Off-Facebook activity, now called Your activity off Meta technologies, is the record of what other apps and websites tell Meta about you, such as visits and purchases. Find it in Accounts Center under Your information and permissions. You can review it, disconnect past activity from your account and switch off future activity.
Ever looked at a pair of shoes on a shop's website and then seen an ad for them on Facebook an hour later? This is a big part of how that happens. Many businesses send Meta information about what you do on their sites and apps, and this setting is where you can see it and cut the link to your account.
Where to find it now
The tool was renamed when Facebook moved settings into Accounts Center. Look for it here:
- Click or tap your profile picture, then Settings & privacy, then Settings.
- Open Accounts Center.
- Choose Your information and permissions.
- Select Your activity off Meta technologies.
Meta says some people see Meta Account settings instead of Accounts Center while it moves accounts over, so the wording may differ slightly on yours.
The three things you can do
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Review your activity | See which apps and websites have shared information about you |
| Disconnect past activity | Cut the link between that past information and your account |
| Manage future activity | Stop future activity from other businesses being connected to your account |
If you want the cleanest result, do the last two together: disconnect what's already there, then switch off future activity so it doesn't build up again.
What disconnecting does, and doesn't, do
This is where people's expectations and reality part company. Facebook's own answers are worth reading carefully:
- You won't see fewer ads. Facebook says you'll still see the same number of ads. They may just be less personalised.
- It isn't deleted. Facebook says the information you disconnect will no longer be connected to your account, but it can still be used, without being linked to you, to tell businesses how their websites, apps or ads are performing.
- Strange business names are normal. You may see companies you don't recognise, because some businesses share data through third-party providers or marketing agencies.
So think of it as unplugging the cable to your name, not shredding the file. It's still worth doing if you dislike ads that seem to follow you around.
Why the list looks so long
The first time people open this, they're often surprised by how many businesses appear: shops, airlines, news sites, apps they deleted years ago. That's normal. Lots of websites and apps use Meta's business tools to measure their ads, and those tools send activity back. Facebook also notes that you may see names you don't recognise, because some businesses work through third-party data providers or marketing agencies.
Don't panic about any single entry. It usually means you visited that site or used that app at some point and it shared activity with Meta, not that the business has your messages or your password. Disconnecting deals with all of them in one go, so there's no need to research each name.
While you're in your privacy settings, see our guide to who can see your Facebook groups.
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A five-minute privacy routine
- Open Your activity off Meta technologies and review the list.
- Disconnect your past activity.
- Turn off future activity, so the list doesn't refill.
- Check your ad preferences in Accounts Center while you're there.
- Download a copy of your information, also under Your information and permissions, if you want to see everything Meta holds.
Do it once, then glance at it every few months. If the list starts filling up again, check whether future activity got switched back on.
Who should switch it off
- Anyone who feels uneasy about ads that seem to know their shopping or browsing.
- People who share a device and don't want gift purchases turning up in their partner's ads.
- Anyone handling sensitive matters online, such as health research, job hunting or debt worries, who'd rather those didn't shape their ads.
If you run a business that advertises on Facebook, you'll also see the other side of this. Your customers can switch it off, which is one reason targeting is less precise than it used to be. My guide to Facebook advertising tools for small businesses explains what still works.
Related ad settings worth checking
While you're in Accounts Center, look at your ad preferences too. Meta lets you see the advertisers whose audiences you've been included in based on your information or activity off Meta technologies, and decide whether it can show you ads based on that. Combined with disconnecting your activity, it gives you much more say over what you're shown. If your Feed is also full of posts you never chose, see what Suggested for you means on Facebook.
Can't find the setting?
- Look under Your information and permissions in Accounts Center, not under Privacy.
- Check whether your account has moved to Meta Account settings, where the layout differs.
- Meta's own help pages for this tool show as not available in some regions, so the option may not appear everywhere.
- Update the Facebook app, or try Accounts Center in a web browser.
My verdict
Switching off your activity off Meta technologies won't cut your ads, and it won't delete the data. What it does is stop that data being tied to your name, which is worth five minutes if you value your privacy. Disconnect your past activity, turn off future activity, and check your ad preferences while you're there.
Frequently asked questions
What is off-Facebook activity?
Information other apps and websites share with Meta about your activity, such as visits or purchases. It's now called Your activity off Meta technologies.
Where is off-Facebook activity now?
In Accounts Center, under Your information and permissions, then Your activity off Meta technologies.
Will clearing off-Facebook activity stop ads?
No. Facebook says you'll see the same number of ads, though they may be less personalised.
Does disconnecting off-Facebook activity delete it?
No. It's disconnected from your account but can still be used, without being linked to you, for business reporting.
