How to Check if a Facebook Page Is Published

Built a brilliant Facebook Page only to find it's getting zero views, likes, or comments? The problem might be simpler than you think: your Page may not even be published for the world to see. It’s a common hiccup that can leave even seasoned marketers scratching their heads. This guide will walk you through several easy methods to check if your Facebook Page is live, why it might be unpublished, and exactly how to fix it so your audience can finally find you.

The Quickest Check: Use Your Admin Superpowers

Facebook doesn't like to keep secrets from Page admins. The fastest way to know your Page's status is to look for the notification it gives you right at the top of your screen.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Log in to the Facebook account that has administrative access to your Page.
2. Navigate directly to the Page you want to check.
3. Look at the very top of your Page, just below your admin navigation menu.

If your Page is unpublished, you will see a bold, hard-to-miss banner that says something like, “Your Page is not published.” It often includes a button or link to “Publish Page” right there in the notification. If you don't see this banner, your Page is most likely published. It’s that simple. This is your first and most immediate clue.

The “See What They See” Method: View Your Page as a Visitor

Just because you don't see an "unpublished" banner doesn't mean you shouldn't double-check. The single best way to confirm what the public sees is to use Facebook’s built-in “View as Visitor” feature. This tool strips away all your admin powers and shows you the Page exactly as a random visitor would experience it.

How to View as a Visitor:

1. While on your Page as an admin, look for the options menu. This is usually a horizontal menu with options like "Posts," "About," "Photos," etc.
2. Click on the three-dot menu icon (...) on the right side of this menu.
3. From the dropdown list, select “View as.”

Once you click it, the Page will instantly reload, and you'll see a black bar at the top indicating that you're now viewing the Page as the public.

• If your Page loads normally: Congratulations! Your content is live and visible. Everyone can see your posts, photos, and Page details.
• If you get an error message: If the Page shows an error like “This Content Isn’t Available Right Now” or “The page you requested cannot be displayed,” that’s a definitive sign your Page is unpublished. This error is precisely what anyone trying to visit your Page is encountering.

To go back to your admin view, simply click the “Exit View As” button in the banner at the top of the screen.

The Ultimate Proof: The Incognito Window Test

If you want a 100% foolproof method that eliminates any potential issues from caching or being logged in, the incognito window test is your best friend. This approach simulates what a brand-new user who has never heard of your brand would experience when searching for you.

Follow these steps:

1. Open a new private browsing window in your web browser (e.g., "Incognito" in Chrome, "Private" in Safari/Firefox).
2. Go directly to the Facebook website (facebook.com). Do not log into any account.
3. In the main search bar, type your Page’s exact name.
4. Alternatively, if you know your Page’s custom URL (e.g., facebook.com/yourbrandname), type that directly into your browser's address bar and hit Enter.

The outcome of this test is black and white. If your Page appears in the search results and loads properly, it is without a doubt published and publicly accessible. If it doesn't show up in search or the URL leads to an error page, it is unpublished.

Why Is My Facebook Page Unpublished Anyway?

Finding out your Page isn't live can be a relief, but it also raises an important question: why did this happen? Typically, Pages end up unpublished for one of three reasons.

1. You Just Created It

Often when you create a new Page, Facebook keeps it in an unpublished "draft" mode by default. This is actually a helpful feature. It gives you the time and space to upload a profile picture, add a cover photo, fill out your "About" section, and create a few starter posts before you officially go live. An incomplete, empty Page can make a poor first impression, so Facebook gives you a chance to build it out behind the scenes first.

2. Someone Unknowingly (or Knowingly) Un-Published It

If your Page has multiple admins or editors, it's possible someone on your team unpublished it. This might happen intentionally if the company is undergoing a rebrand, pausing operations, or updating major Page details. It’s also possible it was an accident - a wrong click in a confusing settings menu. This reason is most common for established Pages that suddenly disappear.

3. Facebook Un-Published It

This is the most serious reason. Facebook may unpublish a Page automatically if it believes the Page has violated its Pages, Groups, and Events Policies or Community Standards. This can happen for a number of reasons, including:

• Your Page has a name that's misleading or violates naming guidelines.
• Spamming users with low-quality content or engagement bait (e.g., "like this post if you love weekends!").
• Promoting regulated goods or services without adhering to policies.
• Posting content that qualifies as hate speech, harassment, or credible violence.
• Infringing on someone else's intellectual property rights.

If Facebook unpublishes your Page, you will receive a notification explaining why, and you can usually find more information in your Page's “Page Quality” section, accessible from the settings. You will typically be given an opportunity to appeal the decision if you believe it was made in error.

How to Publish (or Re-Publish) Your Facebook Page

Whether you’re publishing for the first time or bringing an old Page back to life, the process is straightforward and takes just a few clicks from your Page's settings.

Here is the step-by-step process:

1. From your Facebook Page, click on “Settings” in the left-hand menu. If you are using the New Pages Experience, you may need to click “Manage,” then find the professional dashboard settings.
2. In the Classic Page experience, under the “General” tab (which should be the default view), the very first option at the top of the list will be “Page Visibility.” Click "Edit."
3. In the New Pages Experience, open your Settings menu and click on "Privacy," then select “Page and Tagging.” You should find an option asking "Who can post on your Page?" but more importantly, a visibility toggle. Look for public post settings and visibility controls. Often this experience offers a simple toggle.
4. Select the radio button next to “Page published.”
5. Click “Save Changes.”

Your Page is now instantly live. You can confirm by repeating the "Incognito Window Test" - you should now be able to find and view your Page without any issues.

Final Thoughts

Confirming your Facebook Page is published is a small but critical check that can make the difference between shouting into the void and actually reaching your audience. Whether you use the direct admin view, the "View as" feature, or the foolproof incognito window test, diagnosing the problem is thankfully a quick process. Making sure your Page is visible is the first step in building a community.

Once you’ve confirmed your Page is live and ready for visitors, the real work of consistent content creation begins. That’s where a solid, reliable strategy comes in, supported by a tool that just works. We built Postbase because we personally know the pain of using scheduling tools that are unreliable or feel stuck in the past. An unpublished post is just another kind of visibility problem, and we believe you should be able to schedule your content with confidence, knowing it's going live exactly when you plan it to, every single time.