The People tab on Facebook allows users to see all of their Facebook friends and connections in one place. However, in late 2022, Facebook removed the dedicated People tab from its desktop site as part of a major redesign. This means that the People tab is no longer visible on the desktop version of Facebook.com. But don’t worry – there are still ways to access your friends list and connections on Facebook, even without the People tab.
Quick Answers
Here are some quick answers to common questions about the missing People tab on Facebook:
- The People tab was removed from Facebook.com in late 2022 as part of a major site redesign.
- The People tab is no longer visible on the desktop version of Facebook.com, but still exists in Facebook’s mobile apps.
- To see your friends list on the desktop site, you can go to your profile and click “Friends” or click on “Groups” and select “Your groups and friends.”
- The People tab still allows mobile users to access friends lists, search for friends, and manage friend requests and followers.
- Other sections of Facebook like News Feed, Watch, and Marketplace were also changed or consolidated in the redesign.
When and Why Was the People Tab Removed?
In September 2022, Facebook announced that it would be streamlining the navigation on its desktop website to simplify the user experience. This included removing the dedicated People tab that had been part of the desktop site for many years. The changes took effect in late October and November 2022.
According to Facebook, the reason for removing the People tab was to declutter and organize the site’s navigation. The Friends, Groups, Events, and other shortcuts that were previously in the People tab are now accessible directly from the Home page and profile menu. Facebook felt the People tab was redundant and took up prime real estate on the site that could be better utilized.
The social network likely also wanted to consolidate features as more users access Facebook primarily through mobile. Facebook’s apps for iOS and Android still have a People tab for managing connections. The desktop redesign brings the website navigation more in line with Facebook’s mobile experience.
Where Can I Find My Friends List Now?
While the People tab is gone on the desktop, there are still a couple places you can access your Facebook friends list and connections:
- Your profile – If you click on your profile picture at the top of Facebook and select “Friends”, you’ll see your friends list as well as sections for Sent Requests, Followers, Following, and more.
- Groups page – Go to the Groups section in the left sidebar and click “Your groups and friends.” This will show your friends list along with any Groups you have joined.
- Search bar – You can still search for specific friends from the main search bar at the top of Facebook.
- Mobile app – The People tab still exists in the menu of Facebook’s iOS and Android apps and works the same as before.
It takes an extra click or two to get to your friends list now, but the information is still readily available. Facebook’s mobile People tab remains unchanged for now.
How Do I Send and Accept Friend Requests?
Sending and accepting friend requests still works the same, even without the People tab:
- To send a friend request, go to the profile of the person you want to connect with and click “Add Friend.”
- To accept requests, click on your profile picture > Friends > Requests. Click “Confirm” on any requests you want to approve.
- You’ll also receive notifications any time someone sends you a new friend request, so you can confirm them right from the notification.
- On mobile, use the Friends section of the People tab to send requests or the Requests section to approve incoming requests.
Without the People tab, Facebook pushes notifications more for friend requests so users see them right away.
How Do I See My Full Friends List?
To view your full friends list on desktop:
- Go to your profile by clicking on your profile picture in the top right.
- In the left sidebar menu, click “Friends.”
- This will open your friends list showing all of your Facebook friends and followers.
You can also see your friends list by:
- Going to the Groups page and selecting “Your groups and friends.”
- Searching for a friend’s name and selecting “Friends” under their name.
- Using the Find Friends tool to browse Facebook users and connections.
On mobile, just tap the People tab and then tap Friends to see your list.
How Do I Unfriend or Block Someone?
Without the People tab, here is how to unfriend or block another user on desktop:
- Go to their Facebook profile page.
- Click the three dots in the upper right corner next to Message.
- Select either Unfriend or Block from the dropdown menu.
On mobile:
- Go to their profile page.
- Tap the three dots in the top right corner.
- Choose Unfriend or Block.
Unfriending removes them from your friends list while blocking prevents them from viewing your profile or contacting you.
Where Can I Find and Manage My Groups?
The Groups section was also previously located in the People tab. On desktop, you can now access your groups:
- By going to the Groups link in the left sidebar menu. Here you’ll see “Your groups and friends” as well as suggestions for new groups to join.
- On your Home page or News Feed, posts from your joined groups may appear. You can manage notifications from each group.
- In the left sidebar menu under Explore. This shows categories for Discover, Groups, Events, Friend Lists and more.
On mobile, groups can be accessed and managed from the Groups section of the People tab like before.
How Do I Manage Friend Lists and Follows?
Friend Lists allow you to create customized groups of friends on Facebook, while Following someone simply adds their public posts to your News Feed.
On desktop, you can manage Friend Lists and Follows:
- By going to your profile, clicking Friends, and selecting Friend Lists or Followers/Following.
- From the left sidebar Explore menu under Friend Lists.
- By clicking on a person’s profile, then Friends or Follow depending on the action.
On mobile, use the Friend Lists and Followers/Following sections of the People tab.
Tips for Managing Facebook Connections Without the People Tab
Here are some helpful tips for managing your Facebook friends and connections without the dedicated People tab:
- Use your profile menu and Friends section for the best friend management.
- Set your preferred post audience for different types of updates.
- Organize friends into Friend Lists like Close Friends or Acquaintances.
- Unfollow friends who post too often but don’t want to unfriend.
- Go to the Groups page to join new groups and access friends.
- Use the Discover section to browse nearby users, groups, and events.
- Install the Facebook mobile app to access the full People tab when needed.
Conclusion
While longtime desktop users may need to adjust, Facebook’s removal of the People tab aims to simplify navigation and mirror its mobile experience. Key connections features are still readily available across Facebook desktop, just accessible within different areas like your profile, Groups, and friends list. Focusing on profiles, Friend Lists, universal searching, and the mobile People tab can help users smoothly manage connections post-redesign.