What changing your Facebook web address means

Your Facebook web address is the URL that appears in your browser when you visit your profile — something like facebook.com/yourname. This is different from your display name, which is what appears on your posts and comments. When you change your web address, you are changing the custom part of that URL so people can find you at a different link.

Facebook calls this your username. You can change it once every 30 days. The username you choose must be between 5 and 50 characters, can include letters, numbers, periods, and underscores, and cannot contain spaces or special characters like hyphens or dashes.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook username once every 30 days through your account settings.
  • Your username must be 5 to 50 characters and can only use letters, numbers, periods, and underscores.
  • The change takes effect when ready, but old links to your profile may stop working.
  • You can revert to a numbered Facebook ID instead of a custom username if you want to remove your current one.
  • Your display name (what appears on posts) is separate from your username and can be changed more frequently.

Steps to change your username on desktop

Open Facebook in a web browser and log into your account. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner of the page, then select Settings and privacy from the menu that appears.

On the left side of the page, click Settings. This opens your account settings. Look for the section labeled Personal information and click it. You will see a field labeled Username with your current web address displayed.

Click the edit icon (a pencil) next to your username. A text box will appear with your current username highlighted. Delete the old username and type your new one. Facebook will show you a preview of what your new web address will look like. Click Review Change to confirm, then click Save Changes.

Steps to change your username on mobile

Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings.

Scroll to Personal information and tap it. Find Username in the list. Tap the edit icon next to it. Type your new username in the text box that appears. Tap Review Change to see a preview of your new web address.

If the username is available, tap Save Changes to confirm. The change takes effect when ready on mobile and desktop.

What happens to your old web address

When you change your username, your old web address stops working. Anyone who tries to visit your old profile link will see an error or be redirected. This means you should update any links you have shared publicly — on a website, in an email signature, or in other profiles — to point to your new username.

If you have shared your old Facebook URL in many places and want to keep it working, you can change your username back within 30 days. After 30 days have passed, you can change it again, but you cannot reclaim the old username if someone else has taken it in the meantime.

Usernames you cannot use

Facebook reserves certain usernames for its own use. You cannot use usernames like "facebook", "admin", "help", "home", "login", "messages", "notifications", "pages", "photos", "settings", "watch", or "marketplace". If you try to use one of these, Facebook will tell you the username is unavailable.

You also cannot use a username that is already taken by another person. If the username you want is taken, you will see a message saying so. You can try adding numbers, periods, or underscores to create a variation that is available.

Difference between username and display name

Your display name is what people see on your posts, comments, and profile header. Your username is the web address. You can change your display name as often as you want, but you can only change your username once every 30 days.

To change your display name, go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Name. Type your new name and click Save. This change does not affect your web address. Many people use a nickname or shortened version as their username but keep their full name as their display name.

If you want to remove your custom username

If you no longer want a custom username, you can revert to Facebook's default numbered ID. Go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Username. Click the edit icon and then click Remove instead of entering a new username. Your profile will then be accessible only by your numbered Facebook ID, which looks like facebook.com/100012345678.

This is useful if you want to make your profile harder to find or if you prefer not to have a custom web address. You can add a custom username back at any time by following the same steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for my new username to work?

The change takes effect when ready. Your new web address works right away, and your old one stops working at the same time. There is no waiting period.

Can I change my username more than once every 30 days?

No. Facebook limits username changes to once per 30 days. If you change your username today, you cannot change it again for 30 days from that date. You can see when you will be able to change it again in your account settings.

What if someone else takes the username I want?

If a username is taken, you cannot use it. You can try adding numbers, periods, or underscores to create a similar version. For example, if "john.smith" is taken, you might try "john.smith1" or "john_smith".

Does changing my username affect my messages or friends list?

No. Your messages, friends, photos, and all other account content stay the same. Only the web address changes. Your friends can still find you and message you normally.

Can I use special characters like hyphens or spaces in my username?

No. Facebook usernames can only contain letters (a-z), numbers (0-9), periods (.), and underscores (_). Spaces, hyphens, and other special characters are not allowed.