Facebook lets you change your birth date in your profile settings, but the process depends on whether you have changed it before

You can change your age on Facebook by going to your profile, opening settings, and editing your birth date. The exact steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using a phone or computer, and Facebook limits how often you can make this change. If you have already changed your birth date once, you may need to wait a set period before changing it again — or you may not be able to change it at all, depending on your account history.

The birth date you provide is visible only to you and Facebook unless you choose to make it public in your privacy settings. Your age does not appear on your profile by default, though your birthday can be set to show to friends or everyone if you want.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your birth date through Settings and Privacy > Settings > Personal Information on both phone and computer versions of Facebook.
  • Facebook may restrict how often you change your birth date, and repeated changes can trigger a waiting period or permanent lock on that field.
  • Your birth date is private by default and visible only to you unless you change the privacy setting to show it to friends or the public.
  • If Facebook will not let you change your birth date, the restriction is usually temporary, but you may need to wait weeks or months before trying again.

How to change your birth date on a computer

Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner. Select Settings and Privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal Information. You will see your birth date listed there. Click the pencil icon next to it to edit.

A box will open showing your current birth date broken into month, day, and year. Change any or all of these fields to your new date. Click Save Changes when you are done. Facebook will ask you to confirm your password before the change takes effect.

How to change your birth date on a phone

Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Tap Personal Information. Find your birth date and tap the pencil icon next to it.

Edit the month, day, or year as needed. Tap Save. Facebook will ask you to enter your password to confirm the change. Once you do, the new birth date will be saved to your account.

What happens if Facebook blocks you from changing your birth date

If you see a message saying you cannot change your birth date, Facebook has likely placed a temporary restriction on your account. This usually happens if you have changed your birth date multiple times in a short period. Facebook treats frequent changes as a security risk and locks the field to prevent misuse.

The restriction is usually temporary. Wait at least a few weeks before trying again. If you have changed your birth date many times, the wait may be longer — sometimes several months. There is no way to speed up this process. If you believe the restriction is an error, you can report the issue to Facebook through the Help Center, but Facebook does not always reverse these blocks.

Privacy settings for your birth date

By default, your birth date is visible only to you. Facebook does not show your age or birthday on your profile unless you change the privacy setting. To make your birthday visible to friends or the public, go to Personal Information in Settings, find your birth date, and click the privacy icon next to it (it looks like a lock or a person).

You can set your birth date to be visible to Friends Only, Public, or Only Me. If you choose Friends Only or Public, your birthday will appear on your profile and your friends may see it in their notifications on your birthday. You can change this setting at any time without triggering the change restriction that applies to the birth date itself.

Why Facebook restricts birth date changes

Facebook limits birth date changes to prevent account takeovers and fraud. If someone gains access to your account, one of the first things they might do is change your birth date to lock you out or hide evidence of the breach. By restricting how often the field can be edited, Facebook makes it harder for unauthorized users to alter your account details.

This protection also helps Facebook enforce its age requirements. The platform requires users to be at least 13 years old. Repeated changes to birth date can signal that someone is trying to bypass age verification or hide their real age, which is why Facebook may lock the field after multiple edits.

What to do if you need to change your age urgently

If Facebook has blocked your birth date field and you need to update it for a legitimate reason, your options are limited. You cannot bypass the restriction directly. However, you can try reporting the issue through Facebook's Help Center by going to Settings > Help and Support > Report a Problem. Explain that you need to change your birth date and that the field is locked. Facebook may review your account, though response times vary and there is no may provide they will lift the restriction.

If the restriction is preventing you from using your account normally, you can also try contacting Facebook through their support page. Keep in mind that Facebook's support team handles a large volume of requests and may not respond quickly. In the meantime, you can continue using your account with your current birth date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my birth date if I just created my Facebook account?

Yes. New accounts do not have the same restrictions as older accounts. You can usually change your birth date once or twice without triggering a block. However, if you change it many times in a short period, Facebook will still restrict the field.

Will changing my birth date affect my Facebook friends or my messages?

No. Changing your birth date does not delete messages, remove friends, or change any other part of your account. Only the birth date field is updated. If you had your birthday set to visible, your friends may stop seeing birthday notifications if you change the date significantly.

What if I entered the wrong birth date when I created my account?

You can change it the same way you would change it at any other time — through Personal Information in Settings. If Facebook has not restricted the field, the change will go through when ready. If the field is locked, you will need to wait for the restriction to lift.

Does Facebook tell me when someone else tries to change my birth date?

Facebook does not send notifications when your birth date is changed. However, if someone else changes it, you can change it back yourself. If you notice your birth date has been altered and you did not do it, change your password when ready and check your account security settings for unauthorized logins.

Can I hide my birth date completely from Facebook?

You cannot delete your birth date from Facebook, but you can set it to Only Me in the privacy settings, which hides it from everyone except you. This is the most private option available. Your birth date must remain on file for Facebook's age verification system.