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How do I remove a Facebook application?

Somehow I seem to be having an application on Facebook posting to my news stream information about me without ever remembering that I signed up for it. Disconcerting, to say the least! How do I check what apps I have authorized and delete ones I don't want from the Facebook universe?


Dave's Answer:

I'd be quite surprised if it was a rogue application that was posting information about you to your own news stream or Wall on Facebook, actually. While there are some goofy apps out there, Facebook itself seems pretty darn secure and I haven't heard of anything like what you are worrying might have happened.

More likely is that you somehow authorized the app when accepting a friend request or RSVP'ing for an event or similar. I find that I occasionally do that myself, even though I try my very, very best to not sign up for any Facebook apps that aren't directly related to how I use the site (e..g, no games, no quizzes).

Step one, log in to Facebook, then look along the top right for the "Settings" option. Move your cursor over it and you'll see this:

facebook nav settings application

Choose "Application Settings" and you'll move to a page that shows your dozen or so most recently used applications in the Facebook universe.

Perhaps you'll see something on that list that is incongruous or out of place: that might be your culprit.

More likely, though, the app you want won't be shown there, so go to the Show menu on the right:

facebook settings application authorized

Choose "Authorized", which is the closest I can see to a missing "All" choice that'd be perhaps a bit clearer. Anyway, now you'll see every Facebook app that you've authorized to get involved with your news stream or Wall.

For this demo, I'll show ReverbNation. When I scroll down, I see this:

facebook settings application authorized reverbnation

Notice here that there are three choices next to the app name: Edit Settings, Profile and X. Edit Settings might be useful if you want to keep the app around but change what it can do, and Profile lets you go to the app's home page in Facebook. The "X" is what you seek if you want to delete the application from your Facebook profile, though.

Click on it and you'll see:

facebook settings application authorized reverbnation remove

You sure you want to do this? Then click on "Remove":

facebook settings application authorized reverbnation removed

Done. One less application involved with your Facebook news stream.

Hope that helps with your problem.

I'd also like to let you know that I have quite a bit of Facebook help here on the site and that I also have an Ask Dave Taylor Facebook Fan Page that I invite you to join.


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Categorized: Facebook Help   (Article 9154, Written by )
Tagged: facebook, facebook applications, facebook apps, reverbnation
Previous: How do I turn off Windows event sounds?
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Reader Comments To Date: 5

AskAva said, on November 18, 2009 11:28 AM:

Thank you. I was unaware of this part. I learned something new. ;)

Ooi Hooi Fung said, on March 7, 2010 5:49 AM:

This is just deny to access the application, but the Games/Application data still there, other friends who add you before still can see your data/info in the games, when they post some things/info, you still can receive.

some one please advise..

Dan said, on March 9, 2010 11:35 PM:

Not all the apps have an 'x'. How do I delete an app if it doesn't have the 'X'?

Sleepy Bee said, on March 29, 2010 3:42 PM:

Hi. Someone put two photos in my photo section as pictures of me. They are supposed to be a game labeled who's gancing thru you profile or some to that effect but they don't work. The real problem is they've ruined my photo page. People click on my photos and that's all they see.
Facebook people tell me all I have to do is click on untag photo by my name but there is no tag. I suspect it is on her computor.

Valora said, on October 4, 2011 4:52 PM:

Actually its not an app posting these things in your news feed and on your page and your friends pages..its a spam hack..you may have clicked on something your friends sent or posted thats how it gets in. then it takes you to facebook log in, or what looks like a fb log in , and once you do , you are hacked...change your password, report it, and delete the posts so it doesnt do the same to your friends if they click it..we had to delete 123 posts from my grand daughters page...it might be something to win something, or "heres a picture i found of you" or many other deceiving messages!

Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











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