f you’ve scrolled through Facebook lately, chances are you’ve run into Meta AI. It pops up in your search bar, tries to suggest replies, or even volunteers itself when you just wanted to find a meme from 2009.
Maybe you’re into it. Maybe you just want your old Facebook experience back. Whatever your vibe, you’re not alone in wondering how to turn off Meta AI on Facebook—or at least keep it out of your way as much as possible.
Here’s the real talk version of how to do that, what you can expect, and what not to bother trying.
You Can’t Technically “Turn It Off,” but You Can Mute It Hard
Let’s start with the bad news: Facebook doesn’t currently let you completely disable Meta AI. There’s no master switch. No glorious “off” button hidden deep in the settings menu.
But what you can do is make it shut up and stop showing up in the places where it annoys you the most. That starts with your search bar. Every time Meta AI pops up with a suggestion, tap the three dots or “i” icon next to it. From there, choose something like “Hide” or “Give Feedback,” depending on your app version.
The more you do this, the more it backs off. It’s not perfect, but it works surprisingly well for search and chat prompts.
Adjust Your Privacy Settings to Limit Data Use
Meta AI thrives on your data. The more it knows, the more it shows up. So another smart step is tightening your privacy settings.
Head to Settings & Privacy > Privacy Checkup, and walk through anything related to ad preferences, off-Facebook activity, and data sharing with external services. Limit what you can. Clear history where possible.
While this won’t make Meta AI disappear entirely, it does cut off some of the fuel it feeds on. Less data means less activity, and fewer AI interruptions.
Avoid Triggering It in Messenger and Search
One thing I noticed while testing this was that certain phrases seem to wake up Meta AI more often. Start typing a question or use keywords like “how,” “why,” or “best,” and it might pop in uninvited.
Try sticking to simple keyword searches when using Facebook’s tools. The less you type like you’re asking Siri, the less Meta AI tries to become your helpful buddy.
Same goes for Messenger. If you don’t want its suggestions, avoid prompting-style messages. The more you treat it like a chatbot, the more it acts like one.
If You’re Doing All This, You Might Want a Break Anyway
Look, if you’re already this deep into figuring out how to turn off Meta AI on Facebook, maybe it’s worth zooming out. These digital layers get more complex every month, and it’s totally fair to want more control over the experience.
If you’ve scrolled through Facebook lately, chances are you’ve run into Meta AI. It pops up in your search bar, tries to suggest replies, or even volunteers itself when you just wanted to find a meme from 2009.
Maybe you’re into it. Maybe you just want your old Facebook experience back. Whatever your vibe, you’re not alone in wanting to learn how to turn off Meta AI on Facebook, or at least keep it from butting into every corner of the app.
Here’s the real talk version of how to do that, what you can expect, and what not to waste time on.
When You’re Ready to Take Control of the Feed Again
If you’ve made it this far, chances are you’re serious about staying in control of your own apps. And that mindset is everything. For more practical, no-nonsense tech tips beyond how to turn off Meta AI on Facebook, head over to our full collection of AI how-to guides.