Where to Find the Location Setting on Facebook
Your location on Facebook is stored in your profile settings, not in a separate privacy menu. To change it, open Facebook on a computer or phone, click your profile picture in the top right corner, and select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." On a phone, tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) at the bottom right instead.
Once you're in Settings, look for "Personal information" in the left sidebar on a computer, or scroll down on a phone. Click or tap "Personal information," and you'll see a section labeled "Basic information" or similar. Your current location appears here, along with your hometown, relationship status, and other profile details.
Key Takeaways
- Location settings are found under Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information on both computer and phone versions of Facebook.
- You can set your current city separately from your hometown, and either one can be hidden from your profile entirely.
- Changing your location does not affect your account security, login location, or which ads you see — it only changes what appears on your profile.
- The change takes effect when ready, and you can update it as often as you move or travel.
Editing Your Current City
In the Personal information section, find the field labeled "Current city" or "Lives in." Click or tap the pencil icon next to it to edit. Type the name of the city you want to display. Facebook will show you a dropdown list of matching cities as you type — select the correct one from the list rather than typing it freehand, because this ensures the location is formatted correctly.
After you select a city, click "Save" or tap the checkmark. The change appears on your profile when ready. If you want to remove your current city entirely instead of changing it, click the X icon next to the field, and it will disappear from your profile.
Changing Your Hometown Separately
Your hometown is a different field from your current city. Some people list where they grew up in the hometown field and their present location in the current city field. To change your hometown, scroll down in the Personal information section until you see "Hometown" or "From."
Click or tap the pencil icon next to your hometown, type the new city name, and select it from the dropdown. You can also leave the hometown field blank if you prefer not to display it. Like your current city, changes to your hometown take effect right away.
Hiding Your Location From Your Profile
If you want to keep a location on file but prevent it from showing on your profile, you can hide it. In the Personal information section, look for a privacy icon (usually an eye or a circle with a line through it) next to your current city or hometown. Click or tap that icon to change who can see the location.
Your options are typically "Public" (everyone can see it), "Friends" (only your friends can see it), or "Only me" (it's hidden from everyone except you). Choosing "Only me" means the location stays in your account but does not appear anywhere on your profile or in search results. You can change this setting back at any time.
What Happens When You Change Your Location
Changing your location on Facebook updates only what appears on your profile. It does not change which ads you see, because Facebook's ad targeting is based on your actual device location and browsing history, not your profile location. It also does not affect your login security or trigger any alerts on your account.
Your friends and followers will see the new location on your profile if you have set it to public or friends-only. If you change your location frequently because you travel, you can update it as often as you like without any penalty or restriction. Facebook does not limit how many times you can edit this field.
Removing Location Information Completely
If you want to remove all location data from your profile, delete both your current city and your hometown. Go to Personal information, click the X icon next to "Current city," and then click the X icon next to "Hometown." Both fields will disappear from your profile, and no location will display.
This is different from hiding your location — removing it means the fields do not appear on your profile at all. You can add them back later by following the same steps to edit Personal information and entering a new city. There is no waiting period or restriction on re-adding location fields.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing my Facebook location affect my account security?
No. Your profile location is purely informational and does not change your password, login settings, or account protection. Facebook's security systems track your actual device location separately from your profile location.
Can I set different locations for different people to see?
No, Facebook does not allow you to show one location to friends and a different location to family. You can only choose one location per field (current city or hometown) and control who sees it — everyone, friends only, or no one.
Will my location change affect which ads I see?
No. Facebook's ad targeting uses your actual device location, IP address, and browsing behavior — not your profile location. Changing your profile location will not change the ads shown to you.
What if I cannot find the location field in my settings?
Make sure you are in Personal information under Settings, not in Privacy settings. On a phone, scroll down to see all available fields. If the field still does not appear, your account may have location editing disabled by Facebook, which is rare but can happen on some business or restricted accounts.
Can I change my location on the Facebook app the same way as on a computer?
Yes. The steps are the same on both the app and the website. On the app, tap the menu icon (three lines) at the bottom, go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information, and edit your location the same way you would on a computer.