Manage Your Apps Connected to Facebook: A Complete Guide

Take Control of Your Digital Footprint: Managing Apps Connected to Facebook

Does your Facebook feel too connected? It knows your habits. Facebook links many apps and websites. Sometimes it helps. You log in easily or share content. Other times, it feels like an unwelcome guest. You need control. Let’s manage these connections and clear what doesn’t serve you.

Seeing Which Apps Have the Keys to Your Facebook Kingdom

First, reconnaissance. You can’t manage what you can’t see. It’s time to discover the apps using your Facebook profile. Consider it a digital audit. Less painful than tax season.

Peeking Through Facebook Settings: The Traditional Route

Facebook hides app management settings deep. But no worries. We will explore these together.

Step-by-step guide to see connected apps via Facebook Settings:

1. Find the Menu. On phone: three horizontal lines in the top right. On desktop: downward arrow in the top right. Tap it firmly.
2. Enter Settings & Privacy. Scroll down. It’s the signal for your privacy controls. Tap it.
3. Enter Settings. There’s a second settings option. Click on ‘Settings’ again.
4. Finally, find Apps and Websites. Scroll down a bit more…almost there…BAM! ‘Apps and Websites’. Click it.

Now you see a list of apps and websites connected to your Facebook account. It’s like a guest list from a party you can’t fully recall. Take a look at this list. Any familiar names? Any apps you want to remove?

The Accounts Center Shortcut: Meta’s Central Command

In an effort for corporate synergy, Meta made the Accounts Center. Supposedly, it’s a control panel for Facebook, Instagram, and other Meta accounts. Whether it helps or complicates matters is up for debate.

While it mentions seeing connected apps, it focuses more on managing connected accounts, not apps. Using traditional Facebook Settings is generally more direct for viewing connected apps.

Cutting the Cord: Removing Apps from Your Facebook Inner Circle

You’ve found the freeloaders, the apps that need to go. Time to evict them. Think of it as tidying up your digital life. Does this app spark joy? No? Then, goodbye.

The Facebook Settings Eviction Notice: One App at a Time

Back to Facebook settings. We are navigating menus with skill now.

Step-by-step guide to remove connected apps:

1. Go back to Apps and Websites. Remember the path? Menu > Settings & Privacy > Settings > Apps and Websites. You’re a pro already.
2. Find the app to remove. Scroll through the list, identify the application, and focus on it.
3. Select the app for removal. Click or tap on the app itself to expand its details.
4. Evict it: Click or tap Remove. It’s right there, waiting for you to click it. Just do it.
5. Confirm your choice. Facebook will ask you, “Are you sure you want to remove [App Name]? This cannot be undone.” Unless you’re having doubts, click Remove or Confirm.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully removed a Facebook-connected app. Feel that relief? Repeat this for any other apps needing removal. It’s like weeding your garden but for your digital self.

Managing Your Metaverse: Connected Accounts in Accounts Center

Let’s now discuss the broader Meta ecosystem. If you have Facebook and Instagram, or use a Meta account, the Accounts Center helps manage how these accounts connect.

Accessing Accounts Center: Your Meta Control Room

Let’s revisit Accounts Center. It’s becoming routine for us now.

Step-by-step guide to access Accounts Center:

1. Open the Menu again. Top right corner, familiar ground.
2. Dive into Settings & Privacy. Another digital rabbit hole.
3. Enter the realm of Settings. Yes, settings inception!
4. Find Accounts Center. Look near the top of the Settings menu, often under “Meta Accounts Center”. Tap it.

Welcome to Accounts Center. Here you manage your connected Meta accounts, including syncing profile info and removing linked accounts.

Synchronized Swimming: Managing Profile Information Sync

Managing Profile Sync:

1. Within Accounts Center, locate Profiles. Usually displayed prominently. Tap ‘Profiles’.
2. Check out Connected Experiences. After tapping ‘Profiles’, tap ‘Connected experiences’. This is where you manage the sync.

Fine-Tuning the Sync: Deeper Dive into Sync Settings

Advanced Sync Settings Navigation:

1. Go back to Accounts Center. Menu > Settings & Privacy > Settings > Accounts Center. Speedrunning these menus is now second nature.
2. Revisit Profiles. Tap ‘Profiles’ yet again.
3. Examine Connected Experiences. Yes, back to ‘Connected experiences’.

Breaking the Chains: Removing Linked Accounts from Facebook’s Grasp

Accounts Center Account Separation: The Digital Divorce

Step-by-step guide to remove linked accounts:

1. Return to Accounts Center. You should now navigate there easily.
2. Enter the Accounts section. Look for ‘Accounts’. It’s grouped with ‘Profiles’ and ‘Connected experiences’. Tap ‘Accounts’.
3. Select the account to remove. You’ll view all linked accounts.
4. (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Meta account). Choose the account you want to unlink.
5. Start the removal process: Tap Remove beside the desired account. It’s a firm action, like cutting a digital ribbon.
6. Confirm again. Facebook will probably ask, “Are you completely sure you want to remove [Account Name]?” If your answer is a solid “Yes!”, confirm the removal.

And just like that, you’ve unlinked an account from your Facebook setup. This is useful for distinguishing between Instagram and Facebook, granting each platform its own space.

Going Off-Grid: Stopping Facebook’s Broad Tracking

Things get interesting here. Facebook tracks more than its platform. It monitors your “Off-Facebook Activity,” which includes your online behavior collected from apps and sites using Facebook Business Tools (like Facebook Pixel or Login). Creepy? Maybe. Manageable? Yes. Let’s explore how to limit this tracking.

Facebook Settings for Off-Facebook Activity: Become a Digital Ghost

Time to navigate a different part of Facebook settings, focusing on your Facebook information rather than just apps and websites.

Guide to manage Off-Facebook Activity:

1. Start at Settings & Privacy again. Menu > Settings & Privacy. Familiar territory.
2. Go to Settings. Tap ‘Settings’.
3. Find Your Facebook Information. Look in the left column on desktop, or scroll down on mobile. Click or tap ‘Your Facebook Information’.
4. Discover Off-Facebook Activity. In ‘Your Facebook Information’, click on ‘Off-Facebook Activity’.

Prepare to be surprised (or mildly disturbed) by the list of apps and websites sharing your activity with Facebook. It’s a dossier of your online movements, compiled by Facebook. But you have choices.

Taking Control: Managing Future and Disconnecting Activity

In the ‘Off-Facebook Activity’ section, you have powerful choices.

Options for Managing Off-Facebook Activity:

1. Click Manage Your Off-Facebook Activity. There’s usually a button with this wording. Click it.
2. Select your level of digital invisibility. You’ll see two key options:
   • Manage Future Activity: This enables you to control whether Facebook collects future off-Facebook activity. You can turn this off to stop tracking.
   • Disconnect Future Activity: This option prevents Facebook from showing targeted ads based on future off-Facebook activity and disconnects that activity entirely from your account.

Choose wisely, digital ninja. Disabling or disconnecting future activity can greatly reduce Facebook’s tracking powers online. It’s not a full invisibility cloak but a major step towards reclaiming online privacy.

Device Check-Up: See Where You’re Logged In to Facebook

Security time! Ever wondered if you left Facebook logged in on a public computer or if someone is using your account? Facebook provides a feature showing all active login sessions, letting you log out devices you don’t recognize.

“Where You’re Logged In”: Facebook Security Dashboard

This feature is in the security settings.

Guide to check logged-in devices:

1. Go back to Settings & Privacy. Menu > Settings & Privacy. Getting repetitive, but necessary.
2. Tap Settings. Select ‘Settings’.
3. Go to Accounts Center. Yes, it’s more versatile than it seems.
4. Find Password and Security. Within Accounts Center, locate ‘Password and Security’. Tap it.
5. Discover Where you’re logged in. Under ‘Password and Security’, you’ll see ‘Where you’re logged in’. Tap it.

Prepare to see all devices and locations your Facebook account is currently logged into. If something seems off—like an unknown device or location—it’s time for action.

You can select sessions from this screen and log them out remotely. This is crucial for security, especially if you suspect a breach.

Digital Housekeeping: Clearing Facebook Cache

Cache clearing is like taking out trash. Over time, apps like Facebook accumulate cached data to speed up loading. But this cache can become corrupted or outdated, causing sluggishness or odd behavior. Time for a digital purge.

Cache Clearing on Android: Controls at Your Fingertips

Android lets you control app caches.

Guide to clear Facebook cache on Android:

1. Open your phone’s main Settings app. Not Facebook settings, but your *phone’s* settings. Usually a gear icon on your home screen or app drawer.
2. Select Apps. Look for something related to applications. Tap it.
3. Find Facebook. Scroll until you find ‘Facebook’ and tap it.
4. Select Storage. Within the app info, look for ‘Storage’ or ‘Storage & cache’. Tap it.
5. Hit the Clear Cache button. You should see options for ‘Clear cache’ and ‘Clear storage’. Just tap Clear cache. Avoid ‘Clear storage’ unless you want to reset the app completely.

You’ve cleared the Facebook app’s cache on Android, giving your phone a fresh digital air.

Cache Clearing on iOS: The “Offload App” Strategy

iOS clears app cache differently. There’s no direct “clear cache” button as on Android. Instead, we use “Offload App,” which removes the app but keeps data. Reinstalling feels like a fresh start.

Guide to “clear cache” on iOS (using Offload App):

1. Open your iPhone or iPad Settings. Again, device settings, not Facebook settings.
2. Go to General. Scroll down and tap ‘General’.
3. Select iPhone Storage. Within ‘General’, find ‘iPhone Storage’. Tap it.
4. Find Facebook. Let iOS calculate storage usage, then find ‘Facebook’. Tap it.
5. Select Offload App. You’ll see options for ‘Offload App’ and ‘Delete App’. Choose Offload App.
6. Reinstall Facebook. After offloading, tap Reinstall App. Your data should return, but the cache clears.

This method refreshes the app by offloading it and clearing temporary files on iOS.

Clearing Cache Within Facebook’s In-App Browser

Did you know about Facebook’s in-app browser opened via links in the app? This browser has its own cache. If links or websites load slowly, clearing this cache may help.

Guide to clear in-app browser cache:

1. Open a link within Facebook. Just tap any link to open in its in-app browser.
2. Select browser settings. Look for a menu icon within the browser—three dots or lines usually in the corner. Tap it.
3. Select “Settings” or “Go to Settings”. Find an option like that and tap it.
4. Select “Clear Browsing Data” or similar. In settings, find the option to clear browsing data or cache. Tap it and confirm to clear data for Facebook’s browser.

This action clears cached browsing data within the in-app browser, separate from your main phone browser and the regular Facebook app cache.

The Data Deep Dive: Understanding Facebook’s Data Collection

Let’s address the big issue: data collection. Facebook collects vast amounts of data. It’s how they serve content effectively and offer targeted ads to users.

Ads keep the platform “free.” Knowing *what* they collect helps manage your privacy.

Third-Party Data Sources: It’s Not Just Facebook Anymore

Facebook gathers data beyond your direct interactions. They rely on external sources too.

Third-Party Data Providers:

• App Developers: Apps linked to Facebook share data on your usage.
• Advertisers: Sites using Facebook tools share browsing data and interaction details.

This external data drives “Off-Facebook Activity” tracking and targeted marketing, creating an extensive network beyond Facebook.

Types of Data Collected: The Digital Dossier

What does Facebook collect?

Examples of Data Facebook Collects:

• Content You Create: This includes posts, likes, shares, messages, and any media you provide.
• Browsing Data (Off-Facebook Activity): This details the sites you visit and apps used with Facebook tools, like pages and products viewed.
• Device Information: This covers device type, operating system, hardware settings, and location data.
• Connection Information: This includes your network details, such as operator and Wi-Fi access points.

This list isn’t exhaustive but illustrates Facebook’s extensive data collection across online and offline behaviors.

Microphone Muting: Managing App Permissions for Privacy

Permissions pop-ups seek access to camera, mic, location, contacts, etc. Review these permissions carefully, mainly for sensitive features like the microphone.

Microphone Control on iPhone: iOS Settings Lockdown

iOS provides detailed control over app permissions in Settings.

Step-by-step guide to disable Facebook microphone access on iPhone:

1. Open your iPhone Settings app.
2. Scroll and find Facebook. Tap it.
3. Enter Settings within Facebook settings. Yes, settings within settings.
4. Find Microphone. Look for it in permissions.
5. Disable Microphone Access. If green (on), slide left to turn it white (off). This will disable access.

Repeat for other permissions you wish to manage (camera, location, etc.).

Microphone Control on Android: Application Manager Authority

Android manages permissions within the main settings under “Application Manager” or “Permissions.”

Step-by-step guide to disable Facebook microphone access on Android:

1. Open your Android’s Settings.
2. Navigate to Application or Apps. Tap it.
3. Enter Application manager. You may need to go into it for all apps.
4. Find Facebook. Tap on ‘Facebook.’
5. Enter Permissions. Find ‘Permissions’ in the app info.
6. Disable Microphone Permission. Find ‘Microphone’ and turn it off. It may vary slightly depending on version.

You can manage other permissions in the same section.

Link History Lockdown: Managing Facebook’s Memory of Your Clicks

Facebook logs links clicked in the app. This “link history” is claimed to enhance your experience but is still tracked data. Manage and clear this history.

Accessing and Disabling Link History: Erasing Your Digital Footsteps

The link history can be found under “Browser” settings in Facebook.

Step-by-step guide to manage Facebook link history:

1. Go to Settings & Privacy. Menu > Settings & Privacy.
2. Enter Settings. Tap ‘Settings’.
3. Find Browser. Scroll for ‘Browser.’ Tap it.
4. Toggle “Allow link history” off. Toggle it to off to stop saving history.

This disables Facebook from recording future links clicked.

Clearing Link History: Wiping the Slate Clean

You can clear past link history too.

Step-by-step guide to clear Facebook link history:

1. Go back to Browser settings. Follow previous steps.
2. Find Clear or Clear Browsing Data. Look for it and tap.
3. Confirm Clearing. Confirm erasing saved link history when prompted.

This removes previously saved records of clicked links. Combined with disabling future history, it grants control over Facebook’s data collection.

App Uninstall: The Ultimate Digital Detox

Sometimes management isn’t enough. You may need a clean break. Deleting apps is like decluttering your space – out with the old.

App Deletion on Android: Google Play Store Uninstallation

You delete Android apps usually through the Google Play Store.

Step-by-step guide to delete apps on Android:

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Tap your Profile icon. Usually in the top right corner.
3. Enter Manage apps & devices.
4. Go to Manage. Tap the ‘Manage’ tab.
5. Select the app for uninstallation. Find the desired app (e.g., Facebook) in the list.
6. Tap Uninstall. Confirm if prompted.

The app is now uninstalled from your Android device.

App Deletion on iOS: iPhone Storage Purge

You delete apps directly through the iOS settings.

Step-by-step guide to delete apps on iOS:

1. Open your iPhone or iPad’s Settings.
2. Select General. Tap it.
3. Enter iPhone Storage. Tap ‘iPhone Storage.’
4. Find the app to delete. Scroll for the app (e.g., Facebook).
5. Tap Delete App. Confirm when prompted.

The app is now gone from your iOS device. Consider it a digital cleanse.

Instagram Unlinking: Severing the Facebook-Instagram Bond

You can unlink Instagram from Facebook accounts via either’s settings.

Unlinking via Instagram: Instagram’s Perspective

This process is easy within Instagram.

Step-by-step guide to unlink Instagram from Facebook:

1. Open the Instagram.
2. Go to your Profile. Tap your profile picture.
3. Tap the Menu.
4. Enter Settings. Tap ‘Settings.’
5. Nave to Accounts Center. Look for ‘Accounts Center.’ Tap it.
6. Select Accounts. Tap ‘Accounts.’
7. Tap Remove. Find Facebook and tap ‘Remove.’ Confirm when prompted.

Your Facebook account is unlinked from Instagram.

Unlinking via Facebook: Facebook’s Perspective

You can also unlink through Facebook settings.

Step-by-step guide to unlink Instagram from Facebook:

1. Go to
2. Settings & Privacy. Menu > Settings & Privacy.
3. Enter Settings. Tap ‘Settings.’
4. Find Linked Accounts. Look for ‘Linked accounts.’ Or related section.