Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Facebook to make everyone use 'new Facebook' from September as button for classic look removed

Users allowed to switch back to 'Classic' view – for now

Andrew Griffin
Friday 21 August 2020 15:10 BST
Comments
The Facebook "like" sign is seen at Facebook's corporate headquarters campus in Menlo Park, California, on October 23, 2019
The Facebook "like" sign is seen at Facebook's corporate headquarters campus in Menlo Park, California, on October 23, 2019 (JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Facebook will make everyone use its new look from September.

The company first introduced its major new redesign – which unclutters the page and gets rid of the famous blue bar at the top – at its developer conference last year. Since then it has been rolling out to more users, who were initially asked whether they wanted to switch to the new look.

Anyone who currently has the design is able to switch back to the old one. But now Facebook says that option will be removed from September.

"If you're using the new Facebook.com, you can switch back to the classic Facebook temporarily," a support page reads. "Starting in September, everyone will have the new design."

When users ask to switch back, they are also told that the "classic Facebook experience will no longe rbe available starting in September". They are also presented with questions asking them if they are switching back because they are missing features, with the pop-up indicating that the company is looking to ensure that it is improved before it is rolled out to everyone.

As well as redefining the look of Facebook, the new design introduced a dark mode that can be switched on for users. It also brings it in line with the app version of Facebook, which has already changed for everyone.

The new design also places more of a focus on the various features that the company is trying to push, including the Watch video tool and its Gaming section.

Until the change is pushed out to everyone, users can switch back to the old design by clicking the arrow in the top right corner and choosing "Switch to Classic Facebook".

Users can also report problems with the new Facebook design by pressing the same button, choosing "Help & Support" and clicking the option to "Report a Problem".

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in