Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 2.8 billion monthly active users as of 2021. While Facebook can be useful for connecting with friends and family online, some users want to limit or deactivate their Facebook account for various reasons like productivity, privacy concerns or to take a break from social media.
There are a few different ways to deactivate Facebook – you can do it directly through the Facebook app or website, or you can prevent Facebook from loading in your mobile or desktop web browser. This article will focus on how to deactivate or block Facebook specifically in your web browser on a computer.
Can You Fully Deactivate Facebook from a Browser?
No, there is no way to fully deactivate your Facebook account just from your web browser. Deactivating a Facebook account means temporarily disabling it but keeping all your data saved for when you want to reactivate it. This has to be done directly through the Facebook platform, either on the mobile app or by logging into your account on the Facebook website and selecting the deactivate option.
However, you can prevent Facebook from loading in your browser using various methods. This essentially blocks access to Facebook when using that particular browser on that device. Some ways to block Facebook in your browser include:
- Using browser extensions or add-ons that block specific websites
- Altering browser settings to block cookies or social media sites
- Editing your computer hosts file to redirect Facebook URLs
- Using parental control software that blocks websites
These options simply prevent Facebook from loading when you open your browser – they do not deactivate or delete your account. Your account will remain active for any other device or browser that you use to access Facebook. But browser-blocking methods can be useful for limiting Facebook use and access on specific computers.
How to Block Facebook in Your Browser Using Extensions
One of the easiest ways to block Facebook in your browser is by using a browser extension or add-on. These are plugins you can install to add extra functionality or customize your browsing experience. There are various extensions available for popular browsers like Chrome and Firefox that are designed to block access to Facebook or other distracting websites.
Here are some Facebook blocking extensions to consider installing:
- Facebook Blocker – Available on Chrome. Completely hides the Facebook website and removes all links/share buttons.
- Block Site – Available on Chrome and Firefox. Allows blocking Facebook along with other sites you specify.
- StayFocusd – Available on Chrome. Lets you block Facebook for set periods of time to avoid distractions.
- News Feed Eradicator – Available on Chrome. Removes the Facebook newsfeed to limit time spent scrolling.
To install a browser extension, follow these general steps:
- Open the Chrome Web Store or Firefox Add-ons site and search for the extension.
- Click “Add to Chrome” or “Add to Firefox” to install the extension.
- A popup may ask you to confirm installing the extension – click “Add Extension”.
- Once installed, the extension will block Facebook from loading in that browser.
You can customize extension settings or uninstall an extension at any time through your browser’s extensions manager. This provides a quick and reversible way to block Facebook browser access on a computer.
Using Browser Settings to Block Facebook
Another option is to use your browser’s built-in settings to block Facebook from loading. The steps to do this vary slightly in different browsers:
Google Chrome
- Click the 3 vertical dots in the top right and go to Settings.
- Click “Privacy and security” in the left menu.
- Under “Cookies and other site data” click “See all cookies and site data”.
- Search for “facebook.com” and click “Remove”.
This will clear Facebook cookies and prevent you from automatically logging into the site in Chrome. You can also block third-party cookies for greater privacy protection.
Mozilla Firefox
- Click the 3 horizontal lines in the top right and go to Options.
- Go to the Privacy & Security section on the left.
- Scroll down to “Cookies and Site Data” and click “Manage Permissions”.
- Search for “facebook.com” and switch the permission toggle to “Block”.
Again, this stops Facebook from setting cookies for login sessions. You can block cookies from additional sites here too.
Microsoft Edge
- Click the 3 horizontal dots in the top right and go to Settings.
- Click “Cookies and site permissions” on the left.
- Toggle “Block third party cookies” to the On position.
Since Facebook uses third-party cookies, this will block them. Turning off regular cookies would produce the same effect.
The privacy sections of other browsers like Safari have similar options to block cookies. Browser cookie settings provide a quick way to block Facebook across any account or device.
Using a Hosts File to Block Facebook
A more advanced option is editing your computer’s hosts file to block Facebook access. This affects your entire system rather than just a single browser.
The hosts file acts like an internal DNS server, mapping hostnames to IP addresses. By adding entries that redirect Facebook URLs to your own computer (127.0.0.1), you can prevent connections to the actual Facebook servers.
To edit your hosts file to block Facebook:
- Open the hosts file in a text editor – located at
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hostson Windows or/etc/hostson Mac/Linux. - Add the following lines to the file:
127.0.0.1 facebook.com 127.0.0.1 www.facebook.com 127.0.0.1 login.facebook.com 127.0.0.1 fbcdn.net 127.0.0.1 www.fbcdn.net 127.0.0.1 static.ak.fbcdn.net 127.0.0.1 static.ak.connect.facebook.com
- Save the file.
- Flush your DNS cache – run
ipconfig /flushdnson Windows ordscacheutil -flushcacheon Mac.
Now when you try to access Facebook in any browser it will fail to load, since the hosts file is redirecting all requests to your own computer. This will persist until you edit the hosts file again. One downside is you need admin access to edit the hosts file.
Using Parental Control Software
Parents and administrators can also use parental control software or filters to block Facebook more broadly at the network level. Some options include:
| Software | Platform | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Norton Family | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | Allows banning specific sites like Facebook across all devices on a home network. |
| Qustodio | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Kindle | Blocks categories like social media or specific sites on kids’ devices. |
| Net Nanny | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | Uses artificial intelligence to block inappropriate sites and detect cyberbullying. |
| Disney Circle | Router-based | Filters connected devices to block access to sites like Facebook. |
These usually require a paid subscription but can enforce Facebook restrictions for children or students across all their devices. However, tech-savvy users can sometimes work around these types of blocks.
Deactivating Facebook Completely
Again, fully deactivating your Facebook account is different from simply blocking the website in your browser. Deactivating via the Facebook app or website is the only way to temporarily disable your account and remove your profile and info from being visible to others.
To deactivate Facebook from the app or website:
- Click the down arrow at the top right and select Settings & Privacy.
- Select Settings and go to the Your Facebook Information section.
- Click “Deactivation and Deletion”.
- Choose “Deactivate Account” and confirm by continuing to click through the prompts.
This will make your profile and posts inaccessible to others until you log back in to reactivate your account. You can also download a copy of your Facebook data for your records.
Deleting vs Deactivating Your Account
Alternatively, deleting your Facebook account more permanently removes your info and profile from Facebook. However, data may persist in Facebook backups for up to 90 days before being deleted.
Key differences between deactivating and deleting Facebook include:
| Deactivating | Deleting |
|---|---|
| – Temporarily disables account | – Permanently removes account |
| – Keep info and can reactivate | – Data deleted within 90 days |
| – Can reactivate anytime by logging back in | – Can’t reactivate once deleted |
| – Friends won’t see profile or posts | – Friends can no longer find you |
Consider whether you want to take a temporary break or permanently close your Facebook account before choosing which option to use.
Conclusion
While you can’t fully deactivate Facebook from just a browser, there are several methods to block and restrict Facebook access in desktop and mobile web browsers:
- Using browser extensions to hide and block Facebook
- Clearing cookies and site data related to Facebook
- Editing the hosts file to redirect Facebook domains
- Using parental control software to restrict social networks
These options can be useful for limiting Facebook use and distractions when working on a computer, while still keeping it available on other devices. However, completely deactivating your Facebook account has to be done on the Facebook platform itself if you want to temporarily disable your profile and account.
Whether you want to take a short digital detox from Facebook or make a more permanent break, browser-based blocking gives you more control over your Facebook habits on specific computers and devices.
Understanding the distinction between blocking the website and fully deactivating the account allows you to choose the method that best fits your needs and goals for managing your Facebook use.
By Robert Smith, Digital Productivity Expert