If you spend a lot of time on a certain social media site, it's jarring to deal with a change in layout. This happens every so often with Facebook, leaving many users upset every time.
In September 2020, Facebook made its latest redesign mandatory, meaning you can't switch back to the classic layout any more. At least not officially. However, using a workaround, it's still possible to go back to the old Facebook. And in this article, we'll show you how.
How to Go Back to the Old Facebook Layout
Until September, Facebook gave you a choice in the Settings menu whether you wanted to use the classic layout or the modern look. However, this is no longer an option---everyone is on the latest look, with no built-in option to change.
Thankfully, clever third-party developers have come to the rescue. Matt Krause, the developer behind the excellent Social Fixer extension, created a new browser extension called Old Layout. This lets you keep using Facebook's old look with a simple trick.
The extension doesn't perform any heavy programming changes. Instead, it simply fools Facebook into thinking that you're using an old browser that doesn't work with the new layout. Facebook then reverts back to the classic design, which you can enjoy without configuring anything.
Simply install Old Layout for your browser, then visit Facebook, and you'll see the familiar interface. If you have Facebook open when you install it, you'll need to reload the page for the change to take effect.
Click the extension's icon in your browser's menu bar to switch between the old and new layouts without disabling the extension.
The Old Layout extension is available for Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and the new Microsoft Edge. While there's no extension for Safari, you can use a workaround detailed on the site to get the same effect.
Download: Old Layout for Chrome| Edge | Firefox | Opera (Free)
How Are the Facebook Layouts Different?
So what are the differences between the old and new Facebook layouts that are causing so much of a fuss?
The new Facebook layout is more streamlined. Compared to the old one, it makes groups, videos, and Facebook Marketplace more prominent on the top bar. It also has native support for dark mode and uses more of the screen's width.
The old layout, by contrast, uses smaller text and icons. The options menu at the top-right is a little different, and the search bar is slightly more prominent.
Technically, there's nothing wrong with either one---your attachment to the old layout is probably from muscle memory of knowing where everything is. Especially if you use Facebook a lot.
The Drawbacks of Using Old Layout
As mentioned, Old Layout works by telling Facebook that you're using an old browser to force the classic look. However, this has some downsides.
You may see a notice at the top of Facebook that you're using an old browser. Even though your browser is current, Facebook doesn't register this due to the extension. You'll have to live with this as part of sticking with the old layout.
Similarly, some features may not work on Facebook when you're using the old layout. Since Facebook thinks you're using an unsupported browser, it may prevent you from playing some games or using newer features. You'll need to switch back to the new layout to access this content.
Finally, keep in mind that this isn't an official solution and could break at any time. If Facebook decides to stop supporting the "old browser" that the extension pretends to be, there's not much the developer can do. This will likely work for a limited time only.
If you find this workaround interesting, you can learn how to change your browser's user agent to do this yourself on other websites, too.
Get Facebook's Old Layout Back Quickly and Easily
Old Layout is an easy option for switching back to Facebook's classic layout. It's good enough for now, and should hold you over until Facebook changes this to force everyone to use the new look no matter what.
Image Credit: Alexey Boldin/Shutterstock
