Change your birthday in Facebook settings in three steps

Open Facebook on a computer or phone, click your profile picture in the top right corner, and select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal information. Find the Date of birth field, click the pencil icon next to it, enter your correct date, and click Save changes. The new birthday takes effect when ready.

On a phone, the steps are the same but the menu layout is slightly different. Tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) at the bottom right, scroll down to Settings and privacy, tap Settings, then tap Personal information. The rest follows the same path.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your birthday through Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information on both desktop and mobile.
  • Facebook lets you hide your birthday from your timeline, your friends, or everyone — this choice is separate from changing the date itself.
  • If you set your birthday to under 18, Facebook may restrict some features on your account until you turn 18.
  • You can change your birthday as many times as you want, but Facebook limits how often you can change the visibility setting.

Who can see your birthday after you change it

When you update your birthday, Facebook shows it to whoever could see it before — usually your friends, unless you changed the privacy setting. To control who sees your birthday, go back to Personal information, find Date of birth, and click the audience icon (it looks like a person or people) next to the date. You can choose Public (everyone), Friends (your friends only), or Only me (hidden from your timeline).

Changing the visibility does not change the date itself — it only changes who can see it. If you set your birthday to Only me, your friends will not see it on your profile, but Facebook still knows the date and will still send you birthday notifications on the day.

What happens if you change your birthday to under 18

If you update your birthday and Facebook calculates that you are under 18, the platform restricts certain features. You will not be able to use Facebook Dating, change your profile to public, or use some advertising and business tools. These restrictions lift automatically on your 18th birthday.

If you are already 18 and change your birthday to a date that would make you under 18, Facebook applies these restrictions right away. You can change it back at any time to restore access to those features.

Changing your birthday on the Facebook app

The mobile app works the same way as the website. Tap the menu icon (three lines) at the bottom right of your screen. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then Settings. Tap Personal information, find Date of birth, tap the pencil icon, enter the new date, and tap Save.

On iPhone, the menu icon is at the bottom right. On Android, it may be in a slightly different location depending on your phone model, but the path through Settings remains the same. If you cannot find Personal information, scroll down in the Settings menu — it is not always visible at the top.

How often you can change your birthday visibility

You can change the actual date of your birthday as many times as you want with no waiting period. However, Facebook limits how often you can change who sees your birthday. If you change the visibility setting (from Friends to Only me, for example), you may not be able to change it again for a few days. This limit exists to prevent misuse.

The date itself has no such restriction — you can update it when ready if you made a typo or entered the wrong year. The visibility restriction applies only to the audience setting, not to the birthday date field.

Troubleshooting: birthday field is grayed out or locked

If you cannot edit your birthday, Facebook may have locked it because you changed it recently or because your account is new. New accounts sometimes have a waiting period before you can edit certain personal information. Wait a few days and try again.

If the field remains locked after a week, check whether your account has any active restrictions or disputes. If you believe your account was locked in error, you can report the issue to Facebook through Settings and privacy > Help and support > Report a problem. Describe what you see when you try to edit your birthday, and Facebook will review it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hide my birthday from one specific person?

No. Facebook's birthday privacy setting applies to everyone at once — you can only choose Public, Friends, or Only me. You cannot hide it from one friend while showing it to another. If you need to hide your birthday from a specific person, you would need to set it to Only me for everyone.

What if I forgot my real birthday and need to change it back?

You can change your birthday to the correct date whenever you remember it. Go to Personal information and update the date field. If you are unsure of the exact date, enter your best estimate — you can always correct it later. Facebook does not require proof of your real birthday.

Does changing my birthday affect my Facebook memories or timeline?

No. Changing your birthday does not delete or reorganize your posts, photos, or memories. It only updates the date Facebook uses to send you birthday notifications and show your age. Your timeline and all your content stay exactly as they were.

Can I change my birthday if my account is restricted or disabled?

If your account is disabled, you cannot change any information until it is restored. If your account is restricted (limited features), you may still be able to edit your birthday through Settings. Try accessing Personal information — if the field is locked, your account restrictions may prevent edits. Contact Facebook support to restore full access.