> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://findprospectsnow.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How scans work

> What happens during a Find Prospects Now scan of your Facebook groups — which posts are read, how matches are found, and what you need to keep running.

Source: https://findprospectsnow.com/docs/scanning/how-scans-work  
Last updated: 2026-10-17

A **scan** checks the latest posts in each group you monitor and keeps the ones that match your keywords or AI criteria.

## What a scan does

1. The Chrome extension reads the **most recent posts** of each monitored group, using the Facebook session already open in your Chrome profile.
2. Posts already checked by a previous scan are skipped, so each scan focuses on what is new. Posts older than about a month are ignored.
3. Each new post is checked against your [keywords](https://findprospectsnow.com/docs/monitoring/keywords). On Pro, posts are also checked against your [AI criteria](https://findprospectsnow.com/docs/monitoring/ai-lead-matching).
4. Matching posts are saved to your account and appear in the dashboard **New** tab.
5. Your notifications go out: Chrome alert, badge, [webhooks](https://findprospectsnow.com/docs/notifications/webhooks), and the daily [email summary](https://findprospectsnow.com/docs/notifications/email-notifications).

Scans run in the background. No Facebook tab opens, and you can keep using Chrome normally.

## How long a scan takes

It depends on the number of groups and how active they are — typically a few seconds to a few tens of seconds per group. The first scan of a group takes longer than the next ones. AI matching may finish shortly after the scan itself.

## What scans never do

- Post, comment, react or send messages.
- Join groups or access groups your account cannot see.
- Ask for or store your Facebook password.

## When scans run

- **Automatically**, every 1 to 6 hours — see [Scan schedule](https://findprospectsnow.com/docs/scanning/scan-schedule).
- **On demand** with **Run scan now** — see [Run a scan](https://findprospectsnow.com/docs/scanning/run-a-scan).

Both need a computer with Chrome running, the extension signed in, Facebook connected, setup finished and an active plan.