If you are worried that Facebook If you search your address book and find friend suggestions from people you just saved on your phone, you're not alone. Let's see, step by step and in detail, how to prevent Facebook from accessing your contacts., how to check which numbers you have uploaded and how to delete them to stop syncing in both the main app and Messenger.
Plus, you'll learn how to limit others from finding you by your number, what happens with WhatsApp and data sharing with Facebook, and some extra tips to enhance your privacy. The idea is that you control what each app shares and with whom, without losing important functions. such as the security of your account.
What data does Facebook (and WhatsApp) share and why does it affect you?
In 2021, WhatsApp (owned by Facebook since 2014) announced that it would begin sharing certain usage metadata with Facebook: the type of device, your mobile operator, and how often you open the app, among others. The stated goal was to improve advertising targeting and user experience within the Facebook ecosystem.
In that notice, users had 30 days to opt out of the new terms. If you want to review that setting, log in to WhatsApp and go to Settings > Account. If still available, uncheck the option "Share my account data".
If you still haven't accepted the new policy, there was another way: touch Read more about important updates to our privacy terms and conditions. when the warning appeared and slide the green switch that you saw at the bottom of the screen to off. Please note that if you have already opted out, it is normal for the option not to appear again..
This metadata sharing does not mean that WhatsApp shares your conversations (they are encrypted), but it is an example of how, Even without uploading your address book to Facebook, connections can be inferred. and generate friend suggestions based on information from other users who do sync their contacts.
Prevent people from tracking you by phone number on Facebook
Facebook allows others to find you by typing your number into their search engine, unless you restrict that option. You can restrict it so that only your current friends can find you, or even go a step further and delete your number. from the profile so that no one can locate you by it.
From the Facebook website
Log in to Facebook from your computer and tap the downward-facing triangle icon (top right). Then, go to Configuration. In the side menu, go to Privacy and, within the block How people can find you and get in touch with you, click on Edit along with Who can find you with the phone number you have provided?.
Now choose who can find you by your number: Everyone, Friends of friends or Friends. If you are looking for maximum privacy, select Friends so that only those who have already added you can find your profile using your phone. You can also choose to open it to your friends or the general public if that's convenient for you.
From the mobile app
Open the Facebook app, tap the options icon (the three lines), go to Settings and privacy > Settings and, in the section Privacy , Accede to Privacy settings. Inside the block How people can find you and get in touch with you, touch Who can find you with the phone number you have provided?.
Just like on the web, you can choose between Everyone, Friends of friends or FriendsTo better protect yourself, choose Friends; This option greatly reduces unwanted matches when searching by number.
Don't let anyone find you: remove your phone number from your profile
If you want to completely prevent anyone from tracking you by your number (including your own friends), the only effective way is to remove the number from your profileYou'll gain privacy, although you'll lose SMS verification if you used it for two-step login.
Remove the number from the web
On the desktop version, press the down arrow icon and enter Configuration (sometimes you will see the text Setup). In the side menu, go to Mobile. You will see your associated number; press Delete to start the process and confirm in the pop-up box with Delete phone.
Facebook will ask you for your password to verify your identity. Enter your password and press Send. After confirming, the number will be deleted from your account. and cannot be used to search for you.
Delete the number from the app
Open the app and go to the three-line menu. Then access Settings and privacy > Settings, go into Personal information (inside of Account settings) and tap on your phone number.
On the screen Text Message Settings, go down to Current phone numbers and touches Delete under the number you want to delete. The final verification step will open: Enter your password and confirm with "Delete phone" to complete the process.
Important: If you were relying on SMS for two-factor, switch to an alternative method first, e.g. an authentication app, so as not to lose that layer of security when deleting the number.
Review and delete contacts that Facebook has already uploaded
You may have activated contact uploads in the past, or an app may have done so without you realizing it. That's why it's a good idea to check what numbers Facebook has. From your account, tap the Friend Requests icon (the two silhouettes) in the top corner and enter Search friends.
Inside you will see the option Manage imported contactsYou can also access it directly from this URL: https://www.facebook.com/invite_history.php. There you can delete contacts on a one-time basis or delete everything that the platform has uploaded..
If you also use Messenger, remember that you can also upload your calendar independently. To view and delete phones imported by Messenger, Visit: https://www.facebook.com/mobile/messenger/contacts.
After deleting contacts, it's key to disable automatic upload so they don't reappear. Otherwise, the app will reimport them as soon as you give it permission again. or synchronization runs in the background.
Disable calendar sync in the Facebook app (Android and iOS)
On iPhone, open Facebook and tap the three bars. Go to Settings > Account Settings > General and disable the option Upload contactsThis setting stops continuous synchronization of your calendar with your account.
On Android, tap the three bars, enter Application settings and deactivate Continuous import of contacts. This switch is the one that stops your calendar from being uploaded from the device..
Also, make sure that the Facebook app doesn't have access to Contacts at the system level. In your phone's Settings, go to app permissions and denies Contacts permission if you had it active; that way you put up a second barrier.
Turn off syncing in Messenger and delete what you've already uploaded
Messenger can have its own sync active, separate from the main app. To turn it off, open Messenger, tap your profile picturego to People and deactivate the switch «Synchronized contacts»This setting works the same on iOS and Android.
Then, enter https://www.facebook.com/mobile/messenger/contacts and delete any numbers already stored. If you don't do this cleanup, Facebook will still retain the contacts you've uploaded in the past., even if you stop syncing from now on.
If for any reason you allow access to Contacts on your phone again, Messenger may attempt to upload your address book again. Periodically monitor the imported contacts section to make sure everything is in order..
Why do I still see friend suggestions after turning everything off?
It's very common for matches to appear with people you've just saved, even with "Upload Contacts" disabled and without Contacts permissions on your phone. This happens because other users have uploaded their agenda. and your phone may be included in those lists.
Facebook and Messenger use each other's address book uploads to make matches. Even if you don't upload anything, if your number circulates in the address books of your friends (or strangers who saved it), the platform can suggest you as potential friends in a two-way manner.
Additionally, if you have uploaded your address book (even for one day) in the past or Messenger has uploaded it, your numbers may remain stored until you manually delete them. That's why it's so important to visit the delete links and clear your history. on both platforms.
The reality is that there is no magic button to prevent others from uploading your number. What you can do is minimize your exposure.: Limit who searches for you by number, delete your phone number from your profile if necessary, and periodically review imported contacts on Facebook and Messenger.
Manage who has access to your Pages
If you manage Facebook Pages, it's also a good idea to review logins. Whoever has full control can see statistics and use toolsIf you're an administrator with full control, you can remove other people's access to that Page when they no longer need it.
Important Caution: If you remove your own access, you will lose all permissions to manage the PageBefore doing so, make sure another trusted person has sufficient control or that you have a clear path to recovery.
Extra good practices to protect your privacy
First, check your phone's system permissions: in Settings > Applications > Facebook/Messenger, confirm that the Contacts permission is disabledThis prevents accidental uploads due to changes in the app.
Second, if you're going to delete your number from your profile, prepare an alternative two-step login method. An authentication app is more secure than SMS and prevents you from losing 2FA when you pick up your phone.
Third, review the section of Privacy > How they can find and contact you to also adjust who can search for you by email and whether you allow your profile to appear on external search engines.
Fourth, if you ever turned on “Upload Contacts,” do a double cleanup: Delete imported contacts on Facebook and also on Messenger. Only in this way will you prevent them from reappearing over time.
Fifth, get into the habit of periodically entering managing imported contacts. A review from time to time ensures that there are no traces of old synchronizations. that you don't remember authorizing.
By now you know how to prevent Facebook and Messenger from accessing your address book, how to delete what they've already uploaded, and how to prevent anyone from finding you by your number. With a few checks and disabling continuous sync, you can minimize your contacts' exposure. and regain control over your data without giving up essential account features.