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How to Hide your Friends List on Facebook

by Elizabeth Harper on November 16, 2023

Updated on 11/16/2023 with the latest Facebook instructions and new screenshots.

Hiding your Friends list on Facebook makes a lot of sense both to protect your privacy, as well as prevent account cloning. The privacy benefits are pretty self-explanatory – whether it's a nosy acquaintance or a controlling ex, who you are or are not friends with on Facebook is none of their business.

What many people may not realize is that by keeping your Friends list public, you're also putting your friends at risk for account cloning scams. The scam only works when the person behind it can contact your friends pretending to be you to request money or to send phishing messages, such as the classic "Is this you?" video scam. If your Friends list is private, the scam won't work.

If you've ever seen a post from a Facebook friend saying, "Don't accept friend requests from me, I've been hacked!", the likelihood is that they have actually been cloned, not hacked, and it's because their Friends list was public. You don't want to be that person.

While hiding your friends on Facebook is easy to do (and I'll walk you through it below), it isn't completely foolproof. Others can still see "mutual friends" on your profile, though not the rest of your Friends list. And if your friend has a public Friends list, others will be able to see your connection to them in their list.

The first step to protect your privacy is selecting who can see your Friends list. My recommendation is to set it to "Friends only," though for maximum privacy, set it to "Only me." The process is similar whether you're accessing Facebook on a web browser or using the app.

Configure your Facebook Friends list from your computer

To configure your Friends list from your computer browser, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Facebook from your web browser.
  2. Click your profile picture (upper right) and select Settings & privacy.
  3. Select Settings.
  4. Scroll down the left navigation to the Audience and visibility section and select How people find and contact you.
  5. In the main window, find Who can see your friends list? and click the button next to your current selection.
  6. In the pop-up menu, select who you would like to be able to see your Friends list. If you make a change, click on the Save button.
  7. Click Done on the right to save your settings.

Screenshot of Facebook How people find and contact you page with How people find and contract you, who can see your friends list?, the current settings button, and the profile picture highlighted.

Configure your Facebook Friends list in the Facebook app on your phone or tablet

Setup on mobile is almost identical to the browser settings, the only difference is that the browser lets you create custom lists, whereas the mobile app only allows you to select existing custom lists. This likely won't matter for most people.

Here's how to change the visibility of your Friends list from the Facebook app on your phone or tablet:

  1. Open the Facebook app.
  2. Tap the menu icon (your profile picture with three horizontal lines).
  3. Tap Settings & privacy and then Settings.
  4. Under Audience and visibility, tap How people find and contact you.
  5. Tap the current selection next to Who can see your friends list? to view all the options.
  6. In the pop-up menu, select who you would like to be able to see your Friends list. If you make a change to Friends Except or Specific Friends, tap Done.

Two screenshots of the Facebook app On the Left you see the How people find and contact you page and on the right you see the Choose audience pop-up window.

Final steps to maximize your Facebook privacy

When you’re done adjusting your own settings, encourage your friends to adjust their privacy settings, too. Otherwise, you could still get sucked into a cloned account scam based on their Facebook profile.

It's also a smart idea to regularly review all of your Facebook privacy settings, as Facebook regularly tweaks the options, and you may find your privacy needs changing over time.

[Image credit: Screenshots via Techlicious, Canva]

Elizabeth Harper is a writer and editor with more than a decade of experience covering consumer technology and entertainment. In addition to writing for Techlicious, she's Editorial Director of Blizzard Watch and is published on sites all over the web including Time, CBS, Engadget, The Daily Dot and DealNews.


Topics

Facebook, Computers and Software, Computer Safety & Support, Tips & How-Tos, Privacy


Discussion loading

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From Brenton on May 22, 2019 :: 4:50 am


Hi

Please assist, I would like to remove all my Facebook accounts in my name Brenton Allies, I can no longer access the accouts as I have forgotten the full details I used to logg in, please delete all.

Reply

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From Shaista Jainarain on May 31, 2022 :: 12:14 am


Hi I hope you can assist me delete a fb account the person I was with died and I have no way of deleting it .

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From Denmark enriquez sampaga on April 17, 2023 :: 6:19 am


Pleased please please delete my account someone pretending me he changed my profile pic he looks like hacker.. Seen Denmark enriquez sampaga

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From Diane Brown and Diana madison on July 16, 2023 :: 6:47 pm


I need help because someone have take over my oldest and new I needed helping because I think someone is u is for getting money though money transfer I get the FBI in on is

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From Laura Roberts on June 08, 2019 :: 8:56 am


I have old profiles I want gone. I’m starting over and I want all accounts deleted.

Reply

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From Josh Kirschner on June 10, 2019 :: 10:01 am


We have an article dedicated to How to Delete Your Facebook Account. Follow those steps and let us know how it goes.

Reply

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From Luther Hebrado on July 15, 2019 :: 5:32 am


Please delete my Fabebook account because it was hacked and other person used my account to get money from my friends.

Reply

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From Josh Kirschner on July 15, 2019 :: 2:48 pm


Posting here isn’t going to do anything.

Reply

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From Chris Phillips on July 21, 2022 :: 1:40 pm


Hey. I know you can’t fix the problem,  im just hoping for advise. Ive got an old account that im trying to delete. I actually remember the password and reactive the old email so I cN delete the FB account. When I go in now it requires to send me a code to access the account. Qhen it submit to request code it gives me an error and never sends it to me. I cant find FB contact for help and I tried to submit it as a fake account but FB messaged me back and said it meet their community standards so they declined.  Any other suggestions? I live in Tennessee. Thanks.

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From Josh Kirschner on July 21, 2022 :: 2:04 pm


Chris,

Try reporting the account as hacked and see if you can get your account access reset that way. Then you can delete it once you regain access.

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From Prathima Kumari on November 16, 2022 :: 11:38 pm


Gmail everything I need my account back

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From Mahaboobkhan on February 21, 2021 :: 11:17 am


Main FB account hack please help

Reply

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From Frank workman on April 13, 2021 :: 11:23 am


please delete my account Facebook lock my account because u said it was hacker but it was me change password no hacker plus Facebook did not send me link to confirm my email so please delete

Reply

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From Keira Brinkley on November 16, 2021 :: 6:20 am


Facebook was hacked an personal info is being used for money

Reply

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From Allen R Snell on June 15, 2021 :: 11:40 am


I have four Facebooks and I don’t remember none of I need a delete all for Facebook it’s under Allen Snell

Reply

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From Allen R Snell on June 15, 2021 :: 11:47 am


I have no credit cards nothing I’m on Social Security I have no money to pay to have this thing delete it please delete all my Facebook account

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From Maria Tobar on June 09, 2022 :: 9:17 am


I which to remove this email from Facebook some one is using it and I know longer use this email!

Reply

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From Breneta Bundy on July 11, 2019 :: 4:35 pm


I tried calling Facebook but they don’t want to help what. Do I do

Reply

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From Josh Kirschner on July 12, 2019 :: 2:09 pm


We have an article on what to do when your Facebook account has been hacked: https://www.techlicious.com/tip/tell-if-your-facebook-account-has-been-hacked/. See if that helps you.

Reply

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From DEEPAK YADAV on August 28, 2019 :: 6:11 am


Hi, I can’t able to login my account. There is no option to send verification code to mobile number Or mail on resetting the password. Also trusted contact option doesn’t work. Please help me

Reply

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From Gary lawlor on February 03, 2020 :: 6:13 pm


Hi any chance some 1 would delete my old account It was hacet

Reply

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From Mongezi kasha mongezi on February 26, 2020 :: 10:49 am


Can you please delete my old account someone is using it I think it’s been hacked.

Reply

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From james collins on January 30, 2021 :: 9:42 am


I have been hacked and several accounts on facebook are showing up but I am not useing them how do I deleat all accounts and then start over with new account

Reply

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From Onelia Goncalves on June 03, 2021 :: 10:43 am


Someone is using my Facebook account I need them to stop it

Reply

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From Josh Kirschner on June 03, 2021 :: 11:57 am


We have an article about how to tell if your Facebook account is hacked and what to do about it. Follow the steps there to address your problem.

Reply

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From Cindy Guthrie on January 08, 2023 :: 3:59 am


Trying to delete all my old accounts Facebook I have been happy many times someone is using my account
Someone is using my old accounts big time

Reply

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From tami smith on March 11, 2020 :: 11:10 am


my account was hacked and my gmail was hacked i need my life back please being webbed live

Reply

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From Margie Campbell on March 30, 2020 :: 8:37 pm


Delt my old face book pleas

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From Melissa Hester on April 06, 2020 :: 3:15 am


I need my old accounts deleted under the name Melissa Grant please

Reply

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From Josh Kirschner on April 15, 2020 :: 5:11 pm


We have an article that provides detailed steps for deleting your Facebook account

Reply

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From Yvonne Machetele on April 15, 2020 :: 3:27 pm


Hi can you please delete my old Facebook account I forgot my number and email I registered with no longer have access to them under yvonne machetele yvonne

Reply

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From Josh Kirschner on April 15, 2020 :: 5:11 pm


We have an article that provides detailed steps for deleting your Facebook account

Reply

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From Lerato on April 17, 2020 :: 8:17 am


Hello could u plz delet my Facebook permanently it has been hacked I can’t login

Reply

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From Teasha Green 113 on May 13, 2020 :: 10:42 am


delete old Facebook page
On Facebook

Reply

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From Komiljon Djurayev on June 01, 2020 :: 6:41 am


I’ve 4 extra accounts that I haven’t use anymore. Please delete all of them

Reply

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From Tasilava Cynthia Lolua on June 11, 2020 :: 2:44 am


Please Delete my Old Facebook account ..... I never went login or use it .... I already Find Support and Report Problem “Me” to you guys a lot times and I’ve try login in I forgot what email I use my password and I don’t have the phone number to login ... I no longer have access to it ....So please delete my Facebook Tasilava Cynthia Lolua… Thank You !!!  I really hope you guys delete it ....

Reply

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From Josh Kirschner on June 11, 2020 :: 8:58 am


Posting here won’t do anything - Facebook isn’t reading this! We have an article on how to How to Delete Your Facebook Account. Follow those steps and let us know how it goes.

Reply

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From Joy Zhang on June 18, 2020 :: 8:55 pm


http://facebook.com/danielmaxjoy

Hi,pls assist to delete this account since I can’t remember My account’s name and password at all.thank you.

Reply

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From Josh Kirschner on June 19, 2020 :: 9:22 am


Reply

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From Benjamin Hill on July 24, 2020 :: 4:02 pm


Hello my account has been hacked and he or she using it to scam people

Reply

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From Naahili on August 31, 2020 :: 2:01 am


please delete my old account named by Fiqaadee Ittafaa shubbee…since i can’t access my emailo and phone no…

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From Gregory Asuquo on September 19, 2020 :: 6:20 am


I want to inform you that I can’t log in to my Facebook Account. This is because it has been hacked and it’s been used by another user to defraud people of their money. Based on the above I wish to request that the account be deactivated, blocked or deleted.

Reply

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From Roxana Tudor on October 06, 2020 :: 1:23 pm


Hi


Please assist, I would like to remove my Facebook account in the name of Roxana Tudor. I can no longer access the accout as I have forgotten the full details I used to log in, please delete if possible or guide me through what steps I should take.

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001791939819&pn_ref=ec_friends_card

Reply

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From Josh Kirschner on October 06, 2020 :: 2:11 pm


Hi Roxana,

We have an guide that will give you the options for how to delete your Facebook account when you can’t log in.

Best,
Josh

Reply

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From Keyshawna Barbary on December 21, 2020 :: 11:04 am


I would like to delete my account but I no longer have access to email or password.

Reply

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From Leo jhay on January 17, 2021 :: 10:02 am


I tried to log in my account, after I wrote my usual number and password, what next is the I used to log in, is not exit on facebook, but its same I do used to log in..
Please I need your help how can I recover my account back

Reply

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From Josh pascua on April 21, 2021 :: 2:24 pm


Please deleted my account or recover please need help

Reply

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From Pranami chutia on May 03, 2021 :: 1:53 am


Hello sir,

My Facebook account was hacked by someone. Unfortunately Facebook say that my password was incorrect and I can’t login my Facebook account. After then when I try to recover then I see hacker change my email and number also.

Please sir recover my Facebook account.
Otherwise hacker can blackmail me.

Here I attached my government identity proof .

My Facebook account link - https://www.facebook.com/pranami.chutia.792

[personal information removed]

Reply

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From Josh Kirschner on May 04, 2021 :: 10:39 am


Here are steps you can take to report your account as hacked: https://www.techlicious.com/tip/tell-if-your-facebook-account-has-been-hacked/. If that isn’t working, you can try to delete your account by following these steps: https://www.techlicious.com/tip/how-to-delete-your-old-facebook-account/

Reply

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From King on May 13, 2021 :: 10:45 am


recovery of old account for 11 years without both email,password and phone number is it possible or how can i delete it permanently

Reply

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From Josh Kirschner on May 13, 2021 :: 12:46 pm


You can delete your Facebook account even if you don’t have access to your old email or phone, but it isn’t easy. Read our article on how to delete your Facebook account if you can’t log in for the detailed steps.

Reply

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