Yes, you can change your birthday on Facebook, but the process depends on how long ago you set it
Facebook lets you change your birthday through your profile settings. The catch: if you set your birthday more than a few days after creating your account, you can only change it once per year. If you just created your account or set your birthday very recently, you have more flexibility. The exact rules shift depending on your account age and when you last changed it.
The change takes effect when ready, but it affects what Facebook shows publicly. Your birthday visibility depends on your privacy settings — you control whether friends see it, whether only close friends see it, or whether it stays hidden entirely.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your birthday through Settings and Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Birthday, then click Edit.
- If you set your birthday more than a few days after account creation, Facebook limits you to one change per year.
- Your birthday visibility is separate from the ability to change it — you can hide it from all users while still updating the date itself.
- Facebook uses your birthday to send you birthday notifications and to show age-restricted content appropriately.
- If you cannot change your birthday because you have hit the yearly limit, you must wait until the anniversary of your last change to try again.
Where to find the birthday setting
Open Facebook on desktop or mobile and go to the menu in the top right corner. Select Settings and Privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal Information. You will see your birthday listed there with an Edit button next to it.
On mobile, the layout is the same but the menu button may appear as three horizontal lines. Tap it, scroll down to Settings and Privacy, then follow the same path to Personal Information.
When you can change it without waiting
If you created your Facebook account within the last few days and have not yet set a birthday, or if you set one when ready after signing up, you can change it freely. Facebook does not enforce the yearly limit during this initial window.
Once you move past that window — usually a few days — the one-change-per-year rule kicks in. This applies whether you change it yourself or Facebook had to correct it because you entered it wrong the first time.
The one-change-per-year limit explained
After the initial setup period, Facebook restricts birthday changes to once every 12 months. The 12-month clock starts from the date you last changed it, not from your actual birthday. So if you changed your birthday on March 15, you cannot change it again until March 15 of the following year.
This limit exists to prevent account takeovers — if someone gains access to your account, they cannot repeatedly change your birthday to lock you out or cause confusion. It is a security measure, not a punishment for mistakes.
What happens if you hit the yearly limit
If you try to change your birthday and see a message saying you have already made a change this year, you will have to wait. The exact message varies, but it will tell you when you can change it next. Mark that date on your calendar if you need to make another change.
There is no way to bypass this limit through Facebook support or appeals. The restriction is automatic and applies to all accounts equally. If you made a mistake entering your birthday, you will need to wait until the anniversary of that change to fix it.
Controlling who sees your birthday
Your birthday visibility is separate from your ability to change it. Even if you cannot change the date itself, you can always adjust who sees it. In the same Personal Information section, look for the privacy icon next to your birthday — it usually looks like a globe or a lock.
Click that icon to choose from options like Public (everyone sees it), Friends (only your friends see it), Close Friends (a smaller group), or Only Me (nobody sees it). You can change these privacy settings as often as you want, with no yearly limit.
Why Facebook uses your birthday
Facebook uses your birthday for several functions. It sends you a birthday notification and shows your birthday to friends on their home feed. It also uses your age to determine which ads you see and whether you can access age-restricted content like alcohol or gambling ads.
If your birthday is wrong, you might see ads meant for a different age group, or you might not see ads that would actually be relevant to you. Getting it right matters for accuracy, even if you choose to hide it from your friends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I cannot find the Edit button next to my birthday?
This usually means you have already made a change within the past year and hit the limit. The Edit button disappears when you cannot make another change. Check when you last changed it — you will be able to edit again on the anniversary of that date.
Can I change my birthday if my account was hacked?
If someone else changed your birthday and you have regained access to your account, you still have to wait until the yearly limit expires. Contact Facebook support through the Help Center to report the unauthorized change, but be aware that support cannot override the one-change-per-year rule.
Does changing my birthday affect my age on Facebook?
Yes. Facebook calculates your age from your birthday, so changing the date changes your age when ready. If you change your birthday from 1995 to 1990, Facebook will show you as five years older right away.
Can I hide my birthday from specific people instead of everyone?
Facebook does not let you hide your birthday from specific friends while showing it to others. You can only choose between showing it to all friends, close friends, or nobody. If you need more granular control, set it to Only Me and tell people your birthday directly if you want them to know.
What happens to birthday wishes if I change my birthday?
If you change your birthday to a different date, your next birthday notification will go out on the new date. Friends will start seeing the new birthday on their calendars. Old birthday posts from previous years stay on your timeline but will not generate new notifications on the old date.