Searching for people on Facebook by name and location can be useful for finding old friends, connecting with new people in your area, or looking up information about someone. While Facebook search is limited compared to specialized people search engines, there are still a few ways to search Facebook by name and location for free using just Facebook’s built-in search functions.
Use Facebook Search Bar
The most basic way to search Facebook by name and location is to use the search bar at the top of any Facebook page. Here’s how:
- Go to Facebook.com and make sure you are logged into your account.
- Type the person’s full name into the search bar at the top. Make sure to use their full name, such as “Mary Smith” rather than just “Mary.”
- Select “People” from the dropdown menu next to the search bar.
- Review the results for profiles that match the name you searched. You can narrow it down further by looking at the profile picture, location, school/work info, and number of mutual friends.
This search shows results from across all of Facebook. To narrow it down by location, you need to get a bit more specific with the search terms:
- Type the person’s full name followed by “in [city name]” such as “Mary Smith in Seattle.”
- Select “People” from the dropdown menu next to the search bar.
- Review the results for profiles located in or associated with that city.
This search by name and location works best if you have a fairly uncommon name to search for. Common names like “John Smith” will return too many results even when narrowing by city.
Search Groups and Events
Another way to search Facebook by location is to browse local groups and events. Here’s how:
- Go to the Explore menu and select “Groups” or “Events.”
- In the search bar, type the name of your city or neighborhood.
- Browse the local groups and events that come up. Look for ones the person you’re searching for might have joined or attended.
- Click into each group or event and scan the member lists for the name of the person you’re looking for.
This can be helpful for finding people who are active in local organizations and community events.
Use Facebook Audience Insights
If you have access to Facebook Audience Insights through a Facebook business account, you can search for high concentrations of certain types of people in certain locations. Here’s how:
- Go to the Audience Insights page: www.facebook.com/ads/audience-insights
- Enter the name and location in the “Detailed Targeting” section.
- Select “People” as the category.
- Review the audience size estimates to see how many people match your targeting.
This will show you general demographic information about people with that name in the location, which can help narrow your search.
Search Public Groups and Pages
Another place you may find personal profiles is in public/open groups and pages related to the person’s interests or affiliations:
- Search for a group or page related to the person’s school, employer, interests, etc.
- Once in the group, scroll through current members and posts to see if you can spot the person you’re looking for.
Some examples of groups or pages to try:
- University alumni groups
- Local community groups (parents, sports fans, hobbyists, etc.)
- Professional organizations related to their work
- Businesses or organizations they support
The more niche the group based on interests or affiliations, the better chance you have of spotting the person in the member list or recent posts.
Search by Email or Phone Number
If you have a person’s email address or phone number, you may be able to find their Facebook profile by searching with this info:
Email Search
- Go to Facebook and click “Find Friends” in the left menu.
- Select “Search by Email Address or Phone Number.”
- Type in the complete email address and click “Search.”
- If a matching Facebook profile exists, it will appear in the results. You can send a friend request to connect.
Phone Number Search
- Go to Facebook and click “Find Friends” in the left menu.
- Select “Search by Email Address or Phone Number.”
- Enter the phone number with country code. For example, a US number would be +1XXXXXXXXXX.
- Click “Search” and Facebook will indicate if a matching profile exists. You can then send a friend request.
However, this only works if the person has added their email or phone number to their Facebook profile. If not, no results will appear.
Use Facebook Search Operators
Facebook search supports the use of special operators to help narrow results. Here are some useful ones:
| Operator | What It Does |
|---|---|
| @schoolname | Find profiles of people who went to a certain school |
| @employer | Find people who work at a certain company |
| “John Smith” | Search for exact match of full name in quotes |
| -John | Exclude results with “John” in name |
Some examples of using these operators:
- Mary @Harvard – Search for anyone named Mary who went to Harvard
- “John Smith” in Boston – Search for exact name match located in Boston
- Sarah @Nike – Find people named Sarah who work at Nike
Combining operators with name and location keywords can help narrow the search results significantly.
Use a Third-Party Facebook Search Tool
Dedicated Facebook search tools from third-party sites can provide more advanced search functions. Some examples:
Social Searcher
Social Searcher (socialsearcher.com) lets you search by name, location, school, employer, interests, and other filters. Has options for narrowing by gender, age range, relationship status, and more. Provides an “audit score” indicating the person’s level of Facebook activity and how much personal info they share publicly.
TruthFinder
TruthFinder (truthfinder.com) offers Facebook lookup integrated with public records search. Can search Facebook by name, location, age range, interests, employer, and more. Provides “smart filters” to automatically narrow results by gender, relationship status, education, and more.
Spokeo
Spokeo (spokeo.com) searches Facebook profiles along with public records, email addresses, phone numbers, and social media activity. Allows searching by name, location, age, interests, education, employer, relationship status, and more.
These tools often offer free trials or limited free searches. Paid subscriptions unlock full search capabilities with advanced filters and integration with public records.
Use the Facebook Mobile App
The Facebook mobile app has a “Nearby Friends” feature that can help find people close to your current location. To use it:
- Open the Facebook app on your iPhone or Android device.
- Tap the More tab > Nearby Friends.
- This shows friends as well as friends-of-friends who have opted into location sharing and are near your current location.
This feature won’t necessarily surface the profile of someone specific you’re searching for. But it can help discover friends, friends-of-friends, and others who are currently close by.
Considerations and Limitations
When searching Facebook for people, keep these limitations and considerations in mind:
- Facebook search is limited compared to dedicated people search sites and public records.
- If the person has common name, the location and keywords are important to filter results.
- The person must have public visibility settings for their profile to appear in searches.
- Trying to find someone without enough information may show many irrelevant results.
- Searching by email or phone number only works if they added it to their profile.
- Third-party search sites often have free trials then charge for full access.
- Avoid excessive Facebook searches about one person, which may appear creepy or invasive.
Respect Privacy Boundaries
When searching for people on Facebook, be mindful of respecting their privacy:
- Don’t try accessing private profiles or info of people you don’t already know.
- Don’t send excessive friend requests or messages to strangers.
- Consider asking mutual connections for an introduction if contacting someone new.
In general, limit searches to what’s reasonably available in public profiles and don’t try accessing private information without consent.
Conclusion
Facebook searching by name and location can help find friends, acquaintances, and new connections in your area – but privacy and limitations apply. Use Facebook’s own search bar with location keywords, browse local groups and events, or use operators and filters to narrow your search. Third-party search tools provide more options for sophisticated searches. Consider privacy, use good judgement, and don’t excessively contact strangers. With the right approach, Facebook can be a useful tool to search for people by name and location.