To stop people posting on your Facebook profile, go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, open Profile and tagging, and set Who can post on your profile? to Only me. Only you and your friends can post there in the first place, so this shuts the door on friends too. They can still comment on posts of yours they can see.
Birthday messages from people you haven't spoken to in ten years, a relative's chain post, a friend sharing a link on your wall that your clients can see. If you use your personal profile anywhere near your business, it's worth deciding who gets to put things on it. Here are Facebook's own steps, and the settings that close the gaps.
Turn off profile posting on a computer
- Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook.
- Select Settings and privacy, then click Settings.
- In the left column, click Profile and tagging.
- Click next to Who can post on your profile? to choose the audience.
- Open the drop-down menu and select Only me.
Turn off profile posting in the app
- Tap Menu in the top left of Facebook.
- Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings.
- Scroll to Audience and visibility and tap Profile and tagging.
- Tap next to Who can post on your profile?
- Select Only me.
Here's the catch Facebook mentions: this only stops new posts on your profile. Your friends can still comment on any post they're able to see, such as a photo you've shared that includes them in the audience. If comments are the problem, my guide on turning off comments on a Facebook post covers that side.
Close the tagging gap
Even with posting set to Only me, people can still tag you in their own posts, and by default a post a friend tags you in appears on your profile automatically. To stop that, switch on tag review:
- Go to Settings and privacy, then Settings.
- Open Profile and tagging.
- Turn on Review posts you're tagged in before the post appears on your profile?
Two details from Facebook are worth knowing. If someone you aren't friends with tags you, you'll always be asked to review it, even with this setting off. And review only controls your profile: a post you're tagged in may still appear in search, Feed and other places. I've gone deeper on this in how to stop people tagging you on Facebook.
Which setting does what
| Setting | What it stops | What it doesn't stop |
|---|---|---|
| Who can post on your profile? = Only me | Friends writing posts directly on your profile | Friends commenting on your posts they can see |
| Review posts you're tagged in | Tagged posts appearing on your profile without your OK | The tagged post appearing in Feed or search |
| Hide from profile | A friend's existing post showing on your profile | The post existing elsewhere on Facebook |
| Block | That person seeing your posts, tagging you, messaging you or inviting you to events or groups | Apps, games or groups you're both part of |
Clear out what's already there
Changing the setting doesn't touch old posts. For those, go to your profile, find the post and click Options in the top right:
- On a friend's post, choose Hide from profile. It comes off your profile but stays on Facebook.
- On your own post, choose Delete post. That removes it from Facebook entirely.
- If you're tagged in something you don't want on your profile, remove the tag. The post leaves your profile but stays visible to its audience in Feed and search.
If you also want fewer alerts, check why Facebook notifications stop working.
When one person is the problem
If it's one person rather than everyone, blocking is the stronger tool. Go to their profile, click Options (or More), click Block and confirm. You can also do it from Settings and privacy, Settings, then Blocking. Facebook notes the Block option is no longer in the post menu in Feed, so you have to go via their profile or your settings. A blocked profile can't see your posts, tag you, invite you to events or groups, start a conversation with you or add you as a friend, and blocking also unfriends them.
Photos have their own controls, set out in how to make photos private on Facebook.
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My advice
For anyone whose clients, colleagues or customers can find their personal profile, I'd set posting to Only me and turn on tag review in the same sitting. It takes two minutes and means nothing lands on your profile without you choosing it. Then, if you want to go further, my guide to making your Facebook profile private covers who can see what you post yourself.
If you want the full set, start at the Facebook Help: 80 Guides to Pages, Groups, Ads, Stories and Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I stop people from posting on my Facebook profile?
Go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, open Profile and tagging, and set Who can post on your profile? to Only me.
Can people who aren't my friends post on my Facebook profile?
No. Only you and your friends can post on your profile. Setting it to Only me stops your friends too.
Will friends still be able to comment if I turn off posting?
Yes. Friends can still comment on any post of yours that they can see. Turning off posting only stops new posts on your profile.
How do I stop tagged posts showing on my profile?
Turn on Review posts you're tagged in before the post appears on your profile in Profile and tagging settings. Tagged posts can still appear in Feed and search.
