Top 10 tips for Facebook iPhone app

Feb.01, 2012 in Apps, iOS

As you’d expect, Facebook‘s iPhone app is exteremely popular. App version 4.1 comes complete with the new mobile Timeline design, so we thought we’d take a look at some tips and tricks for getting the most out of the app experience.

Eager for a better way to manage your notifications or more quickly access your BFFs? Try these 10 handy hints to become Facebook iPhone app fluent.

1. Change Your Cover Photo on the Go

You can now change your cover photo from the mobile app.

Head to your profile and tap on the camera icon, displayed at the bottom-right of your cover image.

You will now have the option to snap a new pic, or select one from your iPhone’s Camera Roll.

2. Customize Your Favorites

You can add Facebook features and third party apps to your “Favorites.”

As these display at the top of your menu screen, this is a handy way to get quick access to tools you use often.

To edit your Favorites, go to the menu screen (by pressing the rectangular icon with three white lines in it) and scroll down to the bottom.

Now select “Edit Favorites.” You can remove the default options, and by pressing the plus icon at the top left, add lists, groups, pages and apps.

3. Add a Friend to Your Favorites

You can also add friends to your favorites for quick access to their profiles.

Do this by following the instructions in the previous slide. When you’ve hit the plus icon, choose the “Add Friends” option to select from your friend list.

4. Delete a Post

It’s not obvious how to delete posts when using the mobile app, but it’s very simple.

To delete content, simply swipe your finger across it from left to right.

This will bring up a black cross on the top-right — tap this for the option to hide from your Timeline, or delete entirely.

5. See Your Friends’ Birthdays

The Facebook app doesn’t flag birthdays in the same way the site does.

You can still view birthdays, though.

Select the “Events” option from the main menu. This will display birthdays on the current day, the following day and the rest of the week, while tapping on “Birthdays” on the bottom of the screen will give you a full list in date order.

6. Put Facebook in Your Dock

If you access Facebook often using your iPhone, add the app to the dock so you’re a tap away, no matter screen you’re on.

To do this, first remove an app from the dock. Press and hold any app until all the icons start wiggling, then tap and drag the unwanted app out of the dock area and tap and drop Facebook in.

Once you press the home button, your changes will be saved.

7. Manage Your Alerts

Customize how you’d like Facebook alerts to display, or stop them altogether, in the iPhone’s “Settings” menu.

Open “Settings” and select “Notifications.” Scroll down to see your “Notification Center” and tap “Facebook.”

You can now choose your preferred style of alert (which requires an action to remove) or banner notification, which disappears automatically.

This is also where you can turn alert sounds on and off, and choose to display the number of new actions over the Facebook app icon.

8. Manage Your Push Notifications

To manage the push notifications you receive from the Facebook app, you have to head elsewhere.

Head to your iPhone’s “Settings” menu and scroll down to the apps section.

Tap on Facebook and then select “Push Notifications.”

Here you can choose exactly what kind of events you’d like to get push-notified about.

9. Sync Your Contacts

The Facebook app offers the clever option to sync your friends to your phone’s contacts. Enable the tool to transfer info from Facebook, including your friends’ photos.

To activate or update, go to the “Friends” option on the main menu and tap the icon in the top right corner (the box and arrow).

Hit “Sync Contacts” and after a permissions page, your phone will do the rest.