The Facebook poke is back. After years tucked away in a menu most people never found, Facebook has given pokes a proper button again, a home of their own and a few playful new features. If you have been poked recently and wondered what on earth it means, or you want to poke someone back, this guide covers everything you need to know.

We will explain what a poke is, how to send one on desktop and mobile, what the new poke counts and icons mean, how to reply (or ignore one politely) and how to stop pokes if they are bothering you.

What is a Facebook poke?

A poke is the simplest interaction on Facebook. It is a tap on the shoulder that says “hello, I am thinking of you” without any words at all. When you poke someone, they get a notification telling them you poked them. That is it. No message, no comment, no explanation.

That simplicity is exactly why people love it and why people find it confusing. A poke can mean:

• Hello, it has been a while. A light way to reconnect with an old friend.
• I am bored. Pokes are often just a bit of fun between friends.
• A bit of flirting. For some people, a poke is a cheeky way of showing interest.
• A game. Some friends poke each other back and forth for years, just to see who gives up first.

The meaning depends entirely on who sent it and your relationship with them. If a close friend pokes you, it is probably a joke. If someone you barely know pokes you, it may be worth a little more thought.

A short history of the poke

Pokes have been part of Facebook since its earliest days in 2004. Mark Zuckerberg has said in the past that the feature was created without a specific purpose in mind, which is part of the reason nobody has ever agreed on what it means.

In the late 2000s, poke wars were everywhere. Facebook even launched a standalone Poke app in 2012 to compete with Snapchat, which was quietly shut down in 2014. After that, the poke drifted into the background and became one of those old features on Facebook that many people assumed had gone.

It never fully disappeared, though. You could still poke people if you knew where to look, and a loyal group of users kept poke battles going.

The poke comeback: what has changed

Facebook has been working hard to win back younger users, and the poke has been part of that plan. In March 2024 Facebook made the poke page easier to find, including showing it in search results. According to TechCrunch, poking rose 13 times in the month that followed.

Then in September 2025, Facebook went further and relaunched pokes properly:

• A Poke button on profiles. You can now poke a friend straight from their profile, next to the usual options.
• A dedicated pokes page. Visiting facebook.com/pokes shows you who has poked you and suggests friends you might want to poke.
• Poke counts. Each pair of friends now has a running count that goes up every time you poke each other.
• Icons and streaks. As your count climbs, fun icons such as a flame or a “100” appear, a little like streaks on Snapchat.
• Dismiss without poking back. You can clear a poke without returning it, so you are never forced into a poke war.

In short, the poke has gone from forgotten feature to a light, game like way to keep in touch.

How to poke someone on Facebook

You can generally only poke people you are friends with, plus some suggested people Facebook shows you on the pokes page.

On desktop

1. Go to the profile of the friend you want to poke.
2. Look for the Poke button near the top of their profile. If you cannot see it, click the three dots button and look for Poke in the menu.
3. Click it. Your friend will get a notification straight away.

Alternatively, go to facebook.com/pokes and click Poke next to any of your suggested friends.

On mobile (iPhone and Android)

1. Open the Facebook app and go to your friend’s profile.
2. Tap the Poke button, or tap the three dots and choose Poke.
3. To see all your pokes, search for Pokes in the Facebook search bar and open the pokes page.

If you still cannot see the option, update the app to the latest version. Facebook rolls features out gradually, so it can take a little while to reach everyone.

How to see who has poked you

When someone pokes you, you will usually get a notification. To see all of your pokes in one place:

• On desktop, go to facebook.com/pokes.
• On mobile, search for “Pokes” and tap the pokes result.

The page shows who has poked you, how many times, and your current poke count with each person. From there you can poke back or dismiss the poke.

Understanding poke counts and icons

The new poke counts are what turn a simple poke into a game. Every time you and a friend poke each other, your shared count goes up. As it rises, Facebook shows icons next to it, such as a flame or a “100”, to celebrate your streak.

There is no prize and no hidden meaning. It is simply a playful way of showing how often you two keep in touch. Some friends treat it like a challenge to see how high they can get. Others ignore it completely. Both are fine.

Should you poke back? Poke etiquette

There is no official rule, but here is a simple guide:

• Close friend or family member: poke back if you fancy it. It is just a bit of fun.
• Old friend you have lost touch with: a poke back is fine, but a short message is often better. “Hello, how have you been?” turns a poke into a real conversation.
• Someone you barely know: you do not have to do anything. Dismissing the poke is perfectly polite.
• Someone who makes you uncomfortable: dismiss the poke and consider the privacy steps below.

The golden rule is not to overdo it. A poke every now and then is friendly. Dozens of pokes a day to someone who is not poking back is not.

Why do people still love pokes?

It is easy to dismiss the poke as silly, but there is a reason it has lasted more than twenty years. A poke is low effort and low risk. You do not need to think of something clever to say, and the other person does not need to write a reply. It is a small, friendly signal that someone is thinking of you.

That is also why poke counts work so well. They tap into the same feeling as streaks on other apps. Once a count is going, nobody wants to be the one who breaks it.

Can businesses use Facebook pokes?

No. Pokes are for personal profiles only. Facebook Pages cannot poke people, and you should not use your personal profile to poke potential customers. It will feel strange at best and spammy at worst.

If you want to get a business noticed on Facebook, there are much better options:

• Post useful content regularly and reply to every comment. Our guide on how to grow a Facebook page organically and increase engagement walks through it step by step.
• Use paid ads to reach the right people in your area. Find out more about our Meta ads management.
• Reach out properly. If you want to contact a business or decision maker, a friendly, personal email beats a poke every time. A tool like an email finder can help you find the right address.

Safety and privacy

Pokes are harmless in almost every case, but they can occasionally be unwanted. A few things to keep in mind:

• A poke does not give the other person access to anything extra on your profile.
• Poking someone does not tell them you have looked at their profile.
• If someone keeps poking you and you do not want them to, you can dismiss their pokes, unfriend them or block them.
• Be careful with pokes from people you do not know. Scammers sometimes use any kind of contact as an opening to start a conversation.

How to stop pokes

There is no single switch to turn pokes off completely, but you have options:

1. Dismiss the poke on the pokes page. The other person is not told.
2. Turn off poke notifications in Settings and privacy, then Notifications, then look for Pokes or Other notifications.
3. Unfriend the person. Generally only friends can poke you from your profile.
4. Block them if the pokes feel like harassment. Blocking stops all contact on Facebook.

Alternatives to poking

If a poke feels too vague, there are plenty of other quick ways to say hello on Facebook, from reactions and stories to voice notes in Messenger. We have rounded them up in our guide to alternatives to Facebook pokes.

Facebook pokes FAQ

Does a poke mean someone likes you?

Not necessarily. A poke can be friendly, playful or flirty. Look at who sent it and how they usually behave with you.

Can you poke someone who is not your friend?

Generally no. You can poke friends, and Facebook may suggest some people on the pokes page.

Does someone know if I ignore their poke?

No. Dismissing a poke does not notify the other person.

Can I unpoke someone?

Once a poke is sent, the notification has gone. You cannot take it back, so poke with care.

Why can’t I see the Poke button?

Update your Facebook app and try again. If it still does not show, use the pokes page by searching for “Pokes”.

Do poke counts reset?

Your count is shared between you and each friend and grows as you poke each other. If you stop, the streak icons may fade, so keep poking if you want to keep it going.

Need help with Facebook for your business?

Pokes are great fun for friends, but growing a business on Facebook takes a plan. Delivered Social helps businesses across the UK build engaged audiences with organic content and smart paid campaigns. Get in touch and let’s talk about what Facebook could do for you.