What you need to know before you change your Facebook URL

Your Facebook URL is the web address people use to find your profile — it looks like facebook.com/yourname. You can change it to a custom username once, and Facebook lets you change it again after 60 days have passed since your last change. The URL you choose must be between 5 and 50 characters long, use only letters, numbers, periods, and underscores, and cannot be a username someone else already claimed.

Before you make the change, understand that your old URL stops working when ready. Anyone who bookmarked your old profile link will see an error page. Your friends can still find you by searching your name, but direct links to your old URL will break. If you use your Facebook URL in your email signature, on business cards, or linked from a website, you will need to update those places too.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook URL once every 60 days through your Settings menu, under Username.
  • Your new URL must be 5 to 50 characters and can only contain letters, numbers, periods, and underscores.
  • The old URL stops working when ready, so update any links you have shared elsewhere before making the change.
  • Facebook will not let you use a username that is already taken or one that looks too similar to an existing one.
  • You cannot change your URL back to a previous one — each change is permanent, so choose carefully.

How to access the username settings on Facebook

Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner of the screen. Select Settings and privacy, then click Settings. On the left side of the page, you will see a menu — click Personal information. Look for the Username row and click the pencil icon next to it to edit.

If you are on a mobile phone, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right, scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll to Personal information and tap Username. The edit button will appear next to your current username.

Entering and confirming your new username

When you click to edit your username, a text box will appear with your current one highlighted. Delete it and type the new username you want. As you type, Facebook will tell you whether the name is available — a green checkmark means it is free to use, and a red X means someone else has claimed it or it breaks Facebook's rules.

Once you see the green checkmark, click Review or Confirm (the button name varies by device). Facebook will show you a preview of your new URL. If it looks right, click the final confirmation button. The change takes effect when ready — your old URL will no longer work, and your new one will be live.

What to do if your chosen username is taken

If the username you want shows a red X, it is either already in use or it violates Facebook's naming rules. Try adding a number, a period, or an underscore to make it unique — for example, if "john.smith" is taken, try "john.smith1" or "john_smith". Facebook will let you know in real time whether each variation is available.

You cannot request that Facebook release a username someone else is using, and you cannot put a username on a waiting list. Your only option is to choose a different name. If you want a very common name and it is taken, adding your birth year, a middle initial, or a location (like "john.smith.boston") often works.

Updating links after you change your URL

After you change your username, search for every place you have shared your old Facebook URL. This includes your email signature, your website or blog, your LinkedIn profile, business cards, social media bios on other platforms, and any documents or presentations you have sent to others. Update each one with your new URL so people can still reach you.

If you run a business page or a community group, check the "About" section and any pinned posts that mention your personal profile link. Old links will not automatically redirect — they will straightforward break. Taking 10 minutes to update these places now saves confusion later.

The 60-day waiting period between changes

Once you change your username, you must wait 60 days before you can change it again. This rule applies even if you want to change it back to your old username — you cannot undo a change when ready. If you made a mistake, you will have to wait two months before you can fix it, so double-check your new username before you confirm the change.

Facebook enforces this waiting period to prevent spam and account takeovers. There is no way to shorten the 60 days or request an exception. If you are unsure about a username choice, write it down and live with it for a few days before making the change official.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook URL to something I used before?

No. Once you change your username, you cannot use that old username again, even after the 60-day waiting period ends. Each change is permanent. If you change from "jane.doe" to "jane.d" and then want to go back, Facebook will not let you reclaim "jane.doe" — someone else may have taken it, or Facebook may block it from reuse.

What happens to my old Facebook URL after I change it?

Your old URL stops working when ready and will show an error page if someone tries to visit it. Your profile is still findable by searching your name, and your friends can still message you, but the direct link is broken. This is why updating links on your website and other profiles is important.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my Facebook username?

No. Facebook only allows letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), periods (.), and underscores (_). You cannot use spaces, hyphens, or symbols like @, #, or &. If you want to separate words, use a period or underscore instead — "jane.doe" or "jane_doe" both work.

What if I see an error message when I try to confirm my new username?

This usually means the username was claimed by someone else between the time you checked and the time you confirmed. Go back and try a different variation. If you keep getting errors on usernames that showed a green checkmark, try again in a few minutes — there may be a temporary glitch.

Does changing my Facebook URL affect my account security or login?

No. Your username is only the web address people use to find you. Your login email and password do not change, and your account security is not affected. You will still log in the same way you always have.