How to post anonymously in a Facebook group on a computer
- Go to facebook.com/groups and open the group.
- Click Write something… at the top of the group.
- Turn on the toggle next to Post anonymously, then click Got it.
- Write your post and click Submit.
Notice the button says Submit, not Post. If the group requires post approval, or approval of anonymous posts in particular, your post goes to the admins first and appears once they approve it. Otherwise it publishes straight away. To go back to posting under your name, open the composer and switch the same toggle off.
How to post anonymously in the Facebook app
- Open the group in the Facebook app on iPhone or Android.
- Tap Write something…
- Turn on Post anonymously and tap Got it.
- Write the post and tap Submit at the top right.
In some app versions the option shows as an Anonymous post button under the composer instead of a toggle inside it. It does the same thing. The steps are identical in Facebook Lite and the mobile browser, where the feature is available.
How to comment or react anonymously
Facebook treats anonymous participation as one package: if a group allows anonymous posts, it also allows anonymous comments and reactions. Admins can’t switch on one without the others.
- On your own anonymous post: every comment you add is anonymous automatically.
- On someone else’s post: next to the comment bar, tap or click your profile picture and choose to comment anonymously. If you can’t switch, you have already interacted with that post under your own name, or anonymous participation isn’t available to you in that group.
You can’t go live, share content or send messages anonymously, and some post formats are switched off for anonymous posts so they can’t reveal who you are.
Why the anonymous option is missing
Facebook gives three reasons, and they look identical from the outside:
- The admins turned it off. This is the most common one. Many buy and sell, local and business groups don’t want anonymous posts at all.
- The feature isn’t available in that group yet. Facebook still rolls group features out unevenly.
- The feature isn’t available to you yet. Two members of the same group can see different composers.
A few more situations remove the toggle in practice:
- You are posting as a Page. Anonymous participation is for personal profiles. A Page already hides your personal name, but it shows the Page’s.
- You are restricted in the group, for example suspended or limited by an admin. Then you can’t post at all, anonymously or not; see blocked from posting in Facebook groups.
- Your app is old. Update Facebook, or try the same group on a computer.
If you are not sure which one applies, message an admin and ask if the group allows anonymous posts. If it doesn’t, no setting on your side will change it.
Who can still see who you are
Anonymous on Facebook means anonymous to other members, not to everyone:
| Who | Sees your name? |
|---|---|
| Other members | No. They see Anonymous member or Anonymous participant and a coloured icon |
| Admins and moderators | Yes, by tapping the anonymous profile photo |
| Facebook’s systems | Yes, to enforce the Community Standards |
Two practical warnings. Your words can give you away: a street name, a child’s school or a photo of your kitchen is enough for neighbours to guess. And the icon’s colour is random, so two anonymous posts with the same colour are not necessarily the same person.
If an admin removes or bans someone who posted anonymously, the real profile behind it is removed or banned too.
Changed your mind about an anonymous post? You delete it the same way as any other: see how to edit or delete your post in a Facebook group.
Facebook group nicknames: the other option
Since late 2025 some groups also allow nicknames: a name you pick for that group (Facebook’s own example is “Stargazer22”), with a chosen picture and background colour.
- Open the group and click Write something…
- If you haven’t set a nickname there yet, turn on Post anonymously, click Got it, then Customize a nickname and follow the prompts.
- If you already have one, turn on Post with your nickname.
- Write the post and click Submit.
A nickname hides your real name from members just like anonymous posting, with the same exception for admins, moderators and Facebook. The difference is that people can recognise the nickname over time, so you build a reputation in the group without using your real name. You can have a different nickname in each group. Nicknames must follow the Community Standards and can’t pretend to be someone else.
For admins: turn anonymous posting on or off
- Open your group and click Group settings in the left menu (click Manage first on the app).
- Under Manage discussion, click Edit next to Anonymous participation.
- Choose on or off and click Save.
Nicknames have their own Nicknames setting in the same section. To review anonymous and nickname posts before they go live, open Post approval under Manage discussion and turn on approval for them; this works even if the rest of the group posts without approval. They then wait in Pending posts like any other post, and the pending approval guide explains how that queue works for members.
When anonymous posting is a good idea: support groups, health and parenting groups, workplace and alumni groups where people need to ask something sensitive. When it isn’t: sales, local trade and promotion groups, where accountability is the point. Whatever you decide, say it in the group rules so members aren’t left guessing.
No anonymous option? Your honest choices
- Ask an admin to post it for you. Many admins do this for sensitive questions and keep your name private.
- Post as a Page, if the group lets Pages take part. It isn’t anonymous, but it keeps your personal profile out of it. See how to post in a Facebook group as a Page.
- Ask in a group that allows anonymous posts. Large support and advice groups usually do.
Avoid making a second fake profile for it. Facebook’s rules allow additional profiles only under its own system, and fake accounts are removed, sometimes together with the real one. For the normal, named way of posting, the step-by-step posting guide covers everything else.
New to the role? How to become an admin of a Facebook group explains how admins are added and what happens when a group loses its last one.
FAQ
How do I post anonymously in a Facebook group?
Open the group and click Write something. Turn on the Post anonymously toggle, click Got it, write your post and click Submit. Other members see Anonymous member (private group) or Anonymous participant (public group). The option only exists if the group allows anonymous participation.
Why can’t I post anonymously in a Facebook group?
Either the admins turned anonymous participation off, the feature isn’t available in that group yet, or it isn’t available to your account yet. Facebook names those three reasons. A Page, and anyone already restricted in the group, can’t use it either. Ask an admin whether the group allows it.
Can Facebook group admins see who posted anonymously?
Yes. Admins, moderators and Facebook’s systems can see the name and profile photo behind every anonymous post, comment and reaction. Anonymous only hides you from other members. Details in your text can also give you away.
Can I comment anonymously in a Facebook group?
Yes, where the group allows anonymous participation. Next to the comment bar, tap your profile picture and choose to comment anonymously. Comments on your own anonymous post are anonymous automatically. Admins can’t allow anonymous posts without also allowing anonymous comments and reactions.
How do I turn on anonymous posting in a Facebook group I admin?
Open the group, click Group settings (under Manage), find Manage discussion and click Edit next to Anonymous participation. Choose on, then Save. You can also require approval for anonymous and nickname posts from the Post approval setting, even if normal posts are published straight away.
What is a Facebook group nickname?
A name you choose for one group, such as Stargazer22, with its own picture. Posts, comments and reactions made with it hide your real name from other members, but not from admins, moderators or Facebook. You can use different nicknames in different groups, if the admins allow nicknames.