With Facebook continuously rolling out new designs and layouts, many users find themselves longing for the familiar classic view. While Facebook has made the new design the default, it is still possible to revert to the classic view for a more old-school Facebook experience.
Why Would I Want the Classic View?
There are a few key reasons why some users prefer the classic view over the new design:
- Nostalgia – The classic view elicits feelings of nostalgia for the earlier days of Facebook before the redesigns.
- Familiarity – For long-time users, the classic view feels more intuitive and user-friendly.
- Information density – The classic view fits more information on each page without the larger spacing and margins of the new design.
- Focus – The no-frills classic view allows users to focus on content and connections without distracting colors, graphics and animations.
Additionally, some users find the left-hand navigation bar easier to use than the top navigation bar in the new design. The layout with the profile box and shortcuts along the left side has simply become ingrained for many long-time Facebook veterans.
How to Switch to Classic View
It just takes a few simple steps to switch any Facebook page over to classic view:
- Click on the down arrow at the top right of any Facebook page and select “Settings & Privacy” from the dropdown menu.
- On the left side of the Settings page, click on “Settings.”
- On the General Account Settings page, click on “Use Classic Facebook” to toggle the switch on and enable classic view for your account.
The change takes place immediately after toggling the Use Classic Facebook switch, providing a blast from the past. For those who don’t enjoy Facebook’s ever-evolving changes, classic view allows staying in the comfort zone.
Customizing Classic View
One of the advantages of classic view is the ability to customize certain elements for your preferred Facebook experience:
- Color scheme – Go to Settings -> Theme to choose between blue, white or gray color schemes.
- Column width – Adjust the profile box on the left side to be wider or narrower.
- Shortcuts – Add or remove shortcuts along the left side below profile info.
- Text size – Makes all text larger or smaller for easier reading.
Don’t forget to also update your Notification Settings and Privacy Shortcuts to control how and when Facebook interacts with you. Customizations will make classic view feel tailored to your preferences.
Limits of Classic View
While classic view reverts Facebook’s appearance back to its retro roots, there are some limits to what it can do:
- Newer Facebook features may not be supported in classic view.
- Some changes can’t be reverted, like the top navigation bar replacing the bottom bar.
- Ads and suggested posts will still appear, just in the classic style.
- It only affects the desktop site, not the mobile Facebook app.
Additionally, any changes you make to customize classic view will reset if you turn off the Use Classic Facebook option. For the true classic experience, you’ll have to accept the parts of new Facebook still present in old wraps.
Should Businesses Use Classic View?
With 65% of Facebook’s daily active users visiting via mobile device, businesses should optimize first and foremost for mobile. But for managing business pages on desktop, classic view offers a few potential benefits:
- Frees up screen space for seeing more page content at once
- Puts focus on core features like posts, photos, events
- Provides a consistent, familiar user experience
- Allows businesses to control the look and feel
The downsides of classic view include lack of support for some newer page features and inability to tag products in Marketplace posts. There are valid reasons on both sides to consider.
Steps for Businesses to Enable Classic View
For business owners who decide to use classic view for managing their Facebook Pages on desktop, here are the steps:
- Go to your Facebook Page
- Click “Use Classic Facebook” in the left column
- Refresh the page
- The Page will now load in classic view
- Customize width, color scheme, shortcuts as desired
This will enable classic view when viewing that specific Page. To set classic view for your full personal account, including the News Feed, follow the steps outlined earlier.
Conclusion
While Facebook has evolved its look and feel over time, classic view allows recapturing some of that old Facebook magic. For Facebook traditionalists, it offers a touch of nostalgia with greater customization and simplicity. Businesses can benefit from the additional screen real estate and focus on core features. Just be aware of the limitations. At the end of the day, classic view provides a way to stay in your comfort zone even as Facebook continues progressing.