Facebook has gone through many changes and iterations over the years. As new features and redesigns roll out, it can be jarring for long-time users who were accustomed to the old look and feel of the platform. If you prefer the classic Facebook interface over the new design, there are a few ways you can try to access and restore the previous versions.
Why Did Facebook Change Its Design?
Facebook regularly introduces interface updates and new features in an effort to improve the user experience. Some of the main reasons behind Facebook’s redesigns include:
- Making the platform more visually appealing – Facebook has evolved its overall aesthetic over the years to keep up with modern design trends.
- Improving mobile optimization – With more and more users accessing Facebook on their phones, updates aim to streamline and enhance the mobile interface.
- Incorporating new features – Redesigns often coincide with the rollout of new services and tools for connecting with friends and engaging with content.
- Promoting new products – Design changes sometimes spotlight or provide better integration with Instagram, Messenger, Stories and other Facebook-owned platforms.
While change can be disruptive, Facebook feels these updates are necessary to meet the changing needs and expectations of its user base.
How to Get the Old Facebook Layout
If you don’t like the all the changes and updates, here are a few methods you can try to revert to an older version of Facebook on desktop and mobile:
Use Facebook Classic
The easiest way to get the old Facebook experience is to use the “Facebook Classic” option. Here’s how to enable it:
- Click the down arrow at the top right of any Facebook page.
- Select “Switch to Classic Facebook” from the menu.
This reverts the desktop site to the classic Facebook design prior to major redesigns and visual overhauls. However, keep in mind that classic view does not have all the latest features and is only available on the desktop version.
Revert to Old Layout
You may be able to access an older version of Facebook’s mobile app interface by reverting to a previous release:
- Go to the App Store if you use iOS or the Google Play Store if you use Android.
- Search for the Facebook app and navigate to the page.
- See if there is an option to “Install a previous version.”
- Choose a version that still has the old design you prefer.
The ability to download older releases depends on your operating system and the app versions available. This method lets you run an outdated UI that may eventually lose functionality or sync with the current online platform.
Use Old Facebook Bookmark
If you have an old bookmark or link to Facebook saved, opening it may take you to view the legacy interface. This works best on desktop sites that retain vestiges of previous designs.
For example, www.facebook.com/home.php shows Facebook’s former homepage. Similarly, the bookmark www.facebook.com/profile.php goes to your profile page with the classic design.
The effectiveness of this method depends on whether Facebook still supports the underlying structures of old site variations. Over time, these links tend to redirect to the current interface.
Which Old Facebook Layouts Can You Get?
The Facebook interface has gone through many significant visual refreshes over the years. Here’s an overview of some of the major UI designs and whether they can still be accessed in some form:
| Design Era | Years Active | Still Accessible? |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Facebook | 2005 – 2008 | No |
| Facebook 2.0 | 2008 – 2010 | Partially through old links |
| Facebook 2011 | 2011 – 2012 | Partially through old links |
| Facebook Timeline | 2011 – 2013 | No |
| Flat Redesign | 2013 – 2019 | Yes, via Classic Facebook option |
As you can see, the very early Facebook layouts are no longer accessible. The flat redesign era is most recent classic interface that can still be enabled. Anything from 2020 onward cannot be reverted.
Tweaks to Restore Parts of Old Facebook
If you can’t fully revert to an old design, there are a few browser tweaks and settings changes that can help restore parts of the classic Facebook experience:
- Switch to Most Recent Posts Feed – Go to the Feeds page under Settings & Privacy to change your feed view from the default Top Stories to Most Recent. This shows posts chronologically like the original News Feed.
- Revert to Old Messenger – Install an older version of the Messenger app to use the classic inbox instead of the new Chat tab.
- Use Compact Mode – Enable Compact Mode on desktop under Settings & Privacy > Compact Mode for tighter spaces between posts reminiscent of the old density.
- Install UI Customization Extension – Browser extensions like Social Fixer let you tweak the interface colors, fonts, sizes and other elements.
While not perfect recreations, these options can help bring back some of the familiar old Facebook feelings.
Why Facebook Won’t Let You Revert Completely
Despite user demand for the old Facebook, there are a few reasons why the company is unwilling to make older interfaces fully available:
- Feature Limitations – Older designs simply can’t support all the latest features Facebook is pushing.
- UI Fragmentation – Allowing multiple versions fragments the UI ecosystem and makes development more complex.
- Promoting Brand Evolution – Facebook wants to keep evolving its brand image and identity with forward-looking redesigns.
- Driving Engagement – Regular UI updates aim to boost engagement by forcing users to explore new features and layouts.
While bringing back legacy versions may appease some users initially, Facebook likely sees bigger value in continuously updating and modernizing the platform.
Should You Expect More Facebook Design Changes?
Given Facebook’s history of frequent design overhauls, you should absolutely expect the interface to continue morphing over time. Some future changes likely on the horizon include:
- More Redesigns – Big refresh every 3-4 years, with tweaks in between.
- Greater AR/VR Integration – For Facebook’s metaverse push.
- New Ad Formats – & More ways for Facebook to monetize the feed.
- More Emphasis on Video – Video already dominates, expect it to be even more baked in.
- More AI Recommendations – Curated content based on interests and engagement data.
While the core Facebook experience will likely always center around scrolling a personalized feed, the wrappings around it are bound to morph over time. Change is the only real constant when it comes to the Facebook interface.
Conclusion
Facebook’s interface has gone through dramatic evolution since its college social network days. While constant redesigns frustrate some users, most adapt and eventually embrace the new normal. Getting the old Facebook back is only possible in limited forms.
Your best options are using Classic Mode on desktop, reverting to an old mobile version, or installing tweaks and extensions. However, Facebook’s product roadmap is focused firmly on the future, not the past. The company’s willingness to let users revert is decreasing over time.
Ultimately, if you want to keep enjoying Facebook into the future, you’ll have to make peace with an interface that morphs every few years. The network’s developers believe consistent revamps are key to staying fresh, driving engagement, and advancing new technologies. Expect plenty more Facebook redesigns as it continues striving to meet evolving user expectations.