The steps to change your Facebook email

Open Facebook and go to the Settings & Privacy menu by clicking the three horizontal lines in the top right corner (on mobile) or the downward arrow next to your profile picture (on desktop). Select Settings & Privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal Information. Find the Email row and click Edit next to it. Type your new email address in the field that appears, then click Change Email. Facebook will send a confirmation link to both your old and new email addresses — you must click the link in the new email to complete the change.

The entire process takes less than five minutes if you have access to both email accounts. If you cannot access your old email, Facebook will let you skip that confirmation step, but you will need to verify your identity another way — usually by answering security questions or uploading a photo ID.

Your new email becomes active when ready after you confirm it. Your old email stops working for Facebook login purposes, though Facebook keeps a record of it for account recovery if you need it later.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your email through Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Email, then click Edit and type the new address.
  • Facebook sends confirmation links to both your old and new email addresses, and you must click the link in the new email to finish the change.
  • If you cannot access your old email, you can skip that confirmation by verifying your identity with security questions or a photo ID.
  • Your new email works for login when ready after confirmation, and your old email is saved by Facebook for account recovery purposes.

What happens if you do not confirm the new email

If you enter a new email but do not click the confirmation link within a set time, the change does not go through. Your old email remains your active login email. Facebook will not remind you to confirm — the link straightforward expires. You can start the process over by going back to Personal Information and clicking Edit next to Email again.

This safety feature prevents someone from changing your email without your knowledge. Even if someone gains temporary access to your account, they cannot lock you out by changing your email unless they also have access to the new email address to confirm the change.

Changing your email when you no longer have access to the old one

If your old email account is closed, hacked, or you straightforward cannot access it anymore, you can still change your Facebook email. When you click the confirmation link in your new email, Facebook will ask if you can confirm the old email. Select "I no longer have access to this email" or a similar option. Facebook will then ask you to verify your identity through security questions (answers you set up previously), a photo ID, or a trusted contact you named earlier.

The verification process usually takes a few minutes to a few hours. Keep your new email open and watch for messages from Facebook asking you to confirm your identity. Once you verify, your new email becomes active and your account is secured under the new address.

Using a new email for login after the change

After you confirm your new email, you can log into Facebook using either the new email address or your username. Your old email no longer works for login. If you have multiple Facebook accounts, make sure you are changing the email on the correct account — each account has its own email address, and mixing them up is a common mistake.

Write down or save your new email somewhere safe so you do not forget it. If you ever need to recover your account, Facebook will send recovery links to this email address. If you lose access to it later, the recovery process becomes much harder.

Why you might want to change your Facebook email

People change their Facebook email for several reasons: they no longer use the old email address, they switched email providers, they want to use a work email instead of a personal one, or they are securing an account after a breach. Whatever your reason, the process is the same and takes just a few minutes.

Changing your email does not affect your friends list, photos, messages, or any other content on your account. It only changes how you log in and how Facebook contacts you. Your profile, posts, and privacy settings stay exactly as they were.

What to do if you forget your new email address

If you changed your email recently and cannot remember the new address, go back to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information. The Email row will show your current email address — you can see it there. If you still cannot remember it, check your email inbox for a message from Facebook confirming the change. The confirmation email will show both the old and new addresses.

If you have lost access to the new email address itself and cannot recover it, you will need to verify your identity to Facebook through security questions or photo ID before you can change it again. This is another reason to keep your new email address written down or stored somewhere you can find it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same email for two Facebook accounts?

No. Each Facebook account must have a unique email address. If you try to use an email that is already connected to another account, Facebook will reject it. You must use a different email for each account you own.

How long does the confirmation link stay active?

Facebook does not publish an exact time limit, but confirmation links typically expire within 24 to 48 hours. If you do not click the link in that window, you will need to start the email change process over. Check both your inbox and spam folder for the confirmation email.

Will my friends know I changed my email?

No. Changing your email is invisible to your friends and contacts. Only you and Facebook know about the change. Your profile, name, and all other visible information stays the same.

What if I change my mind after confirming the new email?

You can change it back. Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Email, click Edit, and enter your old email address. Facebook will send a confirmation link to both addresses, and you follow the same process as before. There is no limit to how many times you can change your email.

Do I need to update my email on Facebook Messenger too?

No. Messenger uses the same email address as your main Facebook account. When you change your email on Facebook, Messenger updates automatically. You do not need to do anything separately.