How to set friends list to private

by on March 31, 2022
in Facebook, Computers and Software, Computer Safety & Support, Tips & How-Tos, Privacy :: 73 comments

Techlicious editors independently review products. To help support our mission, we may earn affiliate commissions from links contained on this page.

It can be tough to keep your personal information private online, but just a few clicks can keep your Facebook information from prying eyes. If you want to keep strangers (or even friends) from trawling through your Friends list, it's simple — as long as you know where to look. Here's how you can hide your Friends list on Facebook.

Configure your Facebook Friends list from your PC

The instructions (and your options) are a little different whether you're viewing Facebook on a web browser. While you can access the basic options from either, the website will let you completely customize who can see your Friends list. Here's how to do it:

1. Open Facebook from your web browser.
2. Click the triangle in the upper right to open the menu, then select "Settings & privacy."
3. Select "Settings."
4. Click "Privacy" in the left-hand column.
5. In the "How People Can Find and Contact You" section, select "Who can see your friends list?" Click it.
6. In the drop-down menu, select who you would like to see your Friends list. Select one option from this list:
   • Public: Anyone can see your Friends list
   • Friends: Only your Friends can see your Friends list
   • Friends except: All Friends except the Friends you selected
   • Specific friends: Only Friends you've selected
   • Only Me: Only you can see your Friends list
   • Custom: You can select exactly who can and can't see your Friends list. When you click Custom, you can enter specific lists or names under "Share with" to let them see your Friends list or "Don't share with" to prevent them from seeing your Friends list. When you're done, click "Save changes" to save your custom settings
7. Click "Close" on the right to save your settings

Configure your Facebook Friends list from your phone or tablet

Setup on mobile is similar but offers different customization options. Instead of creating a completely custom list of people who can view your Friends list, mobile offers a few extra pre-configured options. Here's how to change the visibility of your Friends list from your iPhone or Android device:

1. Open the Facebook app.
2. Tap the menu icon (it looks like three horizontal lines) which is in the upper right for Android or in the lower right for iPhone.
3. Tap "Settings & Privacy."
4. Tap "Settings."
5. Under "Audience and Visibility," tap "How People Find and Contact You."
6. Tap "Who can see your friends list?" You'll see a few options and can click More > See All for a full list of options. Select one option from this list:
   • Public: Anyone can see your Friends list
   • Friends: Only your Friends can see your Friends list
   • Only you: Only you can see your Friends list
   • Friends except: All Friends except the Friends you selected
   • Specific friends: Only Friends you've selected
   • Specific lists: Next you'll see groups of people listed, like close Friends or Friends in your area. Exactly what shows up here will vary but will include lists of people you're associated with. If you'd like to select more than one list, you can do so using the custom option on the website.
7. If you've selected Friends Except or Specific Friends, you need to click Done once you've selected the people you want to have access to your Friends list.
8. Click the back button in the upper left to save your options and return to settings

While this will hide your Friends list, there are a few ways people can still uncover a few of your Friends. When people visit your profile, they may see Friends you have in common. Plus, if your Friends have public Friends lists, you'll be visible there. Changing your own Facebook privacy settings will help you lock down your privacy, but if your Friends haven't done the same, they may be able to piece together some clues with a simple search. 

Updated on 3/31/2022 with new screenshots and instructions for the current Facebook interface

[Image credit: Screenshots via Techlicious, Smartmockups]

Elizabeth Harper is a writer and editor with more than a decade of experience covering consumer technology and entertainment. In addition to writing for Techlicious, she's Editorial Director of Blizzard Watch and is published on sites all over the web including Time, CBS, Engadget, The Daily Dot and DealNews.

How do I make my friend list private 2022?