Want to keep your Facebook profile private? Knowing how to lock Facebook profile will stop strangers from seeing your posts and photos or zooming into your profile picture. Follow the steps on how to lock FB profile mentioned in this post and protect your privacy!
Also Read: Best Telegram Channels That You Cannot Miss!
How To Lock Facebook Profile? Complete Process
Let us now look at the complete process to lock personal account on Facebook for both Android and iOS.
Lock Facebook Profile For Android Phones:
If you are using an Android phone, You can lock your Facebook profile by following these steps.
Step 1: Open Facebook Account.
Step 2: Tap on your profile picture. It appears on the left side corner.
Step 3: Tap on the three dots Menu.
There, you will see a Lock profile option. Click on it.
Step 4: Select “Lock your profile“.
Once you’ve done this, a pop-up message will appear on the screen saying, “You locked your profile. Only your friends can see the photos and posts on your timeline.“
Step 5: Tap OK to complete the process.
Lock Facebook Profile For Apple Phones:
- Open Facebook and tap the three-line menu (bottom-right).
- Tap your name to view your profile.
- Hit the three-dot menu, then select “Lock Profile.”
- Confirm by tapping “Lock Your Profile.”
Also Read: How To Move Facebook Photos To Google Photos!
Unlocking Your Facebook Profile
To unlock your profile:
- Tap the three-dot menu.
- Choose “Unlock Profile.”
- Confirm by selecting “Unlock” and then “Unlock Your Profile.”
How To Lock Facebook Profile Via Desktop?
If your preference for using Facebook is through Desktop, keep reading. We will go with the steps to lock the Facebook profile on the desktop as well. Here’s the easy step-by-step process to do so:
- Open your browser and log in to Facebook.
- Click your profile picture at the top right to go to your profile.
- Click the three dots under the Edit Profile button.
- Select Lock Profile.
- In the popup, click Lock Your Profile. Done!
Also Read: How To Use Facebook’s Messenger Rooms Video Chat Feature!
With that, you have successfully and easily locked your Facebook profile on your desktop.
No FB Profile Lock Option? Try This!
For whatever reason, if you are unable to find the lock feature on your Facebook Profile and still want to enable it, here’s a quick trick!
- On a browser, change ‘www.facebook.com’ to ‘m.facebook.com’ in the URL.
- Go to your profile, tap the three-dot menu, and select ‘Lock Profile.’
- Hit ‘Lock Your Profile’ to finish.”
“Or, adjust your privacy settings manually:
- Go to Settings > Privacy.
- Set ‘Who can see your future posts?’ to ‘Friends.’
- Click ‘Limit Past Posts’ to hide old public updates
So, here you have learned how to lock Facebook profile on any device with a browser.
What Happens When You Lock Your Profile?
After you lock FB profile, you can see a blue ring with the lock icon around the edge of your profile picture. It is visibile to others as well, showing them that your FB profile is locked.
Now, only friends can see your posts, photos, and stories. Strangers can’t zoom into your profile picture, download it, or view your timeline. Though they can still send friend requests.
- Most of your uploaded posts will not be visible to others(not in your friend list) unless you have made them Public.
- People not in your friend list can’t see the most current or oldest updates on your timeline.
- They won’t be able to see any of your profile pictures or albums.
Also Read: How To Create A New Facebook Account: Step By Step Guide It!
Why Should You Know How To Lock Facebook Account?
According to Statista, Facebook has 2.83 billion monthly active users globally. The amount of data that travels the platform every day is enormous. They come in the form of pictures, videos, and posts that include personal life is tremendous. So, imagine how many people would be vulnerable to cyber threats if there were some privacy loopholes in Facebook.
Anybody on the internet can misuse your information or even unintentionally cause trouble in the name of fun or pranks. In such a scenario, it would be smart to know how to lock FB profile when possible.
If you know how to lock profile in Facebook, you will have the following benefits:
- Only your friends can see your FB profile, which prevents random people from seeing your sensitive information.
- It will significantly enhance the security and safety of your Facebook Account.
- Locking your Facebook Account will also limit random people from texting or harassing you online.
Once you learn how to lock Facebook profile, you will enjoy these benefits and heave a sigh of relief as you get an assurance that your data is safe.
Also Read: How To Recover Hacked Facebook Account?
More Ways To Achieve FB Profile Privacy!
Now that you know how to lock Facebook profile, you can definitely keep your account safe. In addition to that, here are certain things that you can do to enhance your privacy on Facebook:
| Privacy Measure | Steps |
|---|---|
| Two-Factor Authentication | Go to Settings > Privacy and enable Two-Factor Authentication. |
| Limit Public Posts | Adjust post visibility in Privacy Settings (Public, Friends, Only Me). |
| Limit About Me Visibility | Set visibility for each About section item to Friends or Only Me. |
| Be Cautious With Friend Requests | Only accept friend requests from people you trust. |
| Avoid Search Engines | Disable search engine linking in Privacy Settings. |
| Review App Permissions | Go to Settings > Apps and remove unnecessary app permissions. |
Also Read: How To Permanently Delete Facebook Account: Step By Step Guide!
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication is a great way to protect your account. It works even if someone has your login credentials. You can find this option in your account’s Settings> Privacy section.
Limit About Me Visibility
Edit the About section of your profile to restrict sensitive information. Set visibility for each category (e.g., work, education) to either Friends, Only Me, or a custom audience
Be Cautious With Friend Requests
Accepting random friend requests is no longer a good idea. Unknown people could access your personal information. Always review friend requests carefully and remove anyone you don’t recognise or trust. This will maximise your account privacy.
Avoid Search Engines From Finding Your FB Account
Also, stop Search Engine from finding your profile in the privacy settings. Find the ‘disable’ option to allow search engines outside of Facebook to link to your Facebook account.
Review App Permissions
The above option will limit the number of users who can access your profile or the things you post. If you want privacy for your Facebook data as well, you can try limiting the access of the apps that take permission to read your data. Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Apps and Websites. Remove permissions of the unnecessary apps or apps not in use anymore.
Can a VPN Help View Locked Facebook Profiles? Understanding VPN Limits
Using a VPN won’t let you see a locked Facebook profile. Here’s why:
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a tool that helps keep your online activities private by hiding your IP address and encrypting your internet connection. It’s mainly used for security and privacy reasons, like protecting your data when using public Wi-Fi or hiding your location while browsing.
However, when it comes to Facebook, a locked profile means the user has specifically set their account to limit who can see their information and posts. This is a privacy feature designed by Facebook to keep the profile visible only to approved people (usually friends).
Now, even though a VPN can change your virtual location and hide your online activity, it doesn’t affect how Facebook controls its privacy settings. So, if someone has locked their Facebook profile, using a VPN won’t help you see it. The lock is controlled by Facebook, not your internet connection or location, and the VPN can’t bypass that.
In short, A VPN protects your privacy but can’t let you see locked Facebook profiles.
Final Thoughts
The steps are simple if you were wondering how to lock Facebook profile on Android, iOS, or desktop. Facebook is one of the most used apps on our devices. It is only wise to protect your Facebook accounts for good.
After locking, you’ll have to re-enter your password on all devices. Once you have locked your Facebook profile, Facebook will add an indication to your profile.
However, bear in mind that once you activate this function, you will no longer be able to upload posts to the general public. Instead, friends can only see the posts and share them. Stay Safe!
FAQs
Q. How do I lock my account in Facebook?
To lock your Facebook account, go to your profile page and click on the “Lock Profile” option in the three-dot menu.
Q. How can I unlock my Facebook account?
It can be that your Facebook account is locked or banned for some reason. In that case, you can try getting it back by visiting the Facebook.com login page. There, you will find an on-screen instruction to recover your account. But remember to use a mobile phone or desktop you had used previously to log in to your account.
Q. How can I protect my FB profile?
Regular Privacy Checkups, Profile review, changing passwords occasionally, and turning on Profile picture guard and story privacy can help you protect your FB profile from unwanted attention.
Q. Why is the profile lock option not available in my Facebook account?
It is possible that FB profile lock feature is not active in your region or country. It is also possible that your Facebook app is not up to date.
Q. Is locking profile in Facebook safe?
Yes, locking your FB profile will indeed increase your safety in online social media interactions. It will save you from potential stalkers.
Q. Why my FB account is locked?
Facebook can temporarily lock accounts if it detects unusual or suspicious activity to ensure the account owner’s security. To regain access, you must complete a security check to verify ownership.
Q. Can I hide my profile on Facebook?
To hide your profile for a short time without deleting it, you can deactivate your account. Go to Settings & Privacy and select Accounts Center. Go Personal Details > Account Ownership and Control > Deactivation or Deletion. Then, select your account and tap Deactivate Account.
Q. Can a Facebook account be permanently locked?
Yes, Facebook can permanently lock your FB profile if it repeatedly violates Facebook’s Community Standards like spam, hate speech, obscenity, bully etc.
Q. In which countries can I lock my Facebook profile?
Countries like Afghanistan, Australia, Egypt, India, Iraq, Morocco, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkey, UAE, and Ukraine can lock their profiles.
Q. Why is my Facebook account blocked?
Facebook blocks accounts when there are privacy concerns. You may have made login attempts a few times. This may have given Facebook an assumption of unidentified access, leading to the lock on your account.
Q. What If You Don’t Have The Lock Feature?
If the Facebook Profile lock is not available on your account, change privacy settings. If you can’t figure out how to lock Facebook account, then choose the manual modification.
Q. What happens to posts, photos, albums, and more once the Facebook profile is locked?
When your Facebook profile is locked, only your friends can see your posts, photos, albums, and stories. Public posts will no longer be visible to everyone while your profile is locked.
If you have any other doubts regarding how to lock Facebook profiler-related, you can post your query in the comments below. We would love to solve your queries!
Buying refurbished mobile phones was never this easy. Sell your old phone and get exclusive offers & discounts on refurbished mobiles. Every refurbished phone is put through 32-point quality checks to ensure like-new standards and comes with a six-month warranty and 15-day refund. Buy refurbished phone easily on no-cost EMI today!
