The quickest way to change your Facebook email
Open Facebook and go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal Information. Find the Email row and click next to it. Type your new email address, 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 whole process takes about five minutes if you have access to both email accounts right now. If you do not have access to your old email anymore, the process is longer and requires you to verify your identity another way.
Your password does not change. You can still log in with your old email address for a short time after you make the change, but Facebook recommends logging in with the new one going forward.
Key Takeaways
- You change your email through Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Email, then click the link in the confirmation email sent to your new address.
- Facebook sends confirmation links to both your old and new email addresses, and you must click the new one to finish the change.
- If you no longer have access to your old email, you can verify your identity using your phone number or a government ID instead.
- You can use your old email to log in for a limited time after the change, but your new email becomes your primary login going forward.
- Changing your email does not affect your password, friends list, photos, or any other account data.
Step-by-step instructions for desktop
Start by logging into Facebook on a computer. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner and select Settings & Privacy, then Settings again.
On the left side of the screen, you will see a menu. Click Personal Information. Look for the Email row — it shows your current email address. Click the pencil icon or the word Edit next to it.
A box will appear. Delete your old email and type your new one. Click Change Email. Facebook will tell you that a confirmation link has been sent to both addresses. Do not close this page yet.
Open your new email account in another browser tab or window. Look for an email from Facebook with the subject line "Confirm your email address" or similar. Click the confirmation link inside that email. Once you click it, the change is complete.
Step-by-step instructions for mobile
Open the Facebook app on your phone. Tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the bottom right corner on iPhone or the top right on Android. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings.
Scroll down to Personal Information and tap it. Tap Email. The screen will show your current email address with an Edit button or pencil icon next to it. Tap that button.
Delete your old email and type your new one. Tap Change Email. Facebook will confirm that it sent links to both addresses. Open your email app and find the confirmation message from Facebook. Tap the link inside it to finish.
What to do if you no longer have access to your old email
If your old email account is closed or you cannot log into it, you cannot click the confirmation link Facebook sends there. Instead, you will need to verify your identity using a different method.
When you try to change your email and do not confirm it within a certain time, Facebook will ask you to verify who you are. You can do this by entering the phone number connected to your account, or by uploading a photo of a government ID like a driver's license or passport. Facebook will review the ID and let you know if the change is approved.
This process can take a few hours to a few days. Keep your account find while you wait — do not share your password with anyone, and make sure you recognize any login attempts from unfamiliar devices.
Why Facebook asks you to confirm the change
The confirmation step protects your account from someone else changing your email without your permission. If a hacker got into your account, they could change the email to lock you out. By requiring you to click a link in the new email address, Facebook makes sure you actually own that address.
This is why you must have access to your new email account to complete the change. If you set up a new email but cannot log into it yet, wait until you can before you try to change your Facebook email.
What happens to your old email after the change
Your old email address stops being your primary login, but Facebook does not delete it from your account right away. For a short time — usually a few days — you can still log in using your old email and your password. After that window closes, only your new email will work as a login.
If someone else tries to sign up for Facebook with your old email address, they can do so. Your old email is no longer tied to your account, so it becomes available for new accounts. If you want to keep using that email for something else, you can do so without any conflict.
Changing your email does not affect these things
Your password stays the same. Your friends list does not change. Your photos, videos, messages, and all other content remain exactly as they were. Your account name and username do not change. Any pages or groups you manage are still yours. Your privacy settings stay the same.
The only thing that changes is which email address Facebook uses to contact you and which email you can use to log in. Everything else about your account works exactly as before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my email address more than once?
Yes. You can change your email as many times as you need to. There is no limit on how often you can do it. Each time, you will need to confirm the new email address by clicking a link sent to it.
What if I change my email but then want to change it back?
You can change it back the same way you changed it the first time. Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Email, enter your old email address, and confirm it. Facebook treats it like any other email change.
Do I need to tell my friends my new email address?
No. Your friends do not see your email address on Facebook unless you put it on your profile yourself. Changing your email does not affect how your friends contact you through Facebook Messenger or any other way.
Will changing my email log me out of Facebook?
No. You will stay logged in on all your devices while you make the change. You do not need to log back in unless you choose to or unless Facebook logs you out for security reasons.
What if I enter the wrong email address by mistake?
If you realize the mistake before you click the confirmation link, go back to Settings and change it again to the correct address. If you already clicked the confirmation link, you can change it again when ready to the correct email address.