Updating your Facebook account using a text message involves linking your mobile phone number to your account. Once linked, you can receive security updates and notifications via SMS. To link your number, go to Settings > Mobile and enter your phone number. Facebook will send you a verification code, which you’ll need to enter to complete the process.
How to set up Facebook texts
Follow the steps below to set up Facebook texts to update your timeline through SMS.
Step 1: Log in to your account and tap on your profile picture
Step 2: Click settings and privacy, then select settings
Step 3: Click mobile tap in the left menu
Step 4: Select ‘add a phone’ and enter your mobile number. Follow the instructions provided until you set up your country and carrier. You will be instructed to send the letter ‘F’ to a code to receive a confirmation text on your phone.
Step 5: Key in the code as instructed. Now, you have successfully added your mobile number to your Facebook account.
N/B: If your mobile number is already added to your account, ignore steps 4 and 5.
Step 6: Click ‘Activate Text Messaging.’ Once done, you will see ‘Text Activated’ next to your mobile number, and you are ready to update your account using text messages.
Once through with the steps, you can update your Facebook account through texts and receive other SMS notifications from Facebook. You can also choose whether to share your number with your friends, the maximum number of daily texts, the kind of messages to receive, and the time of day you will receive such texts.
How to update your Facebook account using a text message
Once you have set up Facebook texts on your account, compose texts (SMS) on the mobile messaging app and send them to 32655 to update your timeline. The code may vary based on your country or carrier. The text will also vary based on what you want to do with your account.
Write the message that you want to appear in your Facebook timeline and send it FBOOK to update your status. If you have forgotten your password, send the word OTP to get a temporary one. To get help, send a text HELP. To start getting SMS notifications send a text START, and to stop getting the notifications send a text STOP.
Below is a table showing the text summary to send to FBOOK to update your Facebook account accordingly.
| When you want to: | Send a message that reads: |
| Update your Status | Type status message, e.g., Enjoying holiday at the beach |
| Get help | HELP |
| Receive a one-time password for your account | OTP |
| Start getting SMS notifications | START |
| Stop getting SMS notifications | STOP |
N/B:
- Standard messaging rates for your mobile service provider apply when using Facebook texts. But, Facebook doesn’t charge for the services.
- You can specify the notifications you want to receive from your account settings.
What happens to Facebook accounts that share mobile phone numbers?
For shared mobile numbers, you can choose to receive SMS notifications for all accounts. However, the person with the phone is the one who will receive and send messages. If you want to STOP receiving notifications for one account, reply STOP to the text received from that account. Reply ON if you want to start receiving the notifications.
If you want to stop receiving SMS notifications for all associated accounts, send the text STOP to the relevant code of your country and carrier.
What is a Facebook message (SMS) update?
Facebook SMS updates are notifications you receive via your mobile phone messaging services when you activate text messaging on your Facebook account. The texts may notify you of direct messages (DMs), tags, comments, profile changes, or status updates.
The notifications are based on your account settings on messaging. You can opt to receive SMS ‘only about your account’ or ‘suggested.’ The ‘only about your account notifications’ is the minimum SMS option. You will receive only crucial SMS about your Facebook account login attempts, passwords, and privacy changes.
Suggested notifications allow Facebook to send updates it considers helpful to you. These include SMS on changes to your Facebook account and any comments on your posts and tag. You will therefore get a lot of messages. Under this option, you can limit the notifications by specifying the ones you want to receive.
What to do if you are not receiving Facebook SMS after setting up Facebook texts
If you’re not receiving Facebook SMS after setting up Facebook texts, there are a few things you can do to troubleshoot the issue:
- Check your phone number: Make sure you entered your phone number correctly when you set up Facebook texts. You can check your phone number in Settings > Mobile.
- Remove and re-add your phone number: Sometimes, the problem can be resolved by removing your phone number and then adding it back again. To do this, go to Settings > Mobile and click on the “Remove Phone Number” link. Then, enter your phone number again and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Check your phone’s SMS settings: Make sure that your phone is not blocking SMS messages from Facebook. You can check your phone’s SMS settings by going to Settings > Messages > Blocked Numbers. If Facebook is listed, remove it from the list of blocked numbers.
- Contact your phone carrier: If you’ve tried all of the above and you’re still not receiving SMS messages from Facebook, you may need to contact your phone carrier. They may be able to help you troubleshoot the issue or identify any potential problems with your phone’s SMS service.
- Try using a different phone number: If you have another phone number available, you can try using that number to receive Facebook SMS messages. This can help you determine if the problem is with your phone number or with Facebook’s SMS service.
- Wait for 24 hours: If you’ve recently moved your mobile phone number from a different mobile service provider, you may not be able to receive the confirmation code immediately. Wait for 24 hours in case there’s a delivery delay.
- Try sending On or Fb to 32665 (FBOOK): This may help to refresh the connection between your phone and Facebook’s SMS service.
- Use an email instead: If you’re still having trouble getting your confirmation code, you can use an email instead. To do this, click on the “I didn’t get the code” link and then click on the “Confirm by Email” button. Facebook will send you an email with a confirmation code.
- Report a problem: If you’ve tried all of the above and you’re still having trouble receiving Facebook SMS messages, you can report a problem to Facebook. To do this, go to the Help Center and click on the “Report a Problem” link. Then, select the “I can’t receive SMS notifications” option and follow the on-screen instructions.
FAQs
Why am I getting a code from Facebook?
Facebook will send you a 6-digit security code if you have turned on two-factor authentication through texts. The code is sent every time you log in to your Facebook account from a different browser or mobile device. If you aren’t logging in, someone might be trying to access your account.
Two-factor authentication process protects you from unauthorized account access. If someone tries to log in to your account, they won’t succeed unless they have access to your mobile phone or email to get the 6-digit code. When you get such alerts, it is best to reset your password to prevent further attempts.
How do I turn on SMS codes for two-factor authentication for my mobile device?
Two-factor authentication is a good way to keep your account safe from unauthorized attempts. You can choose to receive the code through email or text. To turn on the text option, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Log in to your account and navigate to security and login settings
Step 2: Scroll down until you getthe ‘use two-factor authentication’ option. Click edit.
Step 3: Choose ‘Text Message (SMS)’ under the select security method option. Follow the instructions given to complete the process.
Step 4: Once you have activated SMS codes, set up additional security features such as recovery codes, trusted contacts, or security keys. This ensures you can log in to your account if your mobile device is hacked, stolen, or lost.
What does 32665 mean on Facebook?
The 32655 code is the FBOOK number that supports Facebook text services. You can use it to update your Facebook using text messages. Please type what you want using your phone messaging app and send it to the code, and your timeline will be updated accordingly. The code may vary depending on your country and mobile carrier.
Why do I need a Facebook code?
Apart from using the SMS to update your account, you can use it to protect your account’s privacy. This is where you need a Facebook code. Once you activate two-factor authentication, you can choose to receive the code via text or email. The code alerts you whenever someone logs in to your account from a different device. If it is you, you only need to enter the code to sign in to your Facebook account. This ensures your privacy is not jeopardized.
Will Facebook send a code to a friend?
No, Facebook doesn’t send a code to your friend unless you have used their number to activate two-factor authentication. So, if not, anyone claiming to have received your code is a criminal. Do not use the code to log in to your account or click any suspicious link you receive. As a precaution:
- Check devices you are logged in to your Facebook account and change your password if there is any you don’t recognize.
- Under settings, check mobile numbers attached to your account and delete any you don’t recognize.
- De-authorize devices linked to your account and start authorizing the ones you use again.
- Enable two-factor authentication to keep your account safe. Remember to turn on the notification option.
Key Insights & Takeaway
Facebook is continually working to improve its user experience. Text message services are one such option that allows you to update your timeline without mobile data. You only need to compose text through a mobile messaging app, send it to 32655, and your Facebook account will be updated accordingly. You can also use text messaging to receive a Facebook authentication code to keep your account safe.
References:
https://www.facebook.com/help/125384024209252
https://www.facebook.com/help/130694300342171
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