You can change your birth date in Facebook settings, but Facebook limits how often you can do it
To change your date of birth on Facebook, go to your profile, click the three-line menu icon, select Settings and privacy, then Settings. Look for Personal information in the left column, click it, find Date of birth, and click the pencil icon next to it. Enter your correct date and click Save. The whole process takes about two minutes.
Facebook restricts how often you can make this change. If you have changed your birth date recently, you may have to wait before changing it again — Facebook does not publish the exact waiting period, but users report it ranges from a few days to several weeks. If you cannot edit the field, it means you are in a waiting period.
Your birth date visibility is separate from the ability to change it. Even after you update the date, you control who sees it: only you, friends, or everyone. This setting is in the same Personal information section, next to the birth date field itself.
Key Takeaways
- Access your birth date through Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information, then click the pencil icon next to Date of birth.
- Facebook limits how often you can change your birth date, and you may see a message saying you cannot edit it if you changed it recently.
- Your birth date visibility (who can see it) is controlled separately from the ability to change it, and you can set it to private, friends-only, or public.
- If you cannot change your date because of a waiting period, you will need to wait — there is no way to override this restriction.
Why Facebook restricts birth date changes
Facebook limits birth date changes to prevent fraud and account takeovers. If someone gains access to your account, changing your birth date is one of the first things they might do to lock you out or hide their activity. By restricting how often the date can be changed, Facebook makes it harder for an unauthorized person to alter your account details.
The restriction also protects younger users. Facebook's terms require users to be at least 13 years old. If a parent or guardian created an account with an incorrect birth date, Facebook's waiting period prevents rapid corrections that could look like age manipulation.
What to do if you cannot change your birth date
If you see a message saying you cannot edit your birth date, you are in a waiting period. The only solution is to wait. Facebook does not offer a way to skip this period, and contacting Facebook support will not override it.
If your birth date is wrong and you need it corrected urgently — for example, because you are trying to set up a payment method or access an age-restricted feature — you have limited options. You can try using a different browser or device, but this usually does not work because the restriction is tied to your account, not your device. Your best option is to note when you last changed the date and estimate when the waiting period will end.
How to check and change who sees your birth date
Your birth date visibility is not the same as your ability to change it. Even if you update the date successfully, you still control who can see it. In Personal information, next to your birth date, you will see a privacy icon (usually a circle with a person, or a lock). Click it to choose who sees your birth date: Only me, Friends, or Public.
Most users set their birth date to Only me or Friends for privacy. Setting it to Public means anyone on Facebook or the wider internet can see it if they search for you. This setting does not affect your ability to change the date — it only controls visibility.
Birth date and Facebook features
Your birth date affects which features you can use on Facebook. Users under 18 have restricted access to certain advertising and messaging tools. Users under 13 cannot have a standard Facebook account at all. If you are trying to change your birth date because a feature is blocked, make sure your new date is correct before you save it, because you may have to wait before changing it again.
Some features, like Facebook Pay and certain marketplace functions, require your birth date to be visible to Facebook even if you hide it from other users. Changing your birth date does not affect these requirements — Facebook will still see your date of birth regardless of your privacy settings.
If you think someone else changed your birth date
If your birth date changed and you did not do it, your account may have been compromised. Change your password when ready by going to Settings and privacy > Settings > Password and security > Change password. Use a strong password you have not used anywhere else.
After you change your password, check your login activity. In Settings and privacy > Settings > Password and security, click Where you are logged in to see all active sessions. If you see devices or locations you do not recognize, click the three dots next to them and select Log out. If you cannot regain control of your account, report it to Facebook through their hacked account recovery form.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to wait before changing my birth date again?
Facebook does not publish the exact waiting period. Most users report waiting anywhere from a few days to several weeks. The period appears to reset each time you change your birth date. If you cannot edit the field, you are still in a waiting period and must wait longer.
Can I change my birth date on the Facebook app instead of the website?
Yes. Open the app, tap the three-line menu icon at the bottom right, scroll to Settings and privacy, tap Settings, then Personal information. The process is the same as on the website.
What happens if I put in the wrong birth date again by mistake?
You will have to wait through another waiting period before you can change it. There is no undo button. Make sure your date is correct before you click Save, because you cannot when ready fix a mistake.
Does changing my birth date affect my Facebook memories or timeline?
No. Changing your birth date does not delete or hide any posts, photos, or memories. It only updates the birth date shown on your profile and used by Facebook's systems.
Can I hide my birth date completely so no one sees it?
Yes. Set the privacy level to Only me. This hides your birth date from everyone except you, but Facebook still knows your real birth date for account purposes.