How To Lock Facebook Profile: A Step-by-Step Guide

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5 min. read

Published on November 8, 2025

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Protecting your privacy on social media is increasingly important. Facebook offers a feature to lock your profile, limiting who can see your posts, photos, and stories. This guide provides a clear, step-by-step approach on how to lock your Facebook profile, enhancing your online security and controlling your digital footprint.

Locking your profile is a simple yet effective way to manage your privacy on Facebook. By restricting access to your content, you can ensure that only friends can view your posts, profile information, and other details. This guide will walk you through the process, making it easy to secure your Facebook profile.

How Do I Lock My Facebook Profile?

Locking your Facebook profile is a straightforward process, but the exact steps can vary slightly depending on whether you’re using the mobile app or the desktop website. Here’s a detailed guide to help you through the process:

Locking Your Profile on the Facebook Mobile App

Open the Facebook App: Launch the Facebook app on your smartphone.
Go to Your Profile: Tap on your profile picture or the three horizontal lines (menu icon) and navigate to your profile.
Find the “Add to Story” Button: Look for the “Add to Story” button on your profile page.
Tap the Three Dots: Next to the “Add to Story” button, you’ll see three horizontal dots. Tap on them to open a menu.
Select “Lock Profile”: In the menu, find and select the “Lock Profile” option.
Confirm Locking: A screen will appear explaining what happens when you lock your profile. Tap “Lock Your Profile” to confirm.
Profile Locked: You’ll see a confirmation message that your profile is now locked.

Locking Your Profile on the Facebook Desktop Website

Go to Facebook Website: Open your web browser and go to the Facebook website.
Log in to Your Account: Enter your login details to access your account.
Go to Your Profile: Click on your name in the top-left corner to go to your profile page.
Click the Three Dots: On your profile page, click the three dots icon located next to the “Edit Profile” button.
Select “Lock Profile”: From the dropdown menu, select the “Lock Profile” option.
Confirm Locking: A screen will appear explaining what happens when you lock your profile. Click “Lock Your Profile” to confirm.
Profile Locked: You’ll see a confirmation message that your profile is now locked.

What Happens When You Lock Your Profile?

Only Friends Can See Your Posts: Only people on your friends list can see the posts, photos, and stories you share on your profile.
Limited Profile Information: People who aren’t your friends will only see a limited view of your profile, including your profile picture and cover photo.
Full-Size Profile Picture and Cover Photo Restrictions: Non-friends won’t be able to view your profile picture or cover photo in full size.
Review Your Tagged Posts and Activity Log: Take some time to review your tagged posts and activity log to ensure that everything is set to your desired privacy level.

Tips

Review Your Friends List Regularly: Make sure that you only have people you trust on your friends list, as they will have full access to your profile content.
Adjust Privacy Settings: In addition to locking your profile, explore Facebook’s other privacy settings to further customize your privacy preferences.
Be Mindful of What You Share: Even with a locked profile, be cautious about the information you share, as your friends can still share your content with others.
Understand the Limitations: Locking your profile is not a foolproof solution. Information you share in public groups or on other people’s profiles may still be visible to a wider audience.

Comparing Privacy Settings

Feature	Public Profile	Locked Profile
Who can see your posts	Anyone, including non-friends	Only your friends
Profile picture access	Anyone can view in full size	Only friends can view in full size
Stories visibility	Visible to the public unless specified otherwise	Only visible to friends
Tagged posts visibility	Visible to anyone, depending on tag settings	Only visible to friends
Past posts visibility	Visible to anyone	Limited to friends after locking the profile

Take Control of Your Facebook Experience

Locking your Facebook profile is a simple step toward enhancing your online privacy and controlling who sees your content. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily secure your profile and enjoy a more private Facebook experience.

FAQ

What happens when I lock my Facebook profile?

When you lock your profile, only your friends can see your posts, photos, and stories. Non-friends will only see a limited view of your profile.

Can people still tag me in posts if my profile is locked?

Yes, people can still tag you in posts, but only your friends will be able to see the tagged post on your profile.

How do I unlock my Facebook profile?

To unlock your profile, go to your profile page, click the three dots, and select “Unlock Profile.” Confirm the action to unlock your profile.

Will locking my profile affect my ability to see other people’s profiles?

No, locking your profile only affects who can see your content. It does not affect your ability to view other people’s profiles.

Is locking my profile the same as blocking someone?

No, locking your profile restricts who can see your content, while blocking someone prevents them from seeing your profile and contacting you.