Facebook Privacy Settings Checklist

Quick answer

Use Privacy Checkup to review who can see profile information and posts, how people find the account, blocked profiles, app access, and security settings. Then inspect old public posts and tagging controls outside the wizard.

What this means

Privacy is not one master switch. Facebook separates audience, discovery, tagging, location, connected apps, ad preferences, and account security, so a complete review needs several passes.

Facebook changes labels and rolls out account features gradually. The exact wording on your device can differ from screenshots or older guides, but the underlying task should remain inside the official app, facebook.com, or Accounts Center. Read the page that appears on your own account instead of forcing a menu path that is no longer present.

Step-by-step

1. Run Who can see what you share and restrict sensitive contact details.
2. Set a deliberate default audience for future posts and review older public posts.
3. Review how people can find and contact you, including email, phone, and search-engine settings.
4. Turn on profile and tag review where available and inspect the activity log.
5. Remove unused connected apps, review blocked accounts, and complete the security check.

Checks before you continue

• Audience changes do not retract screenshots or copies saved by other people.
• Page, group, Marketplace, and additional-profile privacy can differ from the main profile.
• Public profile details can still appear in search or shared links.
• Repeat the review after major product updates or life changes.

Common reasons it does not work

• Some settings are available only from the main profile.
• A past post may have a custom audience that differs from the current default.
• Apps can retain information previously shared even after access is removed.

If the result is different from what this guide describes, stop and note the exact message. Try the desktop website if the app hides a setting, update the app if a menu is incomplete, and use a familiar device for identity or recovery checks. Avoid repeating the same request many times because temporary rate limits can make diagnosis harder.

Safety and privacy notes

Privacy settings reduce exposure but cannot control copies that other people already saved. Review the audience on old content, avoid posting sensitive identifiers, and block or report abuse instead of engaging with threatening accounts.

Never use remote-access software or share a screen with an unknown “support agent.” Facebook does not need your password, two-factor code, gift card, or cryptocurrency payment to complete a normal account setting. When a permanent action is involved, keep an independent backup of the information and access records you may need later.

Official source

Review Facebook Help Center: Privacy Checkup for the latest labels and eligibility rules. This guide explains the process in plain language, but the options displayed by Facebook for your account are the final authority.