How to Not Show Up in Suggested Friends on Facebook

Open the Facebook app., Tap ☰., Scroll down and tap Settings., Tap Account Settings., Tap Privacy., Tap Who can see the people, Pages and lists you follow?., Tap Only Me., Tap Save., Tap Who can send you friend requests?., Tap Friends of...

33 Steps 3 min read Advanced

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Open the Facebook app.

    It's the white "F" on a blue background.

    If you aren't logged in, enter your email address (or phone number) and password and tap Log In.
  2. Step 2: Tap ☰.

    It's in the bottom right corner of the screen (iPhone) or the top right corner of the screen (Android)., It's at the bottom of the page.

    If you're using an Android, tap Account Settings. , You'll see this option at the top of the pop-up menu.

    If you're on Android, skip this step. , It's near the top of the page., This option is under the "Who can see my stuff?" heading at the top of the page., Doing this ensures that only you will be able to see the people in your friends and followers lists., It's in the top right corner of the screen.

    If there is no Save option, tap the Back button in the top left corner of the screen. , It's in the middle of the page., Selecting this option will limit the number of people who can friend you to the people who are friends of your current friends.,, It reads "Do you want search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile?"., It's at the bottom of the page., Users on Facebook will no longer be able to look you up from outside of Facebook.

    Additionally, now that your Facebook privacy settings have been tightened, your name will display in other users' "Suggested Friends" list significantly less often, and other users won't be able to view your mutual friends or list of followers., If you're logged into Facebook, doing so will take you to the News Feed.

    If you aren't logged into Facebook, enter your email address (or phone number) and password in the top right corner of the page and then click Log In. , It's in the top right corner of the Facebook window., This option is toward the bottom of the drop-down menu., It's on the left side of the Facebook window., option.

    Edit is on the right side of the window.

    You'll find the "Who can send you friend requests?" section about halfway down the Privacy page., It should be below the "Who can send you friend requests?" heading., Doing so will reduce the people who can request you as a friend (and, therefore, see you in the "Suggested Friends" menu) to people who are friends of your current Facebook friends., It's in the top right corner of the "Who can contact me?" section., This is the "Do you want search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile?" option., Doing so will ensure that people won't be able to look you up in Google, Bing, or any other search service outside of Facebook's search., It's at the top of the Facebook page., You'll find this option below and to the right of your profile picture., It's in the top right corner of the list of friends., It will say something like "Public" or "Friends"., Doing so will ensure that only you can see the people in your friend list., This box will also say something like "Public" or "Friends".,, It's at the bottom of the "Edit Privacy" window.

    Now Facebook won't display your friends list or your followers list to the public, which will prevent other users from being able to view you as a suggested friend based on mutual friends.
  3. Step 3: Scroll down and tap Settings.

  4. Step 4: Tap Account Settings.

  5. Step 5: Tap Privacy.

  6. Step 6: Tap Who can see the people

  7. Step 7: Pages and lists you follow?.

  8. Step 8: Tap Only Me.

  9. Step 9: Tap Save.

  10. Step 10: Tap Who can send you friend requests?.

  11. Step 11: Tap Friends of Friends.

  12. Step 12: Tap Save.

  13. Step 13: Tap the option at the bottom of the page.

  14. Step 14: Tap Allow search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile.

  15. Step 15: Tap Confirm.

  16. Step 16: Open the Facebook website.

  17. Step 17: Click ▼.

  18. Step 18: Click Settings.

  19. Step 19: Click Privacy.

  20. Step 20: Click Edit next to the "Who can send you friend requests?"

  21. Step 21: Click the Everyone box.

  22. Step 22: Click Friends of Friends.

  23. Step 23: Click Close.

  24. Step 24: Click Edit to the right of the last option on this page.

  25. Step 25: Uncheck the box next to "Allow search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile".

  26. Step 26: Click your name tab.

  27. Step 27: Click Friends.

  28. Step 28: Click Edit Privacy.

  29. Step 29: Click the box to the right of "Friend List".

  30. Step 30: Click Only Me.

  31. Step 31: Click the box next to "Following".

  32. Step 32: Click Only Me.

  33. Step 33: Click Done.

Detailed Guide

It's the white "F" on a blue background.

If you aren't logged in, enter your email address (or phone number) and password and tap Log In.

It's in the bottom right corner of the screen (iPhone) or the top right corner of the screen (Android)., It's at the bottom of the page.

If you're using an Android, tap Account Settings. , You'll see this option at the top of the pop-up menu.

If you're on Android, skip this step. , It's near the top of the page., This option is under the "Who can see my stuff?" heading at the top of the page., Doing this ensures that only you will be able to see the people in your friends and followers lists., It's in the top right corner of the screen.

If there is no Save option, tap the Back button in the top left corner of the screen. , It's in the middle of the page., Selecting this option will limit the number of people who can friend you to the people who are friends of your current friends.,, It reads "Do you want search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile?"., It's at the bottom of the page., Users on Facebook will no longer be able to look you up from outside of Facebook.

Additionally, now that your Facebook privacy settings have been tightened, your name will display in other users' "Suggested Friends" list significantly less often, and other users won't be able to view your mutual friends or list of followers., If you're logged into Facebook, doing so will take you to the News Feed.

If you aren't logged into Facebook, enter your email address (or phone number) and password in the top right corner of the page and then click Log In. , It's in the top right corner of the Facebook window., This option is toward the bottom of the drop-down menu., It's on the left side of the Facebook window., option.

Edit is on the right side of the window.

You'll find the "Who can send you friend requests?" section about halfway down the Privacy page., It should be below the "Who can send you friend requests?" heading., Doing so will reduce the people who can request you as a friend (and, therefore, see you in the "Suggested Friends" menu) to people who are friends of your current Facebook friends., It's in the top right corner of the "Who can contact me?" section., This is the "Do you want search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile?" option., Doing so will ensure that people won't be able to look you up in Google, Bing, or any other search service outside of Facebook's search., It's at the top of the Facebook page., You'll find this option below and to the right of your profile picture., It's in the top right corner of the list of friends., It will say something like "Public" or "Friends"., Doing so will ensure that only you can see the people in your friend list., This box will also say something like "Public" or "Friends".,, It's at the bottom of the "Edit Privacy" window.

Now Facebook won't display your friends list or your followers list to the public, which will prevent other users from being able to view you as a suggested friend based on mutual friends.

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Nicholas Richardson

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