Change Your Email Address in Account Settings

To change your email on Facebook, open the site or app and go to your account settings. On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner, then select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On a phone, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu), scroll down, and tap Settings and privacy, then Settings. Look for the Personal information section on the left side of the screen (computer) or scroll to find it (phone).

Once you are in Personal information, you will see your current email address listed. Click or tap the pencil icon next to it to edit. Facebook will ask you to enter your password to confirm the change is really you. Type your password and click Continue. Then type your new email address in the field that appears, and click Change email or Save changes depending on your device.

Facebook will send a confirmation message to both your old email and your new email. Check your new email inbox (including the spam folder) for a message from Facebook. Click the link in that message to confirm the change. Your email address will not fully switch until you click that link.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Personal information to find your email address field.
  • Click the pencil icon next to your email, enter your password, and type your new email address.
  • Facebook sends a confirmation link to your new email — you must click it to complete the change.
  • You can use a phone number instead of an email to log in, though Facebook still requires an email on file for account recovery.
  • If you no longer have access to your old email, use the "No longer have access to this email?" option to verify your identity another way.

What Happens to Your Old Email Address

Once you change your email, your old email address is no longer tied to your Facebook account. You will not be able to use it to log in anymore. If someone else tries to sign up for Facebook with that old email, they can do so — Facebook will not reserve it for you.

If you think you might need that old email to recover your account someday, write down your new email address somewhere safe. Facebook uses your current email to send password reset links and security alerts, so keeping it up to date protects your account.

If You Cannot Access Your Old Email

If you no longer have access to your old email address — because you closed the account, lost the password, or it was hacked — Facebook has a workaround. When you click the pencil icon next to your email in Personal information, look for a link that says No longer have access to this email? or similar wording. Click it.

Facebook will ask you to verify your identity using other methods. You may be asked to confirm your phone number, answer security questions you set up before, or upload a photo of your ID. The exact steps depend on what information Facebook has on file for you. Once you verify, you can change your email without needing access to the old one.

Using a Phone Number Instead

Facebook lets you add a phone number to your account in addition to your email. You can use this phone number to log in instead of your email if you prefer. To add a phone number, go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Personal information. Look for the phone number field and click the pencil icon to add or change it.

Even if you add a phone number, Facebook still requires an email address on file. You cannot remove your email entirely — you can only change it to a different one. The phone number is an extra login option, not a replacement.

Changing Email on the Facebook App

The steps on the Facebook mobile app are the same as on a computer, but the menu looks different. Tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right of the screen (on iPhone) or top right (on Android). Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then Settings. Tap Personal information, then tap your email address field.

Tap the pencil icon, enter your password, type your new email, and tap Change email. You will still need to click the confirmation link in your new email inbox to finish the change. If the app does not show a confirmation message, check your email directly in your email app or browser.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common mistake is typing your new email address incorrectly. Double-check that you have spelled it right and that there are no extra spaces before or after it. If you make a typo, Facebook will send the confirmation link to the wrong address, and you will not be able to complete the change.

Another mistake is forgetting to click the confirmation link. Many people change their email and then assume they are done, but the change does not take effect until you click the link in the confirmation message. If you do not see the confirmation email, check your spam or junk folder — sometimes email providers filter messages from Facebook.

Do not change your email right before you plan to log out and then log back in on a different device. Wait until the confirmation is complete before you log out, or you might have trouble logging back in if something goes wrong with the confirmation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my email address more than once?

Yes, you can change your email as many times as you want. There is no limit to how often you can update it. Just follow the same steps each time: go to Personal information, click the pencil icon, enter your password, type the new email, and click the confirmation link.

What if I do not receive the confirmation email?

Check your spam, junk, or promotions folder — the confirmation message sometimes gets filtered there. If you still do not see it after 10 minutes, go back to Personal information and try changing your email again. You can also try a different email address if the first one is not working.

Can I use the same email for multiple Facebook accounts?

No, each email address can only be connected to one Facebook account. If you try to change your email to one that is already in use on another account, Facebook will reject the change and tell you the email is already taken.

Will changing my email affect my password?

No, your password stays the same. Changing your email only updates the address you use to log in — it does not change your password. You will still log in with the same password you have always used.

What happens if I change my email but then want to change it back?

You can change it back anytime by following the same steps. Go to Personal information, click the pencil icon, enter your password, type your old email address, and click the confirmation link. Facebook treats it like any other email change.