What does adding email to Facebook do?

Facebook allows users to add external email accounts to their Facebook profile. This connects the external email account to the Facebook account, allowing features like finding friends who use that email address and logging into Facebook using that email account.

Why Would You Add Email to Facebook?

There are a few key reasons someone may want to add an email address to their Facebook account:

To find friends and family members who use that email address. Facebook will search for other Facebook users with that email and suggest them as friends.

To log into Facebook using that email address in addition to your Facebook username. This gives you another option if you forget your Facebook password.
To consolidate notifications and messages from Facebook. You can setup forwarding so all Facebook notifications get sent to that external email inbox.
To easily share content from your email to Facebook. Some email services allow you to post emails directly to your Facebook profile.

To regain access to your Facebook account. Adding an email proves ownership if you get locked out of your account.

Overall, adding an email to Facebook connects that external identity to your Facebook profile. It makes it easier to find friends, log in, access notifications, and prove you own the account.

How to Add Email to Your Facebook Account

Adding an email to your Facebook account is a simple process that can be done from the Facebook website or mobile app. Here are the steps to add email to Facebook:

Go to your Facebook profile page and click on the down arrow in the top right. Select “Settings”.
On the left sidebar in Settings, choose “Email and SMS”.
Under “Email Addresses”, click “Add Email Address”.

Enter the email address you want to add and click “Next”.
Facebook will send a confirmation code to that email address. Once received, enter the code and click “Confirm”.
The email address will now be connected to your Facebook account.

It only takes a minute to complete the process. The key steps are accessing your Facebook account settings, going to the Email section, and entering the external email you want to add. Make sure to check your email inbox for the confirmation code Facebook sends.

How to Remove or Delete an Email from Facebook

If you no longer want an email connected to your Facebook account, removing it is easy:

Go to your Facebook Settings and choose “Email and SMS”

Locate the email address under “Email Addresses” and click the “X” icon next to it.
Confirm you want to remove the email when prompted.

The email will immediately be disconnected and removed from your Facebook account. It can no longer be used to log in, reset your password, or find friends.

What Happens When you Add Email to Facebook?

Here are some of the key things that happen after connecting an email to your Facebook account:

Login – You can now use that email and password to log into Facebook from the login screen.
Password Reset – If you forget your Facebook password, you can reset it using the connected email address.

Friends Suggestions – Facebook will search for other Facebook members using the same email and suggest them as friends.
Email Notifications – You can choose to have Facebook notifications forwarded to the connected email inbox.
Targeted Ads – Facebook may use the email for better targeted ads based on emails you receive.

Information Sharing – Facebook can now associate activity from the email with your Facebook account and profile.

While adding email provides some benefits, it also allows Facebook to harvest additional data associated with that email address. Make sure you trust Facebook before connecting an email you frequently use.

Pros of Adding Email to Facebook

There are some advantages that come with linking your email to your Facebook account:

Find Friends – Easily locate friends, family, and acquaintances who use the same email.
Login Flexibility – Get another way to login to Facebook if you forget your password.
Password Reset – Reset your Facebook password through email if you get locked out.

Email Notifications – Optionally forward Facebook notifications to your email inbox.
Targeted Ads – Get ads more tailored to your interests based on email content.
Email to Facebook – Share email content directly to your Facebook feed.

The convenience and flexibility of logging in and finding friends is the biggest benefit for most Facebook users. Targeted ads can also be seen as a pro by some users.

Cons of Adding Email to Facebook

There are also some potential downsides of linking email to Facebook:

Privacy Concerns – Facebook has more access to your personal information and contacts.

Data Collection – Facebook gathers more data about your online activity through your email habits.
Email Spam – You may get more spam if your email gets compromised or sold.
Ad Targeting – Some may not want ads to be more targeted based on email content.

Account Recovery – Support may disable account recovery if email was removed.
Unwanted Friends – Friend recommendations may surface unwanted connections.

Privacy risks are the biggest drawback, as Facebook can accumulate a lot more personal data by linking your email activity. Spam and unwanted friend suggestions are other common concerns.

What Email Providers Can You Use with Facebook?

Facebook allows you to add any valid email address to your Facebook account during setup. Here are some of the most common email providers that work with Facebook:

Gmail
Outlook.com

Yahoo
iCloud
Hotmail

AOL
GMX
Protonmail

Zoho
Custom domain email

As long as you have access to the email inbox, you should be able to receive the confirmation code Facebook sends when verifying the address. Once confirmed, that email will be linked to your account.

Can You Add Multiple Emails to Facebook?

Yes, Facebook allows you to add up to 5 email addresses to your account. The process is the same for each additional email:

Go to “Settings” and select “Email and SMS”
Click “Add Email Address”

Enter the new email address and confirm the code

Facebook will verify each new email before adding it. You can then use any of the connected emails to log in or reset your password. It provides flexibility if you check multiple inboxes.

Should You Use Your Main Email for Facebook?

Using your primary or most important email with Facebook has advantages, but also privacy risks. Consider these factors when deciding:

Main email makes it easier to find friends and family.
It can enable password reset if you get locked out of Facebook.
Hackers who compromise Facebook could gain access to your main email.

Facebook will be able to profile all your email activity and contacts.
Your main email is probably tied to other sensitive accounts.
Spam filters may have issues with the increase in notifications.

For privacy reasons, it’s generally recommended to use a secondary or lesser-used email for Facebook instead of your main email address.

Should You Remove Your Email from Facebook?

Here are some reasons you may want to remove an email from your Facebook account:

To increase privacy and prevent Facebook from accessing email contacts and content.

If the email account is compromised, deactivated, or no longer in use.
To reduce notifications and email noise generated through Facebook.
If you are closing your Facebook account and don’t want it linked anymore.

To limit Facebook’s ability to reset your password and access your account.

And reasons you may want to keep an email connected:

To have backup login and password reset options.

To continue receiving important Facebook notifications.
To find friends and contacts from your email address book.

Evaluate your specific reasons for adding the email originally and decide if those benefits still outweigh the privacy implications.

Can You Register a Facebook Account Without an Email?

All Facebook accounts must be registered with a valid email address. When you first create your Facebook profile, you’ll be prompted to confirm your email during the signup process. Without a confirmed email, Facebook will not fully activate the account.

There are a couple reasons Facebook requires an email:

Email verifies the account belongs to a real person.

It enables password reset if you forget login credentials.
Email is needed to send notifications from Facebook.
It allows connecting with friends who have the same email address.

Facebook uses the registered email heavily in account management and communication. While you don’t have to add other emails later, you must provide a real, working email when creating your profile.

Tips for Adding Email to Facebook

If you decide to link an email to your Facebook account, keep these tips in mind:

Use a secondary email you don’t mind getting new notifications.

Setup a forwarding filter to control which Facebook emails you receive.
Monitor friend requests closely for unwanted contacts.
Enable 2-factor authentication for added login security.

Remove the email if you notice suspicious activity on your account.
Make your email username and profile difficult to search and target.

Adding email expands how Facebook interacts with your account. Take proactive steps to maximize security and minimize unwanted side effects.

Facebook Email Notification Settings

Once connected, Facebook allows granular control over which notifications get sent to your email inbox:

Email Updates – Newsfeed updates, posts, photos, videos, etc.
Messages – Receive Facebook messages through email.

Reminders – Event reminders, friend request confirmations.
Comments and Likes – Get alerts when your posts are liked or commented on.
Security Alerts – Notifications of suspicious logins or account changes.

Groups – Announcements and updates from groups you’ve joined.
Facebook Payments – Billing alerts and order confirmations.
Third-Party Apps – Notifications from app integrations.

Visit the Emails section under Settings to customize which notifications are enabled or disabled.

Conclusion

Adding an email address to your Facebook account can provide some convenience, like easier login and finding friends. But it also gives Facebook more access to your personal data and online activity through that email account. Evaluate the tradeoff between utility and privacy. Use a secondary email if possible, limit notifications, and remove the email if issues arise. With proper precautions, connecting email can be beneficial without substantial privacy risks.