How to Unsubscribe from Facebook Emails (Account and Page Steps)

If your inbox is full of messages from Facebook, you've got two choices. You can ignore them and let the numbers climb, or you can switch the emails off at the source. The second one takes about a minute, and it works better than building a filter in your email app.

The right route depends on whether you have a Facebook account or not, and whether the emails are about you or about a Page you run. I've pulled the steps from Facebook's help centre and sorted them by situation, so you can jump to yours.

Unsubscribing from Facebook emails when you don't have an account

Start here if you don't have a Facebook account, or you've never signed up. The help centre says you can opt out of receiving emails from Facebook by clicking the Unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email.

Only use the link inside an email you're sure Facebook sent. If a message looks odd, don't click anything in it. Instead, tell your email provider it's suspicious, then look for the real Facebook notification settings by going to the site yourself.

Turning off Facebook emails from your account settings

If you do have an account, the help centre points you to your notification settings. On a computer, the steps are:

1. Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook.
2. Open Settings (it sits in the menu under Settings & privacy).
3. Click Notifications on the left.
4. Scroll down and select Email.
5. Adjust how often you receive email notifications and what you receive them about.

That fifth step is where you make the real decision. You don't have to switch off everything. You can lower how often Facebook writes to you, or cut it down to the types you care about. The help centre also says that if you turn off notifications entirely, you'll stop receiving email notifications.

Choosing how often Facebook emails you

In the Email screen you can adjust how often you receive emails. For Pages, the help centre names three levels: All, Suggested and Required notifications. It doesn't spell out which messages count as required, so I wouldn't expect every email to stop if you pick the lowest level. Check the screen on your own account to see exactly what each level covers.

My own approach is to pick the lowest option, wait a week, and then turn individual types back on only if I miss them. That's my habit, not a Facebook rule.

Unsubscribing from emails about a Facebook Page you manage

Page admins often get a second stream of email, and it has its own setting. The help centre says changing your email settings for a Page doesn't change the settings of the other people who help manage it, so you can switch yours off without affecting a colleague.

1. Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook.
2. Select Settings & privacy, then click Settings.
3. Click Notifications in the left menu.
4. Below What Notifications You Receive, click Pages You Manage.
5. Click the Page you want to manage notifications for.
6. Toggle email notifications on or off next to Page notifications on your profile.

Once email is on for a Page, you can choose which categories of Page emails you receive. The help centre lists Marketing & promotions, Help & guidance, and Surveys & research. Turning off the first and third is a quick way to trim the messages that aren't about your day-to-day Page work.

Changing the email address Facebook uses

If you have more than one email address linked to your account, the help centre says Facebook sends notifications to your primary email. That can be the reason you're seeing messages in the wrong inbox. You can change it:

1. Go to Notifications in your settings.
2. Scroll down and select Email.
3. Select the email address you want to use as your primary email.

The wording of the menus can differ between app versions, so if your screen doesn't match, look for Notifications and then Email. The help centre's steps are written for a computer, and I haven't confirmed the same path word for word on a phone.

If you still get Facebook emails after unsubscribing

• Give it a little time, then check your Email notification settings again to make sure the change was saved.
• Check if you have a second Facebook account, because each account has its own settings.
• Remember that required messages about your account can still arrive.
• If you manage Pages, check each one, because Page emails are set separately.
• Use the Unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email you're sure came from Facebook, as that's the route the help centre gives for people without an account.

Notice I haven't suggested blocking Facebook with an email filter as step one. A filter hides the messages, but the notifications are still being sent, and you could miss a security message you needed.

When the opposite happens: Facebook emails not arriving

Some people come to this page wanting the reverse. Facebook's help centre has a short list for when you aren't getting emails you expect: check your email notification settings, check your spam or junk filter, and add @facebookmail.com to your safe senders list. If you're still not receiving them, the help centre says to contact your internet provider in case they're blocking email from Facebook, and to report a problem if it carries on.

While you're in your settings, you might also want to read about whether Facebook has read receipts and whether Facebook tracks your location, since both are settings people tend to review at the same time.

A quick checklist for cutting down Facebook emails

• Decide whether you want fewer emails or none.
• Open Notifications, then Email, and change the frequency.
• Do the same for each Page you manage.
• Choose the correct primary email address.
• Keep an eye out for security emails, because you'll want those.

I keep every related walkthrough in the Facebook Help: 80 Guides to Pages, Groups, Ads, Stories and Fixes.

Frequently asked questions

How do I unsubscribe from Facebook emails?

Open your Facebook settings, click Notifications, scroll to Email and adjust how often you receive emails and what they're about. Without an account, use the Unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email.

How do I stop emails about a Facebook Page?

Go to Notifications, then Pages You Manage, click the Page, and toggle email notifications off next to Page notifications on your profile.

Will unsubscribing stop security emails?

Not necessarily. The help centre refers to Required notifications, which are the ones Facebook needs to send. It doesn't list them, so check your own settings.

Why do Facebook emails go to the wrong address?

Facebook sends notifications to your primary email when more than one is linked. You can change the primary email in the same Email settings.

What if I'm not getting Facebook emails I want?

Check your email notification settings and spam folder, add the facebookmail.com domain to safe senders, and contact your internet provider if it continues.