How to Lock Facebook Profile and What Does It Do
Mehvish Mushtaq is a computer engineer by degree. Her love for Android and gadgets led her to develop the first Android app for Kashmir. Known as Dial Kashmir, she won the prestigious Nari Shakti award from the President of India. She has been writing about technology for 6+ years and her favorite categories include how-to guides, explainers, tips and tricks for Android, iOS/iPadOS, social media, and web apps.
Arshmeet has been a tech tinkerer since childhood, but she realized her love for technology and writing about 5 years ago. Since then, she has been honing her skills and helping people figure out how things work, troubleshoot problems, choose the right app and products, and dig deep into the new and old concepts of technology. She is a self-professed Apple Enthusiast who loves debating what’s good and what’s not. It is her passion for finding techniques, hacks, apps, and products that make everyday life simpler.
How to Lock Your Facebook Profile
Note: The ability to lock your Facebook profile is limited to a few countries such as the UK, Bangladesh, India, etc. So, you may have to check whether it is available in your region.
There are two methods to lock your Facebook Profile, and you can use both from iPhone or Android mobile apps and browsers.
Method 1: Lock Facebook From Your Profile
Step 1:OpenFacebook> tap yourprofile pictureat the top bar.
Step 2:Here, tap thethree-dot icon.
Step 3:TapLock Profilefrom the options.
Step 4: You will get the lock profile screen. TapLock Your Profileto proceed.
That’s it. Facebook will lock your profile instantly. You will see theYour profile is Lockedmessage.
Note:If you don’t see the Lock profile under the three-dot icon, follow the next method.
Method 2: Lock Facebook Profile From Settings
Step 1:LaunchFacebook> tap thethree-bar iconat the top (Android) or bottom (iPhone), your profile photo (web).
Step 2: Scroll down and selectSettings & privacy.
Step 3:Here, selectSettings. Scroll down and tapProfile Lockingunder Audience and visibility.
Step 4: On the next page, tapLock your profile.
What Does It Mean When a Facebook Profile Is Locked
Locking a Facebook profile, in simple words, limits what users who aren’t your friendssee on your profile.Typically, your public posts, certain information in About (depending on privacy settings), cover photos and profile pictures are viewable by anyone, even if they’re not on your Friends list.
However, the profile lock changes everything. Let’s see how.
What Happens to Posts on Timeline
Note:Locking a profile will enable Timeline and tag review for your profile.
Tip:Check outhow to use Stories on Facebook
What Happens to Posts and Comments on Public Spaces
When you share something or comment on pages, groups, marketplace, etc., they’ll be visible to a wide audience (depending upon the privacy setting of the space).
Moreover, posts with no privacy settings, such as Fundraisers, Blood Donations, etc., will become invisible to people not on your friends list.
What Happens to Profile and Cover Photos
With profile lock, people outside your friend list will see a miniature version of your current profile and cover picture. Interestingly, they can’t click or zoom into them.
As for old pictures such as profile, cover, and featured, their privacy is set to Friends. If a user not in your friend list tries to click on the cover or profile picture, they will be notified that the person has locked their profile.
Note:Your friends can click and zoom your profile picture.
What Happens to About Information
Locking your profile will impact the information in your About section, such as hometown, relationship status, current city, etc. Facebook will show only a maximum of five public information details to outsiders.
If otherdetails also have a Public privacy setting, they will be visible to your friends only. Facebook doesn’t clarify which five details will be public.
What Happens to Friend Requests and Messages
The Facebook profile lock doesn’t impact your friend request settings. People can still send you a friend request depending on your earlier settings. Find outhow to change who can send a friend request on Facebook.
Similarly, everyone can still message you. After locking your profile, the Message button is visible on your profile.
What Others See and Do
Irrespective of whether your profile is locked, other Facebook users can,
Why Can’t You Lock Your Facebook Profile
There are some terms and conditions, and if you don’t comply, you can’t lock your Facebook Profile.
How to Unlock Facebook Profile and What Happens by Unlocking
To unlock your Facebook profile, open your Facebook profile screen. Tap theYour Profile is Lockedmessage. On the next screen, tapUnlock.
If you don’t see the message, tap thethree-dot iconnext to your name on the profile screen and chooseUnlock Profile. TapUnlockon the next screen.
Pro Tip:You can unlock fromSettings>Profile Locking>Unlock.
Now, when you unlock your profile, Facebook will restore your previous privacy settings (before locking your profile). For instance, if any Facebook posts are public, they will become public again.
Your current full-size cover and profile picture will become visible to everyone. You can also publish public posts. However, unlocking your profile will unaffected any changes to its privacy setting when it was locked.
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Last updated on 07 August, 2024
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