7 Facebook Features You're Not Using (But Should Be)
You've been on Facebook for years. You know how to post, comment, and scroll through your feed. But did you know there's a whole set of powerful tools hiding in your settings that most people never touch?
These aren't gimmicks or complicated features that require a tech degree. They're practical tools that can make your Facebook experience safer, more private, and way less annoying. We're talking about features that let you control what you see, protect your content, and take back your privacy.
The problem? Facebook doesn't exactly advertise these features. They're buried in menus and settings pages that most people never explore. That changes today.
Let's dive into seven Facebook features you're probably not using (but definitely should be).
1. Activity Log: Your Facebook Time Machine
Ever cringe at something you posted five years ago? Activity Log is your digital eraser.
What It Actually Does
Activity Log is like a complete history of everything you've done on Facebook. Every post, comment, like, photo tag, and reaction - it's all there. But here's the cool part: you can filter, review, and delete anything you want. It's your Facebook time machine.
Think of it as spring cleaning for your digital life. Maybe you shared political stuff you regret. Or liked pages you don't care about anymore. Or got tagged in photos you'd rather forget. Activity Log lets you clean it all up without scrolling through years of posts.
Why You Should Use It
- Clean up old content – Delete embarrassing posts or outdated information without hunting through your timeline
- Remove unwanted tags – Someone tagged you in something weird? Remove the tag instantly
- Review your digital footprint – See exactly what you've been doing on Facebook and clean up anything that doesn't represent you
- Bulk manage content – Archive or delete multiple posts at once instead of one by one
How to Access and Use It
1Open Your Profile
Desktop: Click your profile picture in the top right, then click your name
Mobile: Tap the three horizontal lines (menu), then tap your name at the top
2Find Activity Log
Desktop: Look for three dots below your cover photo, click them, then select "Activity Log"
Mobile: Tap the three dots below your profile picture, scroll down to "Activity Log"
3Filter What You Want to Review
On the left side (or top on mobile), you'll see filter options:
- • Your Posts – Everything you've posted
- • Posts You've Been Tagged In – Photos and posts others tagged you in
- • Likes and Reactions – Everything you've liked
- • Comments – All your comments
- • Search History – What you've searched for
4Take Action
For each item, click the three dots and choose:
- • Delete – Permanently remove it
- • Archive – Hide it from your timeline but keep it
- • Change Audience – Make it public, friends-only, or just you
- • Remove Tag – Take yourself out of tagged content
Pro Tips for Power Users
Bulk Archive Old Posts
Facebook has a feature called "Manage Posts" that lets you archive or delete posts in bulk by date range. Perfect for cleaning up years of content fast.
Go to Activity Log → Your Posts → Manage Posts. Select a date range, then choose "Archive All" or "Delete All."
Review Before Job Hunting
Before applying for jobs, spend 20 minutes in Activity Log reviewing what's public. Employers Google you, and Facebook profiles often show up.
Filter by "Posts" and change the privacy setting to "Only Me" for anything you don't want potential employers seeing.
Common Issues You Might Face
2. Profile Lock: Maximum Privacy Protection
Keep strangers from snooping on your photos and posts (without blocking anyone).
What Profile Lock Does
Profile Lock is Facebook's answer to privacy concerns. When you lock your profile, people who aren't your friends can't:
- • Enlarge or download your profile picture or cover photo
- • See posts on your timeline (even public ones)
- • View photos or videos you've been tagged in
- • See your full "About" information
- • View your friends list
It's like putting a fence around your profile. Your friends can still see everything as normal, but strangers only see your name and a basic profile picture. No creeping, no stalking, no downloading your photos.
When You Should Use It
- You share personal photos – Family pictures, vacation photos, or anything you only want friends seeing
- You're in a public-facing role – Teachers, healthcare workers, or anyone who interacts with strangers regularly
- You've had stalking or harassment issues – Profile Lock stops people from obsessively checking your profile
- You value privacy in general – There's no downside to locking your profile if you only friend people you know
How to Lock Your Profile
1Go to Your Profile
Tap or click your profile picture to open your profile page
2Find the Lock Option
Mobile: Tap the three dots below your profile picture → Look for "Lock Profile"
Desktop: Not available on desktop yet. You'll need to use the mobile app
3Confirm and Lock
Facebook will show you what changes. Review it, then tap "Lock Your Profile." It takes effect immediately.
What Your Friends Still See vs. What Strangers See
✓ Your Friends Can Still:
- • See all your posts and photos
- • Comment and react to everything
- • View your full profile and About section
- • See your friends list
- • Tag you in posts and photos
- • Send you messages
✗ Strangers Can't:
- • Download your profile picture
- • See posts on your timeline
- • View tagged photos of you
- • See your friends list
- • View full About info
- • Enlarge your cover photo
Can You Unlock It Later?
Yes, absolutely. Go back to your profile, tap the three dots, and select "Unlock Profile." Everything goes back to how it was before. There's no penalty or waiting period.
Think of it like locking your car doors. You can unlock them anytime, but why wouldn't you keep them locked for safety?
3. Favorites Feed: Take Control of What You See
Tired of Facebook showing you random stuff instead of your actual friends? Favorites Feed fixes that.
The Problem with Facebook's News Feed
Facebook's algorithm decides what you see. Sometimes it's spot-on. Other times, you're scrolling through ads, suggested posts, and content from pages you barely remember following, while your best friend's wedding announcement gets buried.
The algorithm prioritizes engagement. Posts with lots of likes and comments get shown first. Posts from accounts you don't interact with much get hidden. This means you might miss important updates from people you actually care about.
What Favorites Feed Does
Favorites is a separate feed that shows ONLY posts from people and pages you mark as favorites. No algorithm, no ads (well, fewer ads), no suggested content. Just the accounts you choose, in chronological order.
It's like having a VIP section in your news feed. Your close friends, family, and important pages get priority. Everyone else still shows up in your main feed, but Favorites gives you a clean, focused view when you want it.
How to Set Up Your Favorites
1Open the Menu
Mobile: Tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right (iPhone) or top right (Android)
Desktop: Click the arrow next to "News Feed" at the top left of your feed
2Select "Favorites"
You'll see "Favorites" in the feed options. If this is your first time, you'll need to add people to your Favorites list.
3Add People and Pages
Tap "Edit" or "Manage Favorites." Search for friends, family members, or pages you don't want to miss.
You can add up to 30 accounts. Choose wisely. These are the people whose content will always show up first.
4Switch Between Feeds
Anytime you want to check your Favorites, open the menu and tap "Favorites." Switch back to "Home" to see the regular algorithmic feed.
Pro Tip: Use Favorites as Your Default
Here's a trick most people don't know: you can make Favorites your default feed. This means every time you open Facebook, you see your Favorites first instead of the algorithmic mess.
How to do it: Go to Settings & Privacy → Settings → News Feed Preferences → Choose "Favorites" as your default feed.
Note: This setting isn't available in all regions yet. If you don't see it, you can manually switch to Favorites each time you open the app (Facebook remembers your last choice).
Who Should You Add to Favorites?
- • Close friends and family – People you genuinely want updates from
- • Local news pages – Stay informed about your community
- • Hobby or interest groups – Pages related to things you're passionate about
- • Professional contacts – Colleagues or mentors you follow for career advice
Don't add people just because you feel obligated. This is YOUR feed. Be selective.
4. Off-Facebook Activity: See What Facebook Knows About You
Facebook tracks you even when you're not on Facebook. This tool shows you exactly what they know, and lets you delete it.
What Is Off-Facebook Activity?
Ever notice how you shop on one website, then see ads for that exact product on Facebook? That's Off-Facebook Activity tracking in action.
When you visit websites or use apps, many of them send information back to Facebook about what you're doing. They use tools like the Facebook Pixel (a tiny piece of code) to track:
- • What websites you visit
- • What products you look at or buy
- • Apps you open
- • Articles you read
- • Videos you watch on other platforms
Facebook uses this data to target ads and "improve your experience." But here's the thing: you can see exactly what they're collecting, and you can turn it off or delete it.
How to View Your Off-Facebook Activity
1Open Settings
Mobile: Tap the three lines → Settings & Privacy → Settings
Desktop: Click the arrow in the top right → Settings & Privacy → Settings
2Find Privacy Section
Look for "Your Facebook Information" or "Privacy" in the left menu. Tap or click it.
3Select "Off-Facebook Activity"
It might take a few seconds to load. You'll see a list of apps and websites that have sent Facebook information about you.
4Browse the Activity
Click on any app or website to see specific activities they reported. You'll see dates, times, and the type of interaction (like "viewed content" or "made purchase").
How to Clear or Disconnect This Data
You have three options:
Option 1: Clear History
This removes all past Off-Facebook Activity from your account. The data is disconnected from your profile, but Facebook still receives it from apps and websites.
How: Click "Clear History" at the top of the Off-Facebook Activity page. Confirm when prompted.
Option 2: Manage Future Activity
This tells Facebook to disconnect all future activity from your account. Apps and websites can still send data, but Facebook won't associate it with you.
How: Click "Manage Future Activity" → Turn off "Future Off-Facebook Activity"
Option 3: Disconnect Specific Apps
Don't want to block everything? You can disconnect individual apps or websites while keeping others.
How: Find the app/website in your list → Click the checkmark → Select "Disconnect"
What Happens When You Turn This Off?
Let's be real about the trade-offs:
✓ The Good:
- • More privacy. Facebook knows less about you
- • Fewer creepily accurate targeted ads
- • Your browsing habits aren't tracked across the web
⚠ The Trade-offs:
- • You'll still see ads, just less relevant ones
- • Some login features might not work (like "Login with Facebook")
- • You won't see shopping deals based on your browsing
For most people, the privacy benefit outweighs the loss of "relevant" ads. But it's your call.
Does This Stop All Tracking?
Not quite. Turning off Off-Facebook Activity only affects how Facebook uses the data. The websites and apps themselves might still track you separately. For full privacy, you'd also need to:
- • Use browser privacy extensions (like Privacy Badger or uBlock Origin)
- • Enable "Do Not Track" in your browser settings
- • Use a VPN for additional anonymity
- • Regularly clear cookies
But turning off Off-Facebook Activity is a great first step that takes 30 seconds.
5. Save Feature & Collections: Your Personal Library
Stop screenshotting posts. Facebook has a built-in bookmarking system that actually works.
The Problem It Solves
You're scrolling through Facebook and see something useful. Maybe a recipe, a workout routine, an article you want to read later, or a funny meme to share with your friend. What do you do? Screenshot it? Send it to yourself in Messenger? Hope you remember it later?
Most people don't know Facebook has a "Save" button on every post. It's like bookmarking on a browser, but for social media. And it's way more organized than you'd think.
What You Can Save
- Posts – Any post from friends, pages, or groups
- Videos – Save videos to watch later without searching. If you're creating Facebook Reels, save inspiring content for reference
- Links – Articles, blog posts, news stories
- Events – Save events you might want to attend
- Marketplace items – Keep track of products you're interested in
- Photos – Reference photos, inspiration, memories
How to Save Content
1Find the Save Button
On any post, look for three dots in the top right corner. Click them.
You'll see "Save post" (or "Save video," "Save link," etc.) near the top of the menu.
2Choose a Collection (Optional)
When you save something, Facebook asks if you want to add it to a collection. Collections are like folders.
You can create collections for different topics: Recipes, Articles to Read, Workout Ideas, Funny Stuff, etc.
3Access Your Saved Items
Mobile: Tap the three lines → "Saved"
Desktop: Click "Saved" in the left sidebar of your News Feed
Using Collections to Stay Organized
Collections are the secret weapon here. Without them, your Saved items become a cluttered mess. With collections, you have a personal library organized exactly how you want.
Example Collection Setup:
- 📚 Articles to Read – Long-form content you want to dive into later
- 🍳 Recipes – Cooking ideas and meal inspiration
- 💪 Fitness – Workout routines and health tips
- 🎯 Work Ideas – Professional development and career advice
- 😂 Funny Stuff – Memes and videos to share later
- 🎨 Design Inspiration – Visual ideas for projects
- 🛍️ Want to Buy – Products you're considering
Pro Tips for Power Saving
Who Can See What You Save?
Good news: your saved items are private by default. Nobody can see what you've saved unless you explicitly share a collection with them.
The only exception is if you save something to a collection and then make that collection public. But that's an intentional choice. Facebook doesn't make anything public without asking.
6. "Take a Break" Tool: The Healthy Boundary Feature
Need space from someone without unfriending or blocking them? This tool was made for you.
What "Take a Break" Does
Relationships are complicated. Maybe you just broke up with someone. Or you're in a weird phase with a friend. Or a family member posts stuff that drives you crazy, but you can't unfriend them without causing drama.
"Take a Break" lets you limit what you see from someone and what they see from you, without unfriending or blocking them. It's like creating healthy boundaries on social media.
What Changes When You Take a Break
What You'll See Less Of:
- • Their posts in your News Feed (you can still visit their profile)
- • Past posts you're both tagged in together
- • Their name in suggestions when you post
What They'll See Less Of:
- • Your posts (depending on your settings)
- • Past posts you're both tagged in
- • You won't appear in their top friends suggestions
How to Take a Break from Someone
1Go to Their Profile
Search for the person or click their name on a post
2Open the Friends Menu
Click the "Friends" button (with the checkmark) on their profile
A dropdown menu will appear with several options
3Select "Take a Break"
It's usually near the bottom of the menu. Click it and follow the prompts.
4Choose Your Settings
Facebook will ask what you want to limit:
- • See less of this person's posts
- • Limit where you see their name
- • Edit who can see your past posts
You can choose all of them or just one. Customize it however you need.
Take a Break vs. Unfriend vs. Block
| Take a Break | Unfriend | Block | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Still friends? | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| See their posts? | Less often | If public | Never |
| Can message them? | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| They get notified? | ❌ No | ❌ No | ⚠️ They'll notice |
| Reversible? | ✅ Instantly | ⚠️ Must re-friend | ✅ Yes, but obvious |
When to Use This Feature
- →After a breakup – Give yourself space to heal without the drama of unfriending
- →During conflicts – Cool off period with a friend or family member
- →Annoying acquaintances – Someone who posts too much or shares content that irritates you
- →Professional boundaries – Coworker you're friends with but want to keep some distance
- →Mental health – Someone whose posts trigger anxiety or negative feelings
The beauty of "Take a Break" is that it's temporary and adjustable. You can undo it anytime, or escalate to unfriending if needed. It's social media with training wheels for difficult relationships.
7. Download Your Information: Get Everything Facebook Has
Curious what Facebook really knows about you? Download it all and see for yourself.
What This Feature Gives You
Facebook is legally required (thanks to laws like GDPR) to let you download all your data. Everything you've ever posted, every message you've sent, every photo you've uploaded, every ad you've clicked, every search you've made - it's all there.
You get a complete archive of your Facebook life in a downloadable file. It's like getting your FBI file, except it's about your social media habits.
What's Included in the Download
Your Content:
- • All your posts and status updates
- • Photos and videos you've uploaded
- • Comments you've made
- • Messages (Messenger conversations)
- • Stories archive
- • Events you've created or responded to
Your Activity:
- • Search history
- • Ads you've clicked
- • Apps and websites you've connected
- • Location history
- • Face recognition data
- • Pages and groups you've joined
How to Request Your Data Download
1Open Settings
Mobile: Tap three lines → Settings & Privacy → Settings
Desktop: Click arrow in top right → Settings & Privacy → Settings
2Find "Your Facebook Information"
It's in the left menu (or near the top on mobile). Click or tap it.
3Select "Download Your Information"
You'll see an overview of what you can download. Click "View" or "Request Download"
4Customize What You Want
You can choose:
- • Date range – All time, specific years, or recent activity only
- • Media quality – High (bigger file) or Low (smaller file)
- • Format – HTML (readable in browser) or JSON (for developers)
- • What to include – Select specific categories or download everything
5Request the File
Click "Create File." Facebook will confirm your password for security.
Processing time varies. Small downloads: a few minutes. Complete archives from years of activity: up to 48 hours.
6Download When Ready
Facebook will notify you when your file is ready. Go back to the same settings page and click "Download."
You'll get a ZIP file. Extract it and open the index.html file in your browser to explore.
Why You Might Want This
- Backup your memories – Before you leave Facebook or just as a safety net
- See what Facebook tracks – Eye-opening look at your digital footprint
- Recover old messages – Find conversations you thought were lost
- Legal or personal records – Document evidence for disputes or personal archives
- Move to another platform – Export your content if you're leaving Facebook
What You'll Probably Discover
Most people are shocked by what's in their download. You'll find:
- • Messages you forgot you sent (sometimes embarrassing ones)
- • Ads you clicked on (reveals your impulse buying habits)
- • Detailed location history if you had location services on
- • Every single thing you've ever searched for on Facebook
- • Face recognition data (which photos Facebook thinks contain your face)
- • Apps you connected years ago and forgot about
It's a reality check. You'll either think "okay, this is fine" or "holy crap, I need to change my privacy settings immediately."
Important Security Notes
Think of this file like your diary. You don't want it falling into the wrong hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Take Control of Your Facebook Experience
Facebook doesn't have to be overwhelming, invasive, or annoying. These seven features give you the control most people don't even know they have.
You don't need to use all of them. Pick the ones that solve problems you actually have. Need more privacy? Start with Profile Lock and Off-Facebook Activity. Tired of the algorithmic feed? Set up your Favorites. Want to clean up your digital history? Dive into Activity Log.
The best part? None of these features require technical skills or hours of setup. Most take under five minutes to configure. And they're all reversible if you change your mind.
Here's what to do next:
- ✓ This weekend: Spend 15 minutes turning on Off-Facebook Activity protections and locking your profile if privacy matters to you
- ✓ This month: Go through your Activity Log and clean up old posts—especially before job hunting
- ✓ Whenever needed: Use Take a Break for difficult relationships instead of dramatic unfriending
Facebook can be useful when you control it instead of letting it control you. These features are how you take that control back. Want to save even more time? Learn how to schedule your Facebook posts in advance.
Your Facebook, your rules.