Where to Find the Gender Setting on Facebook

Your gender setting on Facebook lives in your profile information, not in account settings. Open Facebook and click your profile picture in the top right corner, then select "Profile." On your profile page, look for the "About" section — it may be collapsed, so you might need to click "Edit details" or a pencil icon to expand it. The gender field is usually grouped with your birthday and other personal information.

If you're on mobile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, scroll to your name, tap "Profile," then tap "Edit profile" or the pencil icon next to "About." The layout is slightly different but the gender field is in the same place — with your other basic information.

Key Takeaways

  • Gender on Facebook is stored in your About section, which you reach through your profile, not account settings.
  • You can choose from several preset options including Man, Woman, Custom, or Prefer not to say.
  • Choosing "Custom" lets you type in your own gender identity and control who sees it.
  • You can change who sees your gender — only you, friends, or everyone — separately from the gender itself.
  • Changes take effect when ready and you can update it as many times as you want.

Selecting or Typing Your Gender

When you click on the gender field, Facebook shows you a dropdown menu with preset options: Man, Woman, Custom, and Prefer not to say. If one of the first three matches how you identify, click it and you're done. If you want to describe your gender in your own words, click "Custom."

The Custom option opens a text box where you can type any gender identity you choose. There's no character limit, so you can write as much or as little as you want. Once you type what you want, click outside the box or press Enter to confirm. Facebook will save it exactly as you wrote it.

Controlling Who Sees Your Gender

Right next to the gender field, you'll see a privacy icon — usually a circle with lines or a small lock symbol. Click that icon to choose who can see your gender. Your options are typically "Only me," "Friends," or "Public" (visible to everyone). This setting is separate from your gender choice itself, so you can change one without changing the other.

If you set it to "Only me," your gender won't show on your profile to anyone else, though Facebook still stores it internally. If you choose "Friends," only people on your friends list can see it. "Public" means anyone on Facebook can see it, even people who aren't your friends. You can adjust this privacy level any time without changing the gender you selected.

Saving Your Changes

After you select or type your gender and set the privacy level, look for a "Save" button or checkmark near the field. On desktop, this usually appears below or to the right of the gender field. On mobile, you may need to scroll down slightly to see the save button. Click it to confirm your change.

Facebook saves your gender when ready once you click save. You don't need to refresh the page or do anything else — the change is live right away. If you want to verify it worked, close the About section and reopen it; your new gender should be there.

Changing Your Gender Again Later

You can update your gender as many times as you want. Just go back to your profile, open the About section, click on the gender field, and select a different option or type something new. There's no limit to how often you can make this change, and Facebook doesn't notify your friends or show a history of your past gender selections.

If you previously set your gender to something specific and now want to hide it, you can change the privacy setting to "Only me" without changing the gender itself. Conversely, if you want to keep the same gender but show it to a different audience, adjust only the privacy icon.

What Happens If You Leave It Blank

You don't have to fill in your gender at all. If you skip this field or delete what's there, your profile straightforward won't display a gender. This is different from choosing "Prefer not to say" — that option actively tells people you don't want to share, whereas leaving it blank just means there's no information there. Either way, only you will know you made a choice about it.

If you previously had a gender listed and want to remove it, click the gender field, delete the text or deselect the option, then save. Your profile will no longer show a gender to anyone, regardless of your privacy settings.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you can't find the gender field, make sure you're in the About section of your profile, not in account settings. Some older accounts or accounts with restricted features may have a slightly different layout, but the gender field is always in the About area. If the field appears grayed out or won't let you click it, try logging out and back in, or try a different browser.

If your change doesn't seem to save, check that you actually clicked the save button — it's straightforward to miss on mobile. If you clicked save and the change still didn't stick, try clearing your browser cache or using Facebook's mobile app instead of the website. If the problem persists, Facebook's Help Center has troubleshooting steps for profile editing issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my friends get notified if I change my gender?

No. Facebook does not send notifications to your friends when you update your gender. The change is silent unless your friends happen to visit your profile and notice the difference themselves.

Can I use a custom gender that's not in the preset list?

Yes. The Custom option lets you type any gender identity you want. Facebook will display exactly what you type, so you're not limited to the preset options.

What if I want to hide my gender from everyone except myself?

Set the privacy icon next to your gender to "Only me." This hides your gender from your profile while keeping it in your account. You can change the privacy level back anytime without changing the gender itself.

Does Facebook store my old gender information if I change it?

Facebook stores your current gender selection, but it does not show a public history of past changes. Only you and Facebook can see what you currently have listed.

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

Yes, the process is the same — go to your profile, tap Edit Profile, find the About section, and click the gender field. The layout is slightly different on mobile, but the steps and options are identical.