Open Your Profile and Find the Birthday Setting

To change your birthday on Instagram, start by opening the app and tapping your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Once you're on your profile page, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right, then select "Settings and privacy." From there, tap "Account information," and you'll see a field labeled "Birthday."

Instagram stores your birthday in your account information, separate from what appears on your public profile. This means changing it here updates your account records but doesn't automatically post the change to your followers—you control what's visible.

Key Takeaways

  • Your birthday is found under Settings and privacy > Account information, and you can change it at any time without notifying your followers.
  • Instagram requires you to be at least 13 years old to have an account, so the system will reject dates that would make you younger than that.
  • You can hide your birthday from your public profile by adjusting your privacy settings, even after you've entered it into your account.
  • If you entered a fake birthday when you created your account, you can correct it now, but Instagram limits how often you can change it.
  • The birthday field accepts dates in month/day/year format, and you must enter a complete date—partial dates are not allowed.

Tap the Birthday Field and Enter Your Correct Date

Once you're in the Account information section, tap directly on the birthday field. A date picker will appear showing the current birthday on your account. If you entered an incorrect date when you signed up, you can now replace it with the correct one.

Use the scroll wheels or tap the date fields to set the month, day, and year. Instagram requires a full date—you cannot leave any part blank. After you've entered the correct date, tap "Done" or the checkmark button to save the change.

Understand Instagram's Birthday Change Limits

Instagram allows you to change your birthday, but the platform has restrictions on how often you can do this. You cannot change your birthday more than once every 60 days. This limit exists to prevent account abuse and protect younger users.

If you've already changed your birthday recently and try to change it again, Instagram will show you a message saying you must wait before making another change. The system will tell you the exact date when you'll be able to change it next.

Hide Your Birthday from Your Public Profile

Your birthday is private by default—it does not appear on your public profile or in search results. However, Instagram shows your birthday to people you've added as close friends, and it may be visible to Instagram itself for age-verification purposes.

If you want to confirm your birthday is hidden, go back to Settings and privacy, tap "Privacy," and look for the "Birthday" option. Make sure it's set to "Private" or "Only me." This prevents anyone viewing your profile from seeing when your birthday is.

What to Do If You Cannot Change Your Birthday

If you see an error message when trying to change your birthday, the most common reason is that your new date would make you younger than 13 years old. Instagram's terms of service require all users to be at least 13, so the system rejects any birthday that violates this rule.

If you're trying to change your birthday and the app won't let you save the change, try logging out completely and logging back in. Sometimes a refresh of your session clears temporary glitches. If the problem persists, uninstall and reinstall the Instagram app, then try again.

Update Your Birthday on Desktop or Web

You can also change your birthday using Instagram's web version on a computer. Go to instagram.com, log in, and click your profile icon in the top right. Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu, then click "Edit profile." Your birthday field will appear on this page, and you can update it the same way you would on the mobile app.

The desktop version works identically to the mobile app—you'll see the same 60-day waiting period between changes, and the same age requirement applies. Some people find the web version easier to use if they're having trouble with the mobile app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my followers see that I changed my birthday?

No. Your birthday is private information on Instagram, and changing it does not send a notification to your followers or appear in their activity feed. Only you and Instagram can see your birthday unless you've chosen to share it with close friends.

Can I change my birthday back to what it was before?

Yes, but you must wait 60 days between changes. If you changed your birthday and want to change it again, Instagram will not let you until 60 days have passed since your last change. After that time, you can update it to any date you want.

What if I entered my birthday wrong when I created my account?

You can correct it now by following the steps above. Go to Account information and tap the birthday field to enter the correct date. Instagram does not penalize you for fixing an incorrect birthday—you just have to wait 60 days between changes if you need to adjust it again.

Does Instagram use my birthday for anything besides age verification?

Instagram may use your birthday to send you a birthday notification or to show you birthday-related features, but the primary purpose is age verification. Your birthday is not shared with advertisers or other third parties, and it remains private unless you choose to make it visible.

Can I delete my birthday instead of changing it?

Instagram requires a birthday on every account for age verification purposes. You cannot leave the birthday field blank or delete it entirely. You must enter a valid date if you want to keep your account active.