You can search Facebook without signing up in one of two ways: Facebook People Search or OpenBook. Facebook People Search is an official Facebook search page that helps you find people by name. OpenBook is a third-party website that relies on Facebook's publicly available portal to search for status updates posted by Facebook users who have elected -- either knowingly or unknowingly -- to let their updates be public.
Facebook People Search
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Step 1
Navigate your browser to the Facebook People Search page at facebook.com/people-search.php.
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Step 2
Type a first and/or last name in the box labeled "Search for People by Name" and press "Enter." This displays a list of users whose names match or nearly match the one you entered.
Step 3
Click the name of a user you think might be the person you are searching for. This displays the "Info" page for that person's Facebook profile.
Step 4
Read the "Info" page of the Facebook user whose name you clicked in Step 3 to ascertain whether this is the person you are searching for. Depending on that user's privacy settings you can view activities, interests, websites and other information.
Step 5
Repeat Steps 2 through 4 as needed until you find the person you are searching for.
Facebook Status Update Search
Step 1
Navigate your browser to the OpenBook website at openbook.org.
Step 2
Type a keyword or phrase in the box labeled "Search for Facebook Updates" and press "Enter." This displays a list of status updates that match or nearly match the keyword you entered, along with the linked names of the Facebook users who posted the updates.
Step 3
Click the name of a user you think might be the person you are searching for. This displays the "Info" page for that person's Facebook profile.
Step 4
Click the name of a user you want to know more about. This displays the "Info" page for that person's Facebook profile.
Step 5
Repeat Steps 2 through 4 as desired.