Change Your Email in Account Settings

To change the email address linked to your Facebook account, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal Information, then find the Email row. Click the pencil icon next to your current email, type in your new email address, and click Save Changes. Facebook will send a confirmation link to the new email address you entered.

Check your new email inbox (including spam and promotions folders) for a message from Facebook. Open that email and click the confirmation link inside it. This step is required — your email won't actually change until you confirm it. Once you click the link, your account will be updated to use the new email address for login and password recovery.

The whole process usually takes a few minutes. Your old email address stops working for Facebook login as soon as you confirm the new one, though Facebook may keep the old address on file for account recovery purposes for a limited time.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your email through Settings and Privacy > Settings > Personal Information, then click the pencil icon next to Email.
  • Facebook sends a confirmation link to your new email address, and you must click that link for the change to take effect.
  • Check your spam and promotions folders if you don't see the confirmation email in your inbox within a few minutes.
  • After you confirm, you can only log in using your new email address, not the old one.
  • If you no longer have access to your new email address, you can add a phone number or username to your account as an alternative login method.

What Happens If You Don't Receive the Confirmation Email

If the confirmation email doesn't arrive within five minutes, check your spam, junk, and promotions folders first — email filters often catch messages from Facebook. Search for "confirm your email" or look for any recent message from noreply@facebookmail.com.

If you still can't find it, go back to Settings > Personal Information > Email and click Resend next to the email address you're trying to confirm. Facebook will send another confirmation link. Wait a few minutes and check again, including spam folders. If resending doesn't work after two or three attempts, try a different email address instead — sometimes a particular email provider has trouble receiving Facebook's messages.

Using a Phone Number or Username Instead of Email

You don't have to use an email address to log into Facebook. You can set up your account so you log in with your phone number or your Facebook username instead. Go to Settings > Personal Information and look for the Phone section. Click the plus icon to add a phone number, or go to the Username section to create a unique username for your account.

This is useful if you're changing email addresses frequently or if you want a backup way to log in. You can have multiple phone numbers on your account, but only one username. If you add a phone number, you can use either that number or your email to log in — Facebook doesn't force you to choose just one.

Recovering Your Account If You've Lost Access to Your Email

If you've already changed your email to an address you no longer have access to, you can still recover your account. Go to the Facebook login page and click Forgotten password? Facebook will ask you to enter your email, phone number, or username. If you can't access the email you listed, click No longer have access to these? and Facebook will walk you through other ways to prove you own the account.

Facebook may ask you to identify friends in photos, answer security questions you set up earlier, or verify your identity using a phone number on file. This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to several days depending on how much information Facebook needs to confirm you're the real account owner. Keep trying different recovery methods if one doesn't work — you usually have multiple options.

Changing Email on a Mobile App

The steps are the same on Facebook's mobile app as on a computer. Open the app, tap the three horizontal lines (menu) at the bottom right, scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings. Tap Personal Information, then tap the row that says Email. Tap the pencil icon, enter your new email, and tap Save.

Facebook will send a confirmation email to your new address just as it does on a computer. You'll need to open that email on your phone or another device and click the confirmation link. The mobile app doesn't let you click the link from within the app itself — you have to open it in your email or web browser to complete the change.

What to Do Before Changing Your Email

Before you change your email, make sure you still have access to your new email address. If you change to an email you can't open, you won't be able to recover your account if you forget your password later. Test the new email address by sending yourself a message first, or log into it to make sure it works.

If you're changing your email because you're switching email providers, do this change while you still have access to both your old and new email addresses. That way, if something goes wrong during the confirmation step, you can still recover your account using the old email. Once the change is confirmed, your old email won't work for Facebook login anymore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook email to an email address that's already used on another Facebook account?

No. Each email address can only be linked to one Facebook account. If you try to change to an email that's already in use, Facebook will show you an error message. You'll need to use a different email address, or remove that email from the other account first.

How long does it take for my email change to show up everywhere on Facebook?

Once you confirm the new email, it takes effect when ready for login and password recovery. However, it may take a few hours for the change to show up in all of Facebook's systems, especially if you use Facebook Messenger or other connected apps.

Will changing my email affect my Facebook friends or my account settings?

No. Changing your email doesn't change anything about your account except how you log in. Your friends, posts, photos, and all your settings stay exactly the same. Only you will notice the difference — you'll use the new email address the next time you log in.

What if I want to use two different email addresses on the same Facebook account?

Facebook only lets you have one primary email address per account at a time. However, you can add a phone number or create a username as alternative login methods, which gives you multiple ways to get into your account without needing a second email.