Facebook’s default view includes photos, videos, and other media that can use a lot of data. If you want to reduce data usage or just prefer a simpler interface, you can switch Facebook to text only mode. Here are a few ways to enable text only mode on Facebook.
Use the Basic HTML View
The easiest way to enable text only mode on Facebook is to use the basic HTML view. Here’s how:
- Go to Facebook.com and log into your account.
- Click on the down arrow in the top right corner of any Facebook page.
- Select “Settings & Privacy” > “Settings”.
- Go to the “Facebook Feed Preferences” section.
- Under “Facebook Feed”, click on “Use Facebook in Quick Text Mode”.
This will reload your Facebook feed in basic HTML without photos, videos, or other media. Just text, links, and basic formatting.
Install a Browser Extension
Another option is to install a browser extension that forces Facebook into text only mode. Here are some top options:
- Text Mode for Facebook (Chrome) – This Chrome extension loads all Facebook pages in text only mode, stripping out non-text content.
- Text Only for Facebook (Firefox) – Similar to the Chrome extension above, but available for Firefox users.
- Simplify Facebook (Chrome) – Removes clutter from Facebook like ads, sponsored posts, and suggested posts.
Check your browser’s extension marketplace to find and install one of these text only mode extensions. They provide an easy way to view Facebook without distractions.
Use the Lite Mobile Site
Facebook offers streamlined mobile versions of its site for regions with limited connectivity. You can use these to simplify Facebook on your phone or tablet:
- facebook.com/lite/ – The Facebook Lite mobile site.
- m.facebook.com – The regular mobile site, which is lighter than desktop.
- mbasic.facebook.com – An even more stripped down mobile site.
These sites don’t have full text only mode, but they do remove non-essential content like games, videos, and graphics. It’s a handy option for mobile devices.
Use the RSS Feed
Facebook provides an RSS feed for your News Feed. This contains just the text and links from your feed in a simple XML format. To use it:
- Go to https://www.facebook.com/feeds/page.php?id=YOUR_PROFILE_ID&format=rss20
- Replace YOUR_PROFILE_ID with your actual profile ID. This can be found in the URL when viewing your profile.
- Plug the RSS feed URL into any RSS reader app to consume your Facebook feed as plain text.
RSS readers like Feedly and Inoreader work great for this. It’s one of the most effective ways to strip away all the extra cruft and view just the core content.
Use the Print View
An easy text-only option is to use your browser’s Print mode. Here’s how:
- Go to any Facebook page you want to simplify.
- From your browser’s menu, choose File > Print or use the Ctrl/Cmd+P keyboard shortcut.
- In the print preview screen, you’ll see a simplified text-only version of the page.
You can print the page to PDF to save it for later reading. Print view removes unnecessary clutter while preserving the core content.
Try a Userscript
Userscripts are mini JavaScript programs that customize websites. There are some userscripts that enable text only mode on Facebook:
- TextOnly for Facebook – Displays Facebook in text only mode with no images.
- FBTexter – Removes ads, games, and other clutter from Facebook.
- Esor Facebook Cleaner – Strips most non-text content from Facebook.
These require a userscript manager like Tampermonkey, but provide customizable Facebook text only experiences.
Use a CLI Tool
If you’re technically inclined, you can access Facebook from the comfort of your command line terminal using an open source CLI tool like fb-cli. These tools provide text only experiences and are perfect for Linux users.
Some popular CLI tools for Facebook include:
- fb-cli – Full featured CLI access to Facebook in Python.
- fbr – Facebook Reader provides text only scrolling.
- tuir – A TUI-based Reddit client that supports Facebook.
It takes some setup, but CLI tools give you stable text only experiences without distractions.
Try Facebook Classic
If you access Facebook through a work or school account, you may have the option to temporarily switch to Facebook Classic view. This view removes some of the extra visual clutter from Facebook.
To enable it:
- Go to your Facebook Settings.
- Under “Personal and Account Information” look for the option to “Try New Facebook”.
- Toggle this to the off position to load Facebook Classic.
Unfortunately, personal accounts no longer have access to this simplified view. But it’s worth checking if you use Facebook through school or work.
Conclusion
Facebook’s default interface prioritizes visuals, videos, ads and other clutter that distracts from the core content. But with the right tools you can access Facebook in text only mode for a cleaner, simplified experience.
Some top options include using Facebook’s basic HTML view, browser extensions, mobile sites, RSS readers, CLI tools, and userscripts. Give a few methods a try to find the best text only Facebook experience for your needs.
| Method | Platform | Setup Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Basic HTML View | Web | Easy |
| Browser Extensions | Web | Easy |
| Lite Mobile Site | Mobile | Easy |
| RSS Feed | Web & Mobile | Medium |
| Print View | Web & Mobile | Easy |
| Userscripts | Web | Medium |
| CLI Tools | Linux/macOS | Hard |
| Facebook Classic | Web | Easy |
This table summarizes the key text only mode options for Facebook and ranks them on difficulty of setup. The easiest options are using the Basic HTML view and browser extensions. More technical options like CLI tools require more effort to configure.
Keep in mind that text only mode works best on the desktop site – the mobile Facebook apps don’t have many text only options beyond using the Lite site. But with the methods above, you can declutter Facebook for simpler reading and scanning just about anywhere.
Removing all the noisy extras from Facebook highlights just how much needless clutter the site has added over the years. Text only mode cuts through the cruft and gives you simple, clean access for reading posts and keeping up with friends and family without distraction.
Facebook’s constant notifications and engagement gimmicks are deliberately addictive. But text only mode returns Facebook to its text blogging roots. You avoid wasted time on videos and games. The result is a more relaxed experience that better respects your time and attention.
Some additional benefits of browsing Facebook in text only mode include:
- Reduce data usage on mobile
- Improve reading focus
- Avoid wasted time on videos
- Minimize distracting ads and recommended posts
- Free from excessive notifications
Facebook wasn’t always the ad-filled video platform it has become today. Text only mode lets you reclaim the simpler Facebook of years past. Give one of the methods a try to enjoy Facebook’s core social networking without everything else getting in the way.