How To Hide Your Friends On Facebook (No Matter What Version)

Yes, I realize that this “How To” will become obsolete when all of us have the *new* Facebook timeline and the *old* is just a memory of what once was, but, for now, there are two very different, yet very similar methods to hide that friend list.

Some of you may be asking *why* anyone would want to hide a friend list. I mean, don’t you want to brag about how many “friends” you have and who you know? Not necessarily. There are two reasons, right off the top of my head that would cause someone to want to hide their friend list:

  • They do not want “other” friends soliciting new business or “collecting friends” using their friend list, or
  • They do not want another “Hatfield and McCoy” feud when this person finds out they are friends with that person and so on and so forth.

So, without further adieu, here are the steps to hide your “Facebook Friends List” from, yes, even your friends, no matter which version of Facebook you are currently using.

“Old” Facebook Version (non-Timeline)

Facebook Privacy How-To 1

Click on your avatar/name in the upper right corner of your browser.

Facebook Privacy How-To 2

Click on the “Edit Profile” button that will appear right below the same section of your browser.

Facebook Privacy How-To 3

Click on “Friends and Family” to the left side of your screen.

Facebook Privacy How-To 4

You will see some avatars of some of your friends, next to “Friends” section and a little Facebook globe icon, with the option to pull-down to select “Only Me” (which will hide the friend list from everyone but you). You may also select one of the other options if you do not want such restrictive privacy on your friend list.

Facebook Privacy How-To 5

To test it, click on “View as…” which is to the right of the “View My Profile” button. Now you can select one of your friends to see how *they* will see your profile. So, for example, if your friend list is hidden from everyone except you, when you use the “view as” feature and select *any* friend, you shouldn’t be able to see the friends on your list.

“New” Facebook Version (Timeline)

Facebook Privacy How-To 6

Click on your avatar/name in the upper right corner of your browser.

Facebook Privacy How-To 7

Click on the “See All” right above your Friends section.

Facebook Privacy How-To 8

Click on “Edit” button on the right side, above the list of friends.

Facebook Privacy How-To 9

When you click on the “Edit” button, you will get a pull-down menu and will be able to select “Only Me” (which will hide the friend list from everyone but you). You may also select one of the other options if you do not want such restrictive privacy on your friend list.

Facebook Privacy How-To 10

To test it, return back to your profile (clicking on the avatar/name in the upper right) and click on “View as…” which will be right below your canvas picture at the top, to the right. Now you can select one of your friends to see how *they* will see your profile. So, for example, if your friend list is hidden from everyone except you, when you use the “view as” feature and select *any* friend, you shouldn’t be able to see the friends on your list.

Happy friending and friend-hiding!

About the author: Deborah is the “secret” SEO ninja and internet marketer from the very beginning (and sought after by the legendary Corey Rudl, and other industry pioneering greats). For more information about Deborah (aka Deborah E), visit the “About” page.

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • THANKS,GOOD ARTICLE
    I LIKE THIS BLOG TIPS.
    facebook friends list

  • michelle says:

    i have the timeline version. after i click see all i do not see an edit or find friends button anywhere. what the heck?

    • Hi Michelle,

      The button(s) for Edit and Find Friends is at the very top of the page, on the right-hand side, in the Timeline version (when on the view that shows all your friends).

      -Deborah

  • Pat Sloan says:

    I am on timeline and did the \’only me can see\”but when I asked a buddy to look.. she can still see my count. If I look without being a friend, no count.is there a way to show NO COUNT when a friend looks?

    • Hi Pat,

      Thanks for reading the article.

      When your friend looks at your list, do they see the profiles or just the count?

      -Deborah

      • Pat Sloan says:

        thank you for getting back to me! she sees the friend list and she said the number of friends. But I’m wondering if the number she see’s is the number we have in common. I had someone else look and that is what they saw.. the number of friends in common between us

  • satyenhacks says:

    hey,

    thanks for the post. It really helped me in hiding my friends.

  • Liz says:

    Thanks for your post. I’m having a version of what a previous poster had –

    When I click “only me” for who can see my friends list, my friends can still see the total number of friends I have.

    It says “mutual friends” but the number is the total number of friends I have. Any idea how to get around this?

    Gaaaah – stupid facebook.

    • Hi Liz, I have it set up the way it is listed here and my quantity of friends doesn’t show, only the quantity of mutual friends. But, if I understand you correctly, it is showing total number of friends for people looking at your Facebook profile?

      • Liz says:

        Hi Deborah,

        Yes, it shows the total number of friends. What it says is “mutual friends (120)” (120 is my total number of facebook friends) and then shows the pictures of the 3 or 4 people who are actually mutual friends. I want to hide that total number. Are you saying you don’t have the total number showing? If a person only has 3 mutual friends does it just say “mutual friends (3)”?

        Thanks for your help!

        -Liz

  • kimm says:

    Hey
    i was wondering if there was away to hide just one friend, not the entire friend list from another friend? if so would you be able to tell me

    • The best way to work with one-at-a-time situations is to use blocking. Otherwise, you could consider the option of keeping the entire list private, so that there are not “questions” pointed your direction and if you have another friend that wants to connect with someone you may know, connect them via PM or friend suggestion.

  • Hey Deborah,
    Thanks for this useful piece of info.
    This setting is too difficult to find as it is not added to the default privacy setting on top right.
    This tutorial helps me a lot.
    Thanks

  • further info says:

    This article is truly amazing. I’m so delighted to learn how to hide friends on Facebook no matter what version I use. Actually as a new user of Facebook I appreciate such helpful piece info. Thanks.

  • deb dolen says:

    I was suggested this web site by mmy cousin. I am not sure whether this post
    iss written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my
    problem. You’re amazing! Thanks!

  • Granite Guy says:

    Really this post contains huge valuable information on FB. I think it would be helpful for all. I love reading this kind of post and appreciate it highly. Thank you for sharing.

  • Nazma Khanm says:

    great and helpful post. Now I can hide my facebook friend easily. thanks for share.

  • shakeel says:

    wow, i didn’t know about this damn thing. I have upgraded my FB to latest version and now I always do privacy settings before upload any personal informations

  • SoftonicX says:

    Well that is a general thing for old users but when i came to know most of my friends who were using facebook for years didn’t know about it, i was shocked! then i surfed to find out about it over internet and damn.. most of people dont know that. Hope your article will help many πŸ™‚
    Keep it up

  • Great post..!!
    This help me soo much to get more trafic to my facebook page so thank you soo much
    All credit goes to you thank you πŸ™‚

  • Yasra Kanwal says:

    thanks alot, it really help me to hide my friends, as my ex-bf was continuously stalking me :-p

    • That is definitely an example of why it is needed. It is sad when that is the case, but there are all sorts of people out there, eh? I hope he stops stalking you, Yasra. Thanks for sharing your comment. -Deborah

    • facebook friends list Feb 6, 2012 @ 3:12

      THANKS,GOOD ARTICLE
      I LIKE THIS BLOG TIPS.
      facebook friends list

    • michelle May 27, 2012 @ 16:24

      i have the timeline version. after i click see all i do not see an edit or find friends button anywhere. what the heck?

      • Deborah E. Anderson May 27, 2012 @ 16:44

        Hi Michelle,

        The button(s) for Edit and Find Friends is at the very top of the page, on the right-hand side, in the Timeline version (when on the view that shows all your friends).

        -Deborah

    • Pat Sloan Jul 8, 2012 @ 6:46

      I am on timeline and did the \’only me can see\”but when I asked a buddy to look.. she can still see my count. If I look without being a friend, no count.is there a way to show NO COUNT when a friend looks?

      • Deborah E. Anderson Jul 8, 2012 @ 11:44

        Hi Pat,

        Thanks for reading the article.

        When your friend looks at your list, do they see the profiles or just the count?

        -Deborah

        • Pat Sloan Jul 8, 2012 @ 12:03

          thank you for getting back to me! she sees the friend list and she said the number of friends. But I’m wondering if the number she see’s is the number we have in common. I had someone else look and that is what they saw.. the number of friends in common between us

          • Deborah E. Anderson Jul 8, 2012 @ 12:28

            Sure thing πŸ˜‰ Yes, the list will always show the mutual friends, so that is intentional behavior by Facebook. But, it shouldn’t show friends who are not mutual.

            • Pat Sloan Jul 8, 2012 @ 12:35

              thank you so much.. I think it is working but without being at her computer to see what she sees…. would you mind looking at my page to see if you see any number? Thanks!!

              https://www.facebook.com/patsloan

              • Deborah E. Anderson Jul 9, 2012 @ 15:58

                Hi Pat,

                I checked and I don’t see a number or list. Hope that helps πŸ™‚

                -Deborah

                • Pat Sloan Jul 9, 2012 @ 16:34

                  thank you so much for checking.. that helps me out!

    • satyenhacks Aug 27, 2012 @ 22:33

      hey,

      thanks for the post. It really helped me in hiding my friends.

    • Liz Sep 6, 2012 @ 20:11

      Thanks for your post. I’m having a version of what a previous poster had –

      When I click “only me” for who can see my friends list, my friends can still see the total number of friends I have.

      It says “mutual friends” but the number is the total number of friends I have. Any idea how to get around this?

      Gaaaah – stupid facebook.

      • Deborah E. Anderson Sep 12, 2012 @ 1:30

        Hi Liz, I have it set up the way it is listed here and my quantity of friends doesn’t show, only the quantity of mutual friends. But, if I understand you correctly, it is showing total number of friends for people looking at your Facebook profile?

        • Liz Sep 12, 2012 @ 13:42

          Hi Deborah,

          Yes, it shows the total number of friends. What it says is “mutual friends (120)” (120 is my total number of facebook friends) and then shows the pictures of the 3 or 4 people who are actually mutual friends. I want to hide that total number. Are you saying you don’t have the total number showing? If a person only has 3 mutual friends does it just say “mutual friends (3)”?

          Thanks for your help!

          -Liz

          • Deborah E. Anderson Sep 25, 2012 @ 13:35

            Hi Liz. Yes, on mine, it only shows the quantity of mutual friends and not the total number of friends.

    • kimm Nov 27, 2012 @ 1:54

      Hey
      i was wondering if there was away to hide just one friend, not the entire friend list from another friend? if so would you be able to tell me

      • Deborah E. Anderson Nov 28, 2012 @ 21:27

        The best way to work with one-at-a-time situations is to use blocking. Otherwise, you could consider the option of keeping the entire list private, so that there are not “questions” pointed your direction and if you have another friend that wants to connect with someone you may know, connect them via PM or friend suggestion.

    • Esther Facebook Dec 5, 2013 @ 13:19

      Hey Deborah,
      Thanks for this useful piece of info.
      This setting is too difficult to find as it is not added to the default privacy setting on top right.
      This tutorial helps me a lot.
      Thanks

    • further info Aug 23, 2014 @ 4:48

      This article is truly amazing. I’m so delighted to learn how to hide friends on Facebook no matter what version I use. Actually as a new user of Facebook I appreciate such helpful piece info. Thanks.

    • deb dolen Jan 14, 2015 @ 9:33

      I was suggested this web site by mmy cousin. I am not sure whether this post
      iss written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my
      problem. You’re amazing! Thanks!

    • Granite Guy Feb 27, 2015 @ 17:07

      Really this post contains huge valuable information on FB. I think it would be helpful for all. I love reading this kind of post and appreciate it highly. Thank you for sharing.

    • Nazma Khanm Mar 21, 2015 @ 23:33

      great and helpful post. Now I can hide my facebook friend easily. thanks for share.

    • shakeel Jun 3, 2015 @ 6:16

      wow, i didn’t know about this damn thing. I have upgraded my FB to latest version and now I always do privacy settings before upload any personal informations

    • SoftonicX Aug 4, 2015 @ 13:20

      Well that is a general thing for old users but when i came to know most of my friends who were using facebook for years didn’t know about it, i was shocked! then i surfed to find out about it over internet and damn.. most of people dont know that. Hope your article will help many πŸ™‚
      Keep it up

    • Hemant Kumar Arya Jan 22, 2016 @ 22:11

      Great post..!!
      This help me soo much to get more trafic to my facebook page so thank you soo much
      All credit goes to you thank you πŸ™‚

    • Yasra Kanwal Dec 16, 2017 @ 1:40

      thanks alot, it really help me to hide my friends, as my ex-bf was continuously stalking me :-p

      • Deborah Anderson Feb 7, 2018 @ 21:53

        That is definitely an example of why it is needed. It is sad when that is the case, but there are all sorts of people out there, eh? I hope he stops stalking you, Yasra. Thanks for sharing your comment. -Deborah

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