Originally announced as part of Facebook's efforts to help during the pandemic, the social network launched a "Quiet Mode" that aimed to make it easier for users to manage their time spent in its mobile apps.

Quiet Mode can mute push notifications and remind you to limit your time using the app. To use the feature, you simply set a time range for when you want Facebook to be available or when you want the app to be silent. If you attempt to use Facebook's app while Quiet Mode is enabled, you’ll get a reminder with a timer, but you can disable the feature or disarm it for 15 minutes.

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Facebook

Facebook essentially described Quiet Mode as a mental health tool, originally designed for people who are struggling during the coronavirus pandemic:

As we all adjust to new routines and staying home, setting boundaries for how you spend your time online can be helpful. Whether it’s to help you focus on your family and friends, sleep without distraction or manage how you spend your time at home, we have tools that can help you find the right balance for how you use Facebook. We added Quiet Mode, which mutes most push notifications, and if you try to open Facebook while in Quiet Mode, you’ll be reminded that you set this time aside to limit your time in the app. We also added shortcuts to Notification Settings and News Feed Preferences, so you can make the most of your time on Facebook by controlling the type of posts you see in your News Feed as well as the updates you receive.

Quiet Mode is part of Facebook's time management tools. To complement its rollout, Facebook also made available more time statistics, so that you can see your usage over two-week periods. You can even get more details about the time spent during the day and at night.

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Facebook

How to find and turn on Quiet Mode

You can turn on Quiet Mode in the Facebook mobile app:

  1. Tap the “Hamburger” menu tab.
    • The menu icon looks like three horizontal lines.
  2. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy.
  3. Select Settings.
  4. Select Your Time on Facebook.
  5. Go to Manage Your Time.
    • Tap See Tools.
  6. Toggle on Quiet Mode.
    • You can also switch on and schedule a Quiet Mode timer.

Note: From the Quiet Mode screen, you will also see the option to get a daily reminder for the amount of time you've used.

Want to know more?

Check out Facebook's blog post for more about Quiet Mode. We also have this guide below on Facebook that discusses more hidden features: