Non-friends cannot see most of your Facebook activity by default, but what they see depends on your privacy settings and what you've made public
Facebook's default privacy settings hide your posts, photos, and friend list from people who aren't your friends. However, this is not automatic for everything. Your profile picture, cover photo, and basic information (like your name and that you have a Facebook account) are visible to everyone unless you change those specific settings. Some posts you share as "public" will show up in search results and on your timeline for anyone to see, even non-friends. The key is that you control what goes public—Facebook doesn't decide for you.
When someone who isn't your friend visits your profile, they see a limited view. They can see your profile picture, your name, your cover photo, and any posts you've marked as "public." They cannot see posts marked "friends only," your full friend list, your messages, or your activity log. If you've set your profile to "private," non-friends see even less—essentially just your name and profile picture.
Key Takeaways
- Non-friends see your profile picture, cover photo, and name by default, plus any posts you've marked as "public."
- Posts marked "friends only" or "private" are hidden from non-friends, even if they search for you.
- Your friend list, messages, and activity history remain invisible to non-friends unless you've changed those settings.
- Changing your profile privacy to "private" restricts what non-friends can see to just your basic profile information.
- People can still find you through search, mutual friends, or group membership even if your profile is private.
What non-friends can see on your profile
Non-friends see what you've chosen to make visible. This includes your profile picture (unless you've restricted it), your cover photo, your name, and your bio or "about" section if you've left it public. Any post you've shared with the setting "public" will appear on your timeline and in search results. If you've posted in a group or on a public page, non-friends can see that too.
They can also see information you've marked as public in your "About" section—things like your workplace, school, hometown, or relationship status. If you've tagged yourself in photos or posts that are set to public, non-friends can see those tags. They can see if you've reacted to or commented on public posts or pages, and they can see your profile if they search for you by name.
What non-friends cannot see
Non-friends cannot see posts you've marked "friends only," "private," or shared with a specific list of people. They cannot see your full friend list, your messages, or your chat history. They cannot see your activity log, which shows when you've liked, commented on, or reacted to things. They cannot see your saved items, your watch history on videos, or your photo albums marked as private.
Non-friends also cannot see your email address or phone number unless you've made those public in your settings (which is rare and not recommended). They cannot see your birthday unless you've set it to public. They cannot see posts from friends that mention you, unless those posts are also set to public.
How to check and change your privacy settings
To see what non-friends can see, log into Facebook and go to your profile. Click the three dots next to your name and select "View as." Then choose "View as public" to see your profile the way a non-friend would see it. This shows you exactly what is visible to people not on your friends list.
To change what non-friends can see, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Click "Privacy" in the left menu. You'll see options for "Who can see your posts?" and "Who can contact you?" Set posts to "Friends" if you want only friends to see them. You can also control who sees your friend list, your email, your phone number, and whether people can search for you by email or phone.
For individual posts, you can change the privacy setting each time you post. Click the audience selector (it usually shows "Friends," "Public," or a custom list) before you share. You can also go back and edit the privacy of old posts by clicking the three dots on the post and selecting "Edit privacy."
Why someone might be checking your profile without being your friend
Non-friends check profiles for many reasons. They might be considering whether to send you a friend request. They might have found you through a mutual friend, a group, or a search. They might be a recruiter, a journalist, or someone researching you for professional reasons. They might be someone you know in person but haven't connected with on Facebook yet.
In some cases, someone might be checking your profile because they're trying to gather information about you for less honest reasons—to stalk, harass, or scam you. Facebook doesn't notify you when someone views your profile (unless they're using certain features like Stories), so you won't know who's looking unless they interact with your posts or send you a message.
How to limit what non-friends can find about you
Set your profile to "private" if you want the strictest control. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Privacy. Change "Who can see your posts?" to "Friends" and "Who can contact you?" to "Friends." This means non-friends see only your name, profile picture, and cover photo when they visit your profile.
You can also turn off search visibility. In Privacy settings, find "Do you want search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile?" and turn it off. This prevents Google and other search engines from indexing your Facebook profile, though people can still find you through Facebook's internal search if they know your name.
Review your friend list privacy. Go to your profile, click "Friends," then click the three dots and select "Edit the privacy of your friend list." Set it to "Friends only" so non-friends cannot see who you're connected with. This prevents people from using your friend list to find information about you or your network.
What happens if someone screenshots or shares your public posts
If you've posted something as "public," anyone can screenshot it, share it, or save it. Facebook doesn't prevent this, and you won't be notified if someone does. Once something is public on the internet, you should assume it can be copied and shared beyond Facebook. This is true even if you delete the original post later—someone may have already saved a copy.
If someone shares your public post without permission and it violates your rights (for example, if it's a photo of you that you didn't consent to being shared), you can report it to Facebook. Go to the post, click the three dots, and select "Report post." You can also message the person and ask them to remove it. However, Facebook's ability to force removal depends on the specific situation and their policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone see my checking account information through Facebook?
No. Facebook has no access to your bank account, and you should never share banking information on Facebook. If someone is asking for your checking account details through Facebook, it is a scam. Your bank account is completely separate from your Facebook profile.
Will Facebook tell me if a non-friend is checking my profile?
Facebook does not notify you when someone views your profile. Third-party apps claim to show you who viewed your profile, but Facebook does not support these and they are often unreliable or scams. The only way to know someone visited is if they interact with your posts, send you a message, or add you as a friend.
Can I make my profile completely invisible to non-friends?
You can make your profile very restricted, but not completely invisible. Non-friends will still see your name and profile picture in search results and in mutual friend lists. If you want to be harder to find, turn off search engine indexing and set your profile to private, but you cannot prevent people from finding you entirely if they know your name.
What should I do if someone is harassing me through Facebook?
Block the person by going to their profile, clicking the three dots, and selecting "Block." You can also report them to Facebook if they're sending threatening messages or posting harmful content about you. If the harassment is severe or involves threats, contact local law enforcement and save screenshots of the messages as evidence.
Can employers or recruiters see my private posts?
No, not unless they're your friends. If you've set posts to "friends only," employers and recruiters who aren't your friends cannot see them. However, anything you post as "public" is visible to everyone, including potential employers. Many people set their profile to private or carefully control what they post publicly for this reason.