Facebook has no setting to turn off Reels, Watch or the news feed, but on a computer a browser extension can shut them. With I've had it in Chrome, Edge, Brave or Arc and Facebook on No feeds (the default), the news feed, Reels, Watch, Stories and Gaming are shut, while groups, Marketplace, events, profiles and your messages keep working.
What can Facebook do on its own?
At the time of writing, Facebook lets you tidy the feed, not switch it off:
- Feeds view. Facebook has a view that shows posts from friends, groups or pages in time order, without the suggested posts. Where it sits in the menu has changed a few times, but it is a calmer way in.
- Snooze, unfollow and show less. The menu on a post lets you snooze a person or page for 30 days, unfollow without unfriending, or see fewer posts like it.
- Time reminders. The phone app has a daily time reminder in its settings. It is a reminder, not a lock.
None of these hide Reels or Watch. Video, which Facebook has also called Watch, stays in the menu.
How do I block Facebook Reels and Watch with I've had it?
- Add the extension from the install page.
- In setup, leave Facebook on No feeds.
- Keep Messages always open ticked for Facebook (on by default) so Messenger keeps working.
- Open facebook.com/watch or facebook.com/reel. You see a quiet full-screen page saying the feed is shut, and any video stops.
Which Facebook pages are shut, and what still works?
| Facebook page | Address | With No feeds |
|---|---|---|
| News feed | facebook.com/, /home.php | Shut |
| Watch / Video | /watch | Shut |
| Reels, including a single reel | /reel/..., /reels | Shut |
| Stories | /stories | Shut |
| Gaming | /gaming | Shut |
| Messages | /messages, /t/..., messenger.com | Open as usual, not counted |
| A group, event, post or listing from a link elsewhere | any other page | Opens for 30 seconds |
| Groups, Marketplace, events, profiles you open yourself | any other page | A short pause, then up to two minutes |
Reels are shut as a whole, including a single reel someone sends you, because each one opens into the swipeable reels player.
A link from an email, a chat app or another site gets a quick pass: 30 seconds, up to four times an hour. When you go to a group or a Marketplace listing on purpose, the intent gate asks what you came to do and gives you two minutes for it.
I use Facebook for groups or Marketplace. Which mode should I pick?
Two minutes can be short for a group discussion or a Marketplace search. If Facebook is a tool for you, try:
- Ask first: the news feed and Reels open after a 15-second breath and a reason, for two or five minutes. Groups, Marketplace and profiles open after a short pause for 2, 5 or 15 minutes.
- Daily limit: Facebook works as usual for a set number of minutes a day (15 by default, 5 to 90), then the feeds shut until midnight. Messages don't count while Messages always open is on.
The scroll check keeps an eye on long scrolls in either mode: after 25 screens without a pause, it asks if you found what you came for. Compare the modes in site modes.
Can I just use Messenger?
Yes. Messages on facebook.com and the whole of messenger.com count as messages, and stay open while the feed is shut. There is a guide for that: Messenger without the Facebook feed.
Does this work in the Facebook app on my phone?
No. The extension works in desktop browsers only. The I've had it phone app shows your numbers and changes your plan, but it doesn't block inside the Facebook app. On a phone, Screen Time (iPhone) or Digital Wellbeing (Android) can limit the Facebook app as a whole.
Questions
How do I turn off Reels on Facebook?
Facebook has no setting for it. On a computer, set Facebook to No feeds in I've had it: Reels, Watch, Stories and the news feed are shut, and groups, Marketplace and messages keep working.
Can I block the Facebook news feed but keep groups?
Yes. Groups aren't feeds. With No feeds, a group opens after a short pause for two minutes, or for 30 seconds from a link. Ask first or Daily limit gives you more time in groups.
Can I watch a Facebook reel someone sends me?
Not without a step. Every reel opens into the reels player, so the extension treats it as the feed. If you need it, unlock the feed for 10 minutes, or use Ask first.
Does it block Facebook Marketplace?
No. Marketplace isn't a feed, so it opens after a short pause, or for 30 seconds from a link.
Does it work on facebook.com in Safari or Firefox?
Not yet. It works in Chrome, Edge, Brave and Arc on a computer.