In the digital age, careful management of personal information on social networks is more than ever essential. Facebook, being one of the most popular platforms, requires particular attention to privacy and security settings, especially regarding email address and access data. Many users find themselves having to update their email address, hide it from others searches or disable the annoying auto login feature that stores credentials. If you are also in these cases, this complete guide will provide you with all the necessary instructions to take full control of your privacy on Facebook, regardless of the device you use.
Manage Email Address Associated with Facebook Profile
Changing or removing the main email address from your Facebook profile is a common operation, whether you have created a new email box, or simply want to update your information. The procedure is simple and can be performed both by smartphones and tablets and computers.
Edit by Smartphone and Tablet
To intervene from mobile device, follow these steps:
- Launch the Facebook application on your Android or iOS/iPadOS device and log in if required.
- On the main screen, tap the icon of the Menu (usually three horizontal lines or your profile picture).
- Access the section Settings and privacy, then select Settings and subsequently See more in the Account Management Center.
- Now, tap Personal details, then Contact information.
- Here you will see the currently associated email address. Tap it, then select Delete email address on the next screen and confirm your intention with the key Delete.
- Your account password may be required to confirm the operation. Insert it and tap Shut up.
Important: If the email address you are trying to remove is the only way to access your account, the procedure may not go well for security reasons.
For add a new email address, go back to the screen Contact information and awards Add new contact or Add email address. Enter the new address, select the Facebook account to which you associate it (if you manage more than one) and continue. You will be sent a confirmation code to the newly added email address; enter it on Facebook to complete the verification.
Edit by Computer
If you prefer to operate from your computer, here's how to do:
- Connect to the settings page of your Facebook account.
- Click on the email address in place.
- On the following screen, select Delete email address and confirm the action by clicking again Delete.
- Enter your account password and click on Shut up.
Also in this case, remember that if the email address you are trying to remove is the only access method, you may find it difficult to complete the operation.
For add a new email address from computer, return to the same page of settings and click on Add new contact or Add email address. Enter the new address, select the desired account and enter the confirmation code that will be delivered to you by email.
Limit the Visibility of Your Email Address on Profile
In addition to editing it, you can decide who can see your email address on your Facebook profile. This setting is separated from tracking in research (which we will address later). To change it:
- From smartphones and tablets: In the screen Contact information, tap the email address, then your Facebook account (if necessary), and select Change visibility on Facebook. Choose the desired option (e.g. Just me, Friends, All).
- From computer: Reach the contact settings page. Click on your email address, then on the link that indicates who can see it (e.g. a padlock or a globe) and select Change visibility on Facebook. Choose your favorite audience and click on End.
Prevent email from being used for Facebook Searches
Privacy is a priority for many, and a way to protect it is to prevent other users from finding you on Facebook by simply typing your email address in the search bar. Fortunately, you can change this setting with few simple steps.
From Smartphone and Tablet
To prevent traceability via email from your mobile device:
- Open the Facebook app on your phone or tablet.
- Tap the icon of the Menu expand the section Settings and privacy, so touch Settings.
- Select Privacy control and then How people can find you on Facebook.
- Continue with the suggested steps to the screen Phone number and e-mail address.
- Here, tap the privacy policy next to the item E-mail address and choose the option Just me or what you feel most appropriate (e.g. Friends).
- Confirm changes by touching End, then Come on twice and finally the X top left to go out.
From Computer
To configure this setting from your computer:
- Login to the Facebook home page or start the desktop application.
- Click on your profile picture at the top right and select Settings and privacy from the drop-down menu, then choose Privacy control.
- On the page you open, select How people can find you on Facebook and click on Continue.
- Continue to the screen Phone number and e-mail address.
- Click on the privacy policy corresponding to E-mail address and choose the option Just me or another preference.
- Save changes by clicking on End, then up Come on twice and finally on X in the upper right corner of the pane.
Disable Automatic Access to Login Data
If you find it annoying that Facebook stores your access data and automatically shows them whenever you visit the login page, there are several solutions to deactivate this feature, both on mobile devices and on computers. This is often linked to browser cookies and auto compilation settings.
From Smartphone and Tablet
The procedure varies slightly depending on the operating system of your device.
- Android: If you want the Facebook app to “forget” your credentials, you can erase your data from your device’s memory. Go to the Settings of your Android (the gear icon), select App or Applications, look for and touch Facebook. Then, choose Memory and press the button Delete data. When restarting, the app should request a new login.
- iOS/iPadOS: On these operating systems, you cannot delete the app data in the same way as Android. The only option to prevent automatic access is disconnect manually from your session within the Facebook app. Tap the button Menu at the bottom right and select Get out from the end of the screen.
From Computer (Manage Browser)
To prevent browsers from memorizing your access data to Facebook, you must intervene on the management of cookies (small files that store session information) and on the automatic compilation of modules. Please note that if you have activated synchronization of navigation data between your devices, deletion on a PC may also be reflected on other devices connected to the same browser account.
Google Chrome
- Start Chrome. Click on the three dot icon (.) on the top right.
- Select Other instruments and then Delete navigation data.
- In the tab Advanced, make sure the voices are out Password and other access data and Form filling data. Click on Delete data.
- To prevent future storage of cookies for Facebook (and other sites), click again on the three steps (),), select Settings. Search “cookies” in the search bar and select Site settings.
- Login to Third-party cookies and choose the option Block third-party cookies. This way, Chrome will no longer automatically store access credentials.
Mozilla Firefox
- Start Firefox. Click on the menu icon (.) on the top right.
- Select Settings, then Privacy and security from the left sidebar.
- Click on Saved credentials and, if present, locate and remove Facebook password by selecting it and clicking on Remove.
- Next, press the button Manage exceptions in the section Cookies and Web Site Data. Type
facebook.com, click on Block and then Save changes to prevent Firefox from saving cookies for Facebook. - For security, disconnect from Facebook manually by clicking on your profile photo and selecting Get out.
Microsoft Edge
- Start Edge. Click on the three dot icon (...) on the top right.
- Select Settings and then Profiles from the side menu.
- Click on Password and, if the Facebook password is stored, select it and click on Delete.
- In the side menu, select Privacy, research and services. Click on Choose what to delete.
- Tip the Voices Cookies and other website data and Automatic module data filling (includes modules and cards), then click on Clear now.
- To block cookies storage for Facebook, select Cookies and website permissions in the side menu, click on Add next to Block, type
facebook.com, come on Include third-party cookies on the site and click Add.
Apple Safari
- Launch Safari on your Mac. In the menu Safari top left, select Settings.
- Go to the tab Password. Enter your Mac administration password or use Touch ID/Apple Watch. Check the list and, if the Facebook password is present, right click on it and select it Delete.
- Switch to the tab Privacy. Click on Manage Website Data. Search “Facebook” in the search field, select it and click on Remove to delete the stored data.
- Safari does not offer an option for selective automatic deletion of cookies for each session. You can block all cookies in the tab Advanced popping Block all cookies, but this could affect navigation on many sites. The most practical alternative is to disconnect manually from Facebook at the end of each session by clicking on your profile picture at the top right and selecting Get out.
Disable Access Through Profile Photos
Some users may notice that, despite deactivating password storage and cookies, their profile photo appears in the Facebook login screen, allowing quick access with a simple click. This function of “saved access” can be disabled, but only by acting on a computer.
- Access Facebook from your computer or open the desktop application.
- Click on your profile picture at the top right, select Settings and privacyand then Settings.
- On the next page, click on See more in the Account Management Center.
- Select Password and security from the menu to the left, then Saved access right, and finally click on Remove account.
Currently, this specific setting is not available from smartphones and tablets, although the social network guidelines may indicate the opposite. It is possible that the situation changes with future updates.
Added considerations on Privacy and Security
In addition to the detailed procedures above, it is useful to consider other options for managing your Facebook account security:
- Remote disconnection: If you suspect your account has been left open on a non-yourself or lost device, Facebook offers you the option of disconnecting from all active sessions remotely. This feature is usually found in your account security settings.
- Full account deletion: If your final goal is the definitive deletion of your profile from Facebook, the procedure is distinct from those described in this guide and implies specific steps for deactivation or permanent removal.
Taking control of email settings and Facebook access is a key step to safeguarding your online privacy and security. Following these directions, you can navigate the social network with greater tranquility and awareness.
