The Facebook sidebar, located on the right side of the Facebook interface, provides quick access to features like messages, events, and friends list. It also includes a section for Facebook Instant Games that allow you to quickly play simple games like Solitaire directly on the Facebook platform.
While the Instant Games section can provide some entertainment, many users find it distracting or simply have no interest in using it. Fortunately, Facebook allows you to remove the Instant Games section from the sidebar with just a few clicks.
What Are Facebook Instant Games?
Facebook Instant Games are simple, casual games that run directly within the Facebook interface. Introduced in 2016, the games are designed for quick play sessions that allow you to take a break from scrolling through your newsfeed.
Some of the most popular Facebook Instant Games include:
- Solitaire
- Sudoku
- Tetris
- Words with Friends
- PAC-MAN
The games require no app downloads, special hardware, or plugins. They use basic HTML5 and JavaScript functionality built into Facebook to run smoothly in your browser. When accessed from the sidebar, the Instant Games open in a small pop-up window.
Should You Remove Instant Games?
Here are some of the pros and cons of keeping or removing Instant Games from your Facebook sidebar:
| Pros of Keeping | Cons of Keeping |
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| Pros of Removing | Cons of Removing |
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Ultimately, it’s a personal preference whether you find the Instant Games section helpful or distracting. If you find yourself wasting too much time playing the casual games, removing them can increase your Facebook productivity. But if you enjoy the quick entertainment or boredom relief they provide, keeping them easily accessible in the sidebar has its benefits.
How to Remove Facebook Instant Games
If you’ve decided you want to disable the Instant Games on Facebook’s sidebar, doing so only takes a few simple steps:
- Click the down arrow in the upper right corner of Facebook and select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
- On the left side of the Settings page, click “General.”
- Scroll down to the “Games Feed” section.
- Uncheck the box next to “Instant Games Feed.”
- Click “Save Changes” at the bottom of the General settings box.
Once you uncheck and save the “Instant Games Feed” option, the sidebar section will disappear immediately. You’ve now successfully removed Instant Games from Facebook!
Using Facebook on Mobile Devices
If you mainly use Facebook’s mobile app on your smartphone, accessing the Instant Games Feed setting is a little different:
- Open the Facebook app on your iPhone or Android phone.
- Tap the three line “hamburger” menu icon in the upper right.
- Select “Settings & Privacy” from the menu.
- Choose “Settings.”
- Tap “Media and Contacts.”
- Turn off the toggle next to “Instant Games Feed.”
This will disable Instant Games in the sidebar of the mobile Facebook app as well. The setting change applies across the Facebook website and all mobile apps.
Alternative Options
Rather than completely disabling the Instant Games Feed, you have a couple other options to better control the feature:
Limit Notifications
If you don’t want to fully remove Instant Games, but find the notifications about game updates or friends’ gameplay annoying, you can turn those off:
- Go to Facebook Settings > Notifications
- Scroll down to “Instant Games” in the list
- Uncheck any notification types you don’t wish to receive
This allows you to keep the Instant Games accessible but silences any annoying notifications that may distract you unnecessarily.
Rearrange the Sidebar
You can also simply rearrange the Facebook sidebar so Instant Games are lower down and less prominent. To do this:
- Click the arrow icon at the top of the sidebar.
- Select “Edit Sidebar”
- Click and drag the Instant Games section lower down the list.
- Click “Done” when finished.
Moving it further down essentially “demotes” it so it’s not taking up prime real estate in your sidebar anymore. You still have access but it’s not as in your face on a regular basis.
Conclusion
Facebook Instant Games provide quick access to simple entertainment right from your newsfeed sidebar. But if you find them too distracting or want to reclaim sidebar space, you can easily disable the feature.
Simply go to Facebook Settings > General > Games Feed and uncheck the “Instant Games Feed” option. You can also limit notifications or move its position lower in the sidebar if you still want some access to the casual gaming features.
Removing Instant Games can help reduce procrastination during work or study sessions. But allowing them in moderation can provide a nice short break or boredom buster during idle times. Adjust the settings according to your preferences for a balanced Facebook experience.