Edit” next to “Who can see the people, Pages and lists you follow?” and set it according to your liking.

Step to Limit Contact on Your Profile

Step 6: Control Who Can Contact You via Email

Under the Privacy settings, click “Edit” next to “Who can look you up using the email address you provided?” and adjust the settings as preferred.

Step 7: Adjust Contact via Phone Number

Scroll down and adjust who can look you up using your phone number by changing the settings next to “Who can look you up using the phone number you provided?”

Step 8: Control Search Engine Visibility

To ensure privacy from search engines, edit the option next to “Do you want search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile?”

Adjusting Privacy Settings on the Facebook App

Step 9: Open Privacy Settings on the App

Tap the hamburger menu icon in the bottom right corner and select “Settings & Privacy” followed by “Settings”.

Step 10: Limit Past Posts Visibility

Go to “Audience and Visibility”, select “Posts, ” and click on “Limit who can see past posts.” Tap “Limit Old Posts” to confirm your choice.

Step 11: Set Followers Visibility

Select “Followers and public content, ” then edit who can see the people, Pages, and lists you follow.

Additional Tips

  • Regularly review your friend list to ensure only trusted individuals have access to your profile.
  • Be cautious with friend requests from unknown users.
  • Consider limiting your profile visibility periodically as Facebook’s policies can change.

Summary

This guide provided essential steps to enhance your Facebook profile privacy. By adjusting your settings, you can ensure that only selected friends and family can view your posts, and you can also manage how others contact you online.

Conclusion

By following the outlined steps, you can significantly improve your privacy on Facebook. Take action today to protect your personal information and maintain control over your social media experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can you tell whether someone’s Facebook post is public?

A small icon indicating visibility accompanies each post. A globe means the content is public, while silhouettes of two people indicate it is friend-only.

How can I make a Facebook page private?

Navigate to your profile picture, then “Settings & Privacy, ” followed by “Settings.” From there, adjust the visibility settings in the “Privacy” section.

How can I make photos private on Facebook?

Go to your profile, select the desired post, and use the “Audience Selector” next to the date to change visibility settings accordingly.