Does Facebook Notify Screenshots? (2025 Guide)

Last Updated on December 4, 2025 by Himanshu Rawat

A lot of people worry about one simple question: Does Facebook notify screenshots? If you take a screenshot of someone’s story, post, or profile picture, will they find out?

It’s a common fear, especially because apps like Snapchat and Instagram sometimes send alerts when someone screenshots. So naturally, many users wonder: Does Facebook notify when you screenshot anything on the app?

The good news is that Facebook usually does NOT send any screenshot notifications. But there are a few situations—mainly inside Messenger—where things work differently.

In this guide, we’ll explain everything in plain, simple words, so you know exactly when Facebook sends notifications and when it doesn’t.

Does Facebook Notify When You Screenshot a Post?

The short answer is no—Facebook does not notify anyone when you screenshot a post.

This includes:

• Posts on your feed (public or private)
• Photos shared by friends
• Comments on posts
• Pages and Groups

So if you see something interesting or funny and take a screenshot, the person who posted it will not know.

Privacy tip: You can control who sees your posts using options like “Friends only” or “Only me”. Even though this doesn’t prevent screenshots, it limits who can view your content in the first place.

Basically, you can screenshot posts freely without worrying about notifications.

Does Facebook Notify When You Screenshot a Story?

Many people worry about this because on apps like Snapchat or Instagram, screenshots can send alerts. But on Facebook, the situation is different.

The short answer is: no, Facebook does not notify anyone when you screenshot a Story.

This applies to:

• Text stories
• Photo stories
• Video stories

So if you like a Story and want to save it, you can take a screenshot without the person knowing.

Privacy tip: You can also control who can see your Stories—options like “Friends only” or custom lists limit who can view your content. This won’t stop screenshots, but it reduces who can see it in the first place.

Facebook keeps Story screenshots private, unlike some other social media apps.

Note: If you’re also curious about Instagram, and want to know does Instagram notify when you screenshot, check out this article for a simple guide.

Does Facebook Notify for Profile Picture Screenshots?

A lot of people wonder if taking a screenshot of someone’s profile picture will alert them.

The answer is no—Facebook does not notify anyone when you screenshot a profile picture.

This also applies to:

• Cover photos
• Bio photos
• Avatar images

So even if you save someone’s profile picture, they won’t get a notification.

However, always remember that sharing or misusing someone’s photo can still be a privacy issue, even if Facebook doesn’t alert them.

Does Facebook Notify When You Screenshot Messages on Messenger?

Messenger is a bit different from the main Facebook app. Whether someone gets notified depends on what kind of chat you’re in.

Does Facebook Notify When You Screenshot a Regular Chat?

For normal chats, the answer is no.

• Text messages
• Photos sent normally
• Links or audio/video clips

You can screenshot all of these, and the other person will not know.

Does Facebook Notify When You Screenshot an Encrypted Chat?

Even in end-to-end encrypted chats, Facebook does not notify the other person when you take a screenshot.

You’ll usually see a note that the chat is encrypted, but that doesn’t trigger any alerts if you screenshot.

Tip: You can also Verify the end-to-end encryption for a chat by opening the conversation, going to Settings, and clicking Verify End-to-End Encryption. This helps you confirm that the chat is secure, even though screenshots aren’t notified.

Does Facebook Notify When You Screenshot a Disappearing Message?

This is the only exception.

• In Vanish Mode, or when sending disappearing photos or videos, Facebook does notify the other person if you take a screenshot.
• They will see a small alert in the chat saying a screenshot was taken.

So be careful—disappearing messages are the only case where screenshot alerts appear.

Screenshot Notification Summary Table

Here’s a quick look at what Facebook notifies and what it doesn’t:

How to Know If Screenshot Alerts Are Active

Facebook usually does not notify screenshots, but there are a few situations—mainly in Messenger—where alerts appear. Here’s how to know if they are active:

1. Vanish Mode
   • If the chat has a dark background and a note at the top says “Vanish Mode”, any disappearing message you screenshot will notify the other person.
2. Encrypted Chats
   • You’ll see a message like “End-to-end encrypted” in the chat. Even though normal screenshots here don’t trigger alerts, disappearing media in these chats will.
3. Disappearing Photos/Videos
   • When a photo or video is set to disappear after being viewed, screenshot alerts are automatically on.

If none of these signs are visible, you can safely take screenshots without anyone being notified.

Can You Prevent Screenshots on Facebook?

The truth is, you can’t completely stop people from taking screenshots on Facebook. Even with privacy settings, someone can still save what you share.

Here’s what to know:

• Vanish Mode and disappearing messages: These are the only cases where Facebook alerts someone if you screenshot a message. This does not apply to posts, stories, or profile pictures.
• Screen recording or another phone: Someone can still record their screen or take a photo of your content with another device.
• Privacy settings: You can limit who sees your posts or stories, which helps a little, but it doesn’t stop screenshots.

Tip: Always think before sharing something private. Once it’s on someone else’s device, you can’t control it—even if Facebook doesn’t notify them.

Final Answer

So, what’s the bottom line?

Facebook usually does NOT notify screenshots.

• Posts, stories, photos, profile pictures, cover photos, and regular Messenger chats do not trigger notifications.
• The only time Facebook sends an alert is when you screenshot a disappearing message or media in Messenger’s Vanish Mode.

In short, you can screenshot most things on Facebook without worrying that someone will know. Just be careful with disappearing messages—those are the only ones that send notifications.

Now you know exactly when Facebook notifies screenshots and when it doesn’t.

FAQs : Does Facebook Notify Screenshots

1. Does Facebook notify screenshots of stories?

No. Facebook does not notify anyone when you screenshot a Story, whether it’s text, photo, or video.

2. Does Facebook notify screenshots of photos?

No. Screenshots of any photo on Facebook—posts, albums, or shared images—do not send notifications.

3. Does Facebook Messenger notify screenshots?

• Regular chats: No
• Encrypted chats: No
• Disappearing messages in Vanish Mode: Yes, the other person gets notified.

4. Does Facebook notify screenshots of screen recordings?

No. Screen recording on Facebook does not trigger notifications.

5. Does Facebook notify when you screenshot a profile picture?

No. Profile pictures, cover photos, and bio photos can be screenshotted without alerting anyone.

6. Can you turn off screenshot notifications on Facebook?

No. Notifications for disappearing messages in Vanish Mode are automatic and cannot be turned off.

7. Does Facebook notify screenshots of Reels?

No. Screenshots of Reels are not tracked, and the creator will not know.