You can still poke people on Facebook, but the feature is kind of hidden now. Here’s a clear, step‑by‑step guide plus some quick context and etiquette.

How to poke someone on Facebook (mobile app)

These steps work similarly on both Android and iOS.

  1. Open the Facebook app and log in.
  2. Tap the search bar at the top of the screen.
  3. Type “Pokes”.
  4. In the results, tap the option that says something like “Poke your friends and see who has poked you”.
  5. On the Pokes page you’ll see:
    • People who have poked you (you can tap Poke back).
    • Suggested friends you can poke.
  6. To poke someone:
    • Tap the Poke button next to their name, or
    • Use the search bar on that page to type a friend’s name, then tap Poke next to them.

Once you tap it, they get a notification that you poked them and can poke you back if they want.

How to poke someone on Facebook (desktop / browser)

Facebook keeps a dedicated Pokes page that you can open directly.

  1. Open a browser and go to facebook.com and log in.
  2. In the address bar, go directly to:
    facebook.com/pokes.
  1. You’ll see:
    • A list of people who poked you (with a Poke back button).
    • Suggested friends you might poke.
    • A search box to find specific friends.
  2. Click Poke next to the person you want to poke.

If that page doesn’t load for some reason, another trick some guides suggest is:

  • Go to the person’s profile.
  • Click the three‑dot (⋯) menu near their profile picture.
  • If available, choose Poke from the menu.

What “poking” means now

Pokes are an old‑school Facebook feature that survived but moved into the background.

  • It’s a light, playful “hey” or “I’m thinking of you” without sending a full message.
  • Some people use it as a mini in‑joke or flirty nudge, others just for nostalgia.
  • When you poke someone:
    • They get a notification you poked them.
    • They can poke you back, ignore it, or message you.

Because it’s a bit hidden, many newer users don’t even realize it still exists, which is why you might see fresh tutorials about it even in 2024–2025.

Poke etiquette and privacy

Pokes are meant to be harmless, but context matters.

  • Best to poke:
    • Friends who know you well.
    • People who have poked you first.
    • As a small joke or friendly check‑in.
  • Think twice before poking:
    • Coworkers, bosses, or distant acquaintances.
    • Someone who might find it annoying or intrusive.
  • You can control who can poke you via privacy settings; some guides note options like “Everyone,” “Friends of friends,” or “Friends only” for poke permissions.

If someone keeps poking and it bothers you, you can ignore the poke, restrict them, or adjust your settings so fewer people can poke you.

Quick Scoop recap (TL;DR)

  • To poke on the app: search “Pokes” in Facebook → open the Pokes page → tap Poke next to a friend’s name.
  • To poke on desktop: go to facebook.com/pokes → click Poke beside your friend.
  • It’s a playful, low‑effort nudge that sends a notification and lets them poke you back.
  • Use it with people who’ll get the joke, and tweak your privacy if you don’t want random pokes.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.