You can change your birthday on Instagram, but only once every 60 days
Instagram lets you update your birthday in your profile settings at any time, but the platform enforces a waiting period between changes. Once you modify your birthday, you cannot change it again for 60 days. This limit exists to prevent account misuse and protect your account security. If you made a mistake or need to correct your birthday, you will have to wait two months before making another change.
The process itself takes less than a minute. You go into your profile settings, find the birthday field, and save the new date. Instagram does not require you to provide a reason for the change, and the update takes effect when ready. Your birthday remains visible only to people you have chosen to share it with—it is not public by default.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your birthday through your profile settings on Instagram, but you must wait 60 days between changes.
- Your birthday is private by default and only visible to people you have allowed to see it in your privacy settings.
- If you cannot remember your current birthday on file, you may need to contact Instagram support to retrieve it.
- Changing your birthday does not affect your account age, verification status, or any other account features.
How to change your birthday step by step
Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Then tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and select Settings and privacy. Next, tap Account information and then Personal information. You will see a field labeled Birthday. Tap it to open the date picker.
Select your new birth month, day, and year using the scroll wheels or calendar that appears. Once you have entered the correct date, tap Done or Confirm (the exact button name varies by device). Instagram will save the change when ready. If you see an error message saying you have changed your birthday too recently, you will need to wait until the 60-day window has passed.
What happens if you change your birthday too soon
If you try to change your birthday before 60 days have passed since your last change, Instagram will show an error message. The message will tell you that you cannot change your birthday right now and may indicate when you will be able to make another change. You cannot bypass this restriction—there is no way to change your birthday again until the waiting period ends.
If you made a mistake and need to correct your birthday urgently (for example, if you entered the wrong year), you can contact Instagram support through the app. Go to Settings and privacy > Help > Help requests and describe your situation. Support staff can sometimes override the 60-day limit in cases where you entered incorrect information, though response times vary.
Who can see your birthday on Instagram
By default, your birthday is private and visible only to you. Instagram does not show your birthday publicly on your profile, and other users cannot see it unless you change your privacy settings. To control who sees your birthday, go to Settings and privacy > Account information > Personal information and look for the birthday visibility option.
You can choose to keep your birthday private, share it with close friends only, or make it visible to all followers. If you share your birthday, Instagram may send you a birthday notification and allow followers to see it on your profile. Some users share their birthday to receive birthday messages and wishes from their followers.
Why Instagram limits birthday changes
The 60-day waiting period protects your account from unauthorized changes. If someone gains access to your account, they cannot repeatedly change your birthday to confuse account recovery or bypass security features. Your birthday is often used as a verification method when you need to recover a hacked account, so limiting changes makes it harder for attackers to lock you out.
The restriction also prevents people from using birthday changes to evade age restrictions. Instagram requires users to be at least 13 years old, and the platform uses birthday information to enforce this rule. Allowing unlimited birthday changes would make it easier to circumvent age verification.
What to do if you forgot your birthday on file
If you cannot remember what birthday you entered when you created your account, you can view it in your account settings. Go to Settings and privacy > Account information > Personal information and look at the birthday field. The date you originally entered will be displayed there.
If you cannot access your account or do not remember your password, you will need to use Instagram's account recovery process. Go to the login page, tap Forgot password?, and follow the steps to verify your identity. You may be asked to confirm your email address, phone number, or answer security questions. Once you regain access, you can view and change your birthday as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my birthday on Instagram more than once every 60 days?
No. Instagram enforces a strict 60-day waiting period between birthday changes. You cannot bypass this limit through any setting or feature. If you need to change your birthday sooner due to an error, you can contact Instagram support, but they may not be able to override the restriction.
Will changing my birthday affect my account age or verification?
Changing your birthday does not affect how old your account is or whether you are verified. Your account age is based on when you created the account, not on your birthday. If you are a verified account, your verification status remains unchanged.
What if someone else changed my birthday without permission?
If you believe someone unauthorized changed your birthday, your account may have been compromised. Change your password when ready and enable two-factor authentication. Then go to Settings and privacy > Security > Login activity to see if there were suspicious logins. Contact Instagram support if you need further help securing your account.
Does Instagram notify my followers when I change my birthday?
No. Instagram does not send notifications to your followers when you change your birthday. The change is only visible to people who have permission to see your birthday in your privacy settings. If your birthday was previously visible and you change it, followers will see the updated date the next time they view your profile.
Can I hide my birthday after I have shared it?
Yes. Go to Settings and privacy > Account information > Personal information and adjust your birthday visibility settings. You can change it from visible to all followers back to private at any time. This change takes effect when ready and does not count toward your 60-day birthday change limit.