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Does Facebook notify when you screenshot?
Published onMarch 4, 2025
Social media platforms have increasingly adopted privacy measures, such as alert notifications for screenshots. Does Facebook notify screenshots being taken by recipients? In this article, we’ll show you how to set up a Messenger conversation so that you get notified when the recipient screenshots your messages or images.
Keep in mind that while these features aim to protect privacy, there are methods to circumvent such notifications, which we’ll demonstrate.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Most of the time, Facebook will not notify you if someone takes a screenshot of anything, whether it's on the actual Facebook page or within Facebook Messenger. The only exception is if you're using Facebook Messenger's disappearing messages.
To do this, go to the specific chat's i menu button, then tap on Disappearing messages, and select 24 hours. If you enable this, you'll get notifications if anyone takes a screenshot of your messages.
However, be aware that Facebook does not notify you if someone takes a screenshot of your posts.
JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS
Does Facebook notify when you screenshot?
If you’re concerned about privacy on Facebook, the platform does not notify users when someone takes a screenshot of content on their profile, including posts or images. Therefore, it’s wise to avoid sharing anything you might regret later. However, you have the option to remove or hide posts from your profile at any time without deleting your account.
Regarding Facebook Messenger, an update to end-to-end encrypted chats now provides notifications when it detects someone taking a screenshot of a disappearing message within a secret conversation. Let’s show you how this works
Yes, you can always take a screenshot on both Facebook and Facebook Messenger. The app will never stop you. That said, disappearing messages are turned on, the app will let both users know if someone takes a screenshot.
How to receive notifications for screenshots in Messenger chats
Before, this required manually entering what Facebook called a “secret conversation.” These are no longer available, as all chats are now end-to-end encrypted. Now, you will have to activate Disappearing messages to get notifications if someone is taking screenshots of your conversation. Here is how to do so:
- Launch Facebook Messenger.
- Open your conversation of choice.
- Tap on the i icon in the top-right corner.
- Hit Disappearing messages.
- Select 24 hours.
- Go back to the secret conversation. New messages will be disappearing messages.
- Both users will be notified whenever one of the participants takes a screenshot.
FAQs
Not on Facebook, but you will be notified if someone takes a screenshot of a disappearing message on Facebook Messenger.
Unfortunately, you cannot control whether someone else can take a screenshot of your Facebook profile or posts with their device. You can, however, adjust your privacy settings for who can view your profile.
We are not lawyers, and laws change depending on where you live. That said, it is usually not illegal to take a screenshot of a picture on Facebook. However, what can most likely be unlawful is distributing that image elsewhere. That said, you should still do some research on your local laws just to stay on the safe side.
No, Facebook does not notify you if someone screenshots your story. Therefore, it’s best to post things to your story that you feel comfortable sharing publicly.
There should be no reason why you can’t take a screenshot on Facebook or Facebook Messenger. There might be an issue with Facebook or the app. If Facebook isn’t working correctly, see our guide on common problems and how to fix them.