If you want to get rid of all annoying posts from your Facebook friends, but you don’t want them to unfriend, the easiest way is to unfollow. Automatically all of your friends are your followers, same with your friends you are also one of their followers, so every time they post an update, it will also appear on your news feed.
When you unfollow a friend you will not only see their timeline updates, but they will not notified for unfollowing them and everything works the same in the chatbox.
How to Unfollow Facebook Friends without Unfriending
If you have friends on Facebook whose posts clutter your feed but you don’t want to unfriend them, you can simply unfollow them. This action allows you to maintain your friendship while selectively managing what content appears in your News Feed. Here’s how to do it, step by step.
Step 1: Log into Your Facebook Account
First, open the Facebook app on your mobile device or visit the Facebook website on your computer. Log in with your credentials to access your account.
Step 2: Go to Your Friends’ Profile
Navigate to the profile of the friend you want to unfollow. You can do this by searching for their name in the search bar at the top of the page.
Step 3: Unfollow the Friend
On Desktop: Once on their profile page, look for the “Following” button, which is usually located near their cover photo. Click on it, and a dropdown menu will appear. Select “Unfollow” from the options. This will stop their posts from appearing in your News Feed, but you will still remain friends.
On Mobile App: Tap the “Following” button below their profile picture. This will also bring up a menu. Tap on “Unfollow” to complete the action.
Step 4: Check Your News Feed
After unfollowing, you can return to your News Feed. You should notice fewer posts from that friend. If you ever decide you want to see their posts again, you can follow them back by repeating the above steps and selecting “Follow” instead.
Additional Tips for Managing Your News Feed
- Use the Snooze Feature: If you need a break from a friend’s posts but might want to reconnect later, consider using the “Snooze” feature. This option temporarily hides their posts for 30 days. You can access it by clicking on the three dots on their post and selecting “Snooze [Friend’s Name] for 30 days.”
- Customize Your News Feed Preferences: Facebook allows you to customize your overall News Feed preferences. You can prioritize who to see first, unfollow friends and pages, and manage who to snooze. To access this, go to Settings & Privacy > News Feed Preferences.
- Engagement Implications: Keep in mind that unfollowing someone does not affect your friendship status. They will still be able to see your posts unless you adjust your privacy settings. Your mutual connection remains intact, so your relationship on Facebook stays as is.
Unfollowing friends on Facebook is a practical way to curate your News Feed without cutting ties with people in your social network. Whether you’re looking to reduce noise from your feed or simply want to focus on other connections, unfollowing is an effective solution. Remember, if you change your mind, you can easily follow them back at any time.
Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions people have about unfollowing friends on Facebook without unfriending them, along with concise answers:
- What does unfollowing a friend do?
Unfollowing a friend stops their posts from appearing in your News Feed. You remain friends, but their updates won’t clutter your timeline. - Will my friend know if I unfollow them?
No, Facebook does not notify users when someone unfollows them. They won’t receive any indication that you’ve stopped seeing their posts. - Can I follow someone back after unfollowing?
Yes, you can easily follow someone again at any time by going to their profile and clicking on the “Follow” button. - What happens if I snooze a friend instead of unfollowing them?
Snoozing a friend temporarily hides their posts for 30 days. After that period, their posts will reappear in your News Feed unless you snooze them again or unfollow them. - How do I manage my News Feed preferences?
You can customize your News Feed preferences by going to Settings & Privacy > News Feed Preferences, where you can prioritize who to see first and manage your following and snoozing options. - Can unfollowing affect my friendship status?
No, unfollowing does not change your friendship status on Facebook. You remain connected, and they can still see your posts unless you adjust your privacy settings. - Is there a way to unfollow multiple friends at once?
Facebook does not currently offer a feature to unfollow multiple friends simultaneously. You will need to unfollow each friend individually.
Read Also: How to Know if Someone Unfriended You on Facebook