change facebook to classic view

UPDATE: Since I originally posted this, most Facebook users have been switched over to the new layout, and the option to switch back that I describe below has been removed. I'm not aware of any official way to go back to the old Facebook layout (which is now called Classic Facebook).

But there's at least one unofficial alternative to switch back to the old Facebook layout. A method that many users have reported success with is to install a browser plugin that tricks Facebook into thinking you're using an old, outdated version of Internet Explorer that Facebook doesn't support (aka, spoofing the user agent).

There's more than one plugin that will do this. Two plugins that readers have reported success with are Old Layout and Revert Site (links below). They're free, and there are versions for multiple different browsers.

There are some things worth noting with these, however:

This might end up being only a temporary fix. Facebook might change settings on their end that would stop the plugins from working. UPDATE: In mid-2021, Facebook appeared to close many of the loopholes that these plugins were using.
It's likely that Facebook features might still be missing. The plugins can alter how the page is displayed, but they can't restore features that Facebook might have disabled on their end.
Please review the permissions required for the plugins. I do not know the plugin authors, nor can I personally vouch for the security of the underlying code.

With that said, if you want to give them a try, you can find the plugins here:

Old Layout
Revert Site

Chrome / Brave

Revert Site
Old Layout for Facebook
Switch to Classic Design on Facebook

Firefox

Old Layout for Facebook
Switch Old Design on Facebook

Microsoft Edge

Revert Site
Switch to Classic Design on Facebook

Below is the original post, although the setting it describes is no longer available for many users, including me.

UPDATE: An increasing number of users have reported that they no longer see the options to switch between the interfaces below. Facebook usually rolls out changes to some users at a time. At the time of writing, I still see the options to switch between old Facebook (or Classic) and the new versions on my account, but it's possible that Facebook has already removed the options from your account.

If it hasn't, you'll likely see a warning message that Classic Facebook is going away soon when you log in:

Elsewhere, there's a message that "the classic Facebook will no longer be available starting in September." As of September 15, it's still available on my account, although the option has been changed to a temporary switch for 48 hours.

To be clear, the guide below was written some time ago and applies only when Facebook hasn't disabled the switch on your account. Once you've been switched over totally to New Facebook, I'm not aware of any way to switch back.

If you're wondering why Facebook looks different, it's because Facebook has been rolling out a new, updated look. The rollout has been a long, drawn-out process. It was started in mid-2020 and done in stages. And Mark Zuckerberg had announced the update a year earlier.

The purpose of the new look is to bring it closer in line with the mobile version. But it's not everyone's cup of tea–often for very good reasons.

Facebook is calling the old version Classic Facebook and the updated version New Facebook. At least on some screens, it's still referred to as "Facebook Beta."

As with most Facebook updates, it's being rolled out gradually. And Facebook knows as well as anyone that change can be controversial. Many users don't like the new version, and there seem to be some significant features missing so far (hopefully, they'll be added back sooner rather than later). To ease the transition and provide a workaround if you run into any glitches or missing features, Facebook added a function to let you switch between New Facebook and Classic Facebook.

How to Switch from Classic Facebook to New Facebook

First, click on the small white down triangle at the top right of the blue bar at the top.

Then choose Switch to New Facebook.

How to Switch from New Facebook to Classic Facebook

As it usually does, Facebook is rolling out the switchover to New Facebook incrementally to some users at a time. It's not clear what criteria is used to determine who gets switched over when.

New Facebook Welcome Message — This is the welcome message that should show up when you've been switched over the New Facebook automatically. When you hit Next, you get to choose between the Light and Dark themes.

Many users have been reporting that they've been switched over automatically and the option to switch back to Classic Facebook no longer appears for them. As of the time of writing, the option is still available on my account.

You can switch to the classic Facebook at any time message — This popup appears in some cases, reading: "You can switch to the classic Facebook at any time." But many users report that this option to switch back no longer appears when they log into their accounts.

Click on the small dark blue triangle at the top right (it's surrounded by a light blue circle).

Then click on the Switch to Classic Facebook option.

Things Worth Knowing

It's worth pointing out that switching these affects how you see Facebook.com. It doesn't affect how others see it. So you can't force visitors to see only the New Facebook version, for instance—it'll depend on what setting they're using for their viewing.

It's also worth pointing out that this is a temporary feature. At some point, they'll flick the switch for everyone, and there won't be an option to go back to Classic Facebook.