What a Facebook profile link is and why you might change it

Your Facebook profile link is the web address people use to find your profile — it looks like facebook.com/yourname or facebook.com/yourprofilenumber. By default, Facebook assigns you a number-based link, but you can change it to something shorter and more memorable, like your name or a custom word. Once you change it, the old link stops working and redirects to your new one.

You might change your profile link if you want it to match your name more closely, if you've changed your legal name, or if you want a cleaner web address to share on resumes or business cards. Facebook lets you change this link, though there are some limits on how often you can do it and what you can choose.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook profile link once every 60 days through your settings, and the change takes effect when ready.
  • Your new link must be at least 5 characters long and can only contain letters, numbers, periods, and underscores — no spaces or special characters.
  • The old link automatically redirects to your new one, so people who saved the old address will still reach your profile.
  • You cannot use a link that is already taken by another person or page, and Facebook will tell you if your choice is unavailable.

Steps to change your profile link on desktop

Open Facebook in a web browser and go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture in the top left corner. Once you are on your profile page, look for the three-dot menu icon in the top right area of your profile header — it sits next to the "Edit Profile" button. Click that menu and select "Settings and Privacy," then click "Settings."

In the Settings window, look for the left sidebar menu and click "Personal Information." You will see a section labeled "Username" with your current profile link displayed. Click the edit icon (pencil) next to your username. Type your new username in the box that appears — remember it must be at least 5 characters and can only use letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. Click "Review" to check if the name is available, then click "Save Changes" to confirm.

Steps to change your profile link on mobile

Open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap "Settings and Privacy," then tap "Settings." Tap "Personal Information" in the menu that appears.

You will see your username listed with an edit icon next to it. Tap that icon to open the edit screen. Type your new username — it must be at least 5 characters and can contain only letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. Tap "Review" to see if it is available, then tap "Save" to make the change permanent.

What happens to your old link after you change it

Your old profile link does not disappear or break. Instead, Facebook automatically redirects anyone who visits the old address to your new profile link. This means if you shared your old link on a website, in an email, or on another social media platform, people can still click it and reach your profile — they will just be sent to the new link silently in the background.

However, the old link itself is no longer "yours" after a short period. If you change your username again in the future, someone else could potentially claim your previous username. For this reason, if you have shared a profile link in important places like a business website or resume, you may want to update those links to your new one to avoid confusion.

Limits and restrictions on changing your profile link

Facebook allows you to change your username once every 60 days. If you have already changed it recently, you will see a message telling you when you can change it again. This limit applies whether you are changing it for the first time or the tenth time — the 60-day clock resets each time you make a change.

Your username must be at least 5 characters long and cannot contain spaces, capital letters, or special characters like hyphens, commas, or exclamation marks. You can use periods and underscores. Facebook will reject names that are already taken, that violate their naming policies, or that are too similar to an existing username. If your choice is unavailable, try adding a number or underscore to make it unique.

Troubleshooting common problems

If you see a message that your username is unavailable, it means someone else already has it or Facebook has reserved it. Try adding numbers or underscores — for example, if "john.smith" is taken, try "john.smith1" or "john_smith." If you cannot find the edit option in your settings, make sure you are logged in and viewing your own profile, not someone else's.

If you changed your username but the new link is not working, wait a few minutes — the change can take a short time to process across Facebook's servers. If the old link still works but the new one does not, try logging out and back in, or clearing your browser cache. If you are still having trouble after 24 hours, you can report the issue through Facebook's Help Center by searching for "username" and selecting the option to report a problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook username back to what it was before?

Not directly — once you change your username, you cannot go back to the exact same one unless no one else claims it in the meantime. However, you can change to a different username at any time after 60 days have passed since your last change. If you want your old username back, you would have to wait and hope no one else takes it, then claim it again.

What if someone else takes my old username after I change mine?

Facebook does not reserve old usernames for you. If you change your username and later want to switch back, someone else may have already claimed it. For this reason, if your old username was important to you, do not change it unless you are certain you want something different permanently.

Does changing my username affect my friends or messages?

No. Your friends will still see you in their friends list under your display name, and all your messages and conversations stay the same. The username change only affects the web address people use to visit your profile — it does not change how you appear to other users or how you communicate with them.

Can I use numbers or special characters in my new username?

You can use numbers, periods, and underscores. You cannot use spaces, hyphens, commas, or other special characters. Capital letters are also not allowed — Facebook converts them to lowercase automatically. For example, "john.smith1" or "john_smith_2024" are valid, but "john-smith" or "john smith" are not.

How long does it take for my new username to work?

The change usually takes effect when ready, but it can take a few minutes to process across all of Facebook's servers. If your new link does not work right away, wait 5 to 10 minutes and try again. If it still does not work after an hour, try logging out and back in.