Where to Find the Email Setting on Facebook

To change your email address on Facebook, go to the Settings & Privacy menu in the top right corner of your screen (on desktop) or tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right (on mobile). From there, select Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Look for the Personal Information section on the left side — your email address lives there under Contact Information.

Once you click into Contact Information, you will see your current email address listed. Facebook allows you to have multiple email addresses on one account, so you can add a new one before removing the old one. This matters because if something goes wrong during the change, you will still have a way to recover your account.

Key Takeaways

  • Your email address is stored in Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Contact Information on both desktop and mobile.
  • You can add a new email address to your account before deleting the old one, which protects you if the change does not go smoothly.
  • Facebook will send a confirmation link to the new email address — you must click it to complete the change.
  • If you lose access to your old email, you can still remove it from your Facebook account using your new email as the primary contact.

Adding a New Email Address to Your Account

Click the "Add Email" button next to your current email address. A text box will appear where you type in your new email. Make sure you spell it correctly — Facebook will not let you proceed until the format looks like a real email address (something@domain.com).

After you type the new email, click Add Email. Facebook will send a confirmation message to that new address. Open your email inbox (the one you just entered) and look for a message from Facebook. The subject line usually says something like "Confirm your email address on Facebook." Click the link inside that email — it will take you back to Facebook and confirm the new address is yours.

Making Your New Email the Primary Address

Once the new email is confirmed, you will see both email addresses listed in your Contact Information section. One will be marked as Primary. To switch which one is primary, find the email you want to use going forward and click the three dots next to it, then select "Make Primary."

After you set the new email as primary, Facebook will use it for password resets, security alerts, and any messages the platform sends you. Your old email address will still be attached to the account at this point — it just will not be the main one Facebook contacts.

Removing Your Old Email Address

Once your new email is set as primary and you have confirmed you can receive messages there, you can delete the old one. Find the old email address in your Contact Information section, click the three dots next to it, and select "Remove." Facebook will ask you to confirm — click Remove again.

After you remove the old email, it is no longer connected to your Facebook account. If you ever need to recover your account in the future, Facebook will send recovery messages to your new primary email instead. This is why it matters to make sure the new email works before you delete the old one.

What to Do If You Cannot Access Your New Email

If you added a new email address but cannot get into that inbox to click the confirmation link, go back to your Facebook Settings and look for the unconfirmed email in your Contact Information. You should see an option to "Resend Confirmation Email" or "Remove This Email." Click Resend, wait a few minutes, and check your inbox again — sometimes the message takes a moment to arrive, or it lands in your spam folder.

If the confirmation email still does not show up, check your spam and promotions folders. If it is truly not there, remove the unconfirmed email from Facebook and try adding it again. Make sure you typed the email address correctly the first time — a single typo will send the confirmation to the wrong inbox.

Protecting Your Account While You Make the Change

While you are changing your email, make sure no one else has access to your Facebook account. Check your active sessions by going to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login > Where You're Logged In. You will see a list of devices and locations currently signed into your account. If you see anything unfamiliar, click "Log Out" next to it.

You should also turn on two-factor authentication if you have not already. This adds an extra security step when someone tries to log in from a new device. Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login > Two-Factor Authentication and follow the prompts. This protects your account while you are making changes to your contact information.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common error is deleting your old email before confirming the new one works. If you do this and the new email is not confirmed, you will have no way to receive password reset links if you forget your password. Always wait until you have clicked the confirmation link in the new email before you remove the old one.

Another mistake is typing the new email address wrong. Facebook will not catch a typo — it will just send the confirmation link to an inbox you do not own. Double-check the spelling before you click Add Email, especially if you are switching to a work email or a new provider you are not used to typing.

Do not assume the confirmation email arrived when ready. Facebook sometimes takes five to ten minutes to send it, and it often lands in the spam folder instead of your inbox. Check there first before you try to resend or remove the email.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my email address on mobile the same way as on desktop?

Yes. On mobile, tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right, go to Settings & Privacy > Settings, scroll down to Personal Information, and tap Contact Information. The steps are the same — add the new email, confirm it, make it primary, then remove the old one.

What happens to my old email address after I remove it?

Once you remove an email address from Facebook, it is no longer tied to your account. You can use that email address to create a new Facebook account if you want, or you can leave it unused. Facebook will not send you any messages to that address anymore.

Do I have to remove my old email, or can I keep both?

You can keep both email addresses on your account if you want. Only one can be primary, but Facebook will accept messages sent to either address. Some people keep an old email on file as a backup in case they lose access to the primary one.

What if I forgot my password and cannot log in to change my email?

Go to the Facebook login page and click "Forgot Password?" Enter your current email address or phone number. Facebook will send a password reset link to that email. Once you reset your password and log back in, you can change your email address using the steps above.

How long does it take for the confirmation email to arrive?

The confirmation email usually arrives within a few minutes. If it does not show up after ten minutes, check your spam folder. If it is still not there, go back to Facebook and click Resend Confirmation Email. If that does not work, remove the unconfirmed email and try adding it again.