You can change your birth date on Facebook through your personal settings, but Facebook limits how often you can make the change

Facebook stores your birth date in your profile settings and uses it to control who sees your age, when your birthday reminder appears to friends, and whether you can access age-restricted features. You can change it yourself at any time, but the platform restricts how frequently you can alter it — typically once every 60 days. If you need to correct an error or update outdated information, the process takes about two minutes and requires only that you know your current Facebook password.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using Facebook on a computer or a mobile phone, but both routes lead to the same settings page. Facebook does not send a notification to your friends when you change your birth date, so the update happens quietly in your account.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your birth date through Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information on any device.
  • Facebook typically allows you to change your birth date once every 60 days, though this limit may vary.
  • Your birth date controls your age visibility, birthday reminders to friends, and access to age-gated content on the platform.
  • If you have changed your birth date recently and cannot change it again, you will see a message telling you when you can make the next change.

How to change your birth date on Facebook using a computer

Open Facebook in your web browser and log in if you are not already signed in. Click the downward-facing arrow or your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen. From the menu that appears, select Settings & Privacy, then click Settings.

On the left side of the page, you will see a menu with several options. Click Personal Information. Look for the line that shows your current birth date. Click on it or click the pencil icon next to it to edit. A box will open showing your birth date broken into month, day, and year. Change any or all of these fields to your correct birth date, then click Save Changes or press Enter. Facebook will confirm the change on screen.

How to change your birth date on Facebook using a phone or tablet

Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) in the bottom right corner of the screen. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings.

Scroll down to find Personal Information and tap it. Tap the line showing your birth date. A date picker will appear with three wheels or fields for month, day, and year. Scroll or tap to select your correct birth date, then tap Save or Done. The app will return you to your Personal Information page and show your updated birth date.

What happens if you cannot change your birth date right now

If you recently changed your birth date, Facebook will not let you change it again when ready. When you try to edit it, you will see a message that says something like "You can change your birth date again on [specific date]." This is a security measure Facebook uses to prevent account tampering. The waiting period is typically 60 days, though Facebook does not publish the exact length publicly.

If you need to change your birth date before the waiting period ends, you have limited options. You cannot bypass this restriction through Facebook's standard settings. If you believe your account has been compromised or someone else changed your birth date without permission, you can report the issue to Facebook through their Help Center, but response times vary and Facebook may ask you to verify your identity with a photo ID.

Why Facebook asks for and controls your birth date

Facebook uses your birth date to determine your age and control what content and features you can see. If you are under 18, Facebook restricts certain advertising and features. If you are under 13, Facebook does not allow you to have an account at all — if you list an age under 13, the platform will disable your account. Your birth date also controls when your birthday reminder appears to friends and whether you can access age-gated games, apps, or content.

The 60-day change limit exists because birth dates are one of the hardest pieces of information to verify online. Facebook cannot easily confirm whether a birth date is real, so it limits changes to reduce fraud and account takeovers. If someone gains access to your account, they could change your birth date to hide their activity or to access restricted features. The waiting period makes this tactic less useful to attackers.

What to do if your birth date is wrong and you cannot change it yet

If your birth date is incorrect and you are within the 60-day waiting period, you have a few options. First, check the exact date when you will be able to change it again — Facebook shows this in the message that appears when you try to edit. Mark that date on your calendar and return to your settings on that day.

If the wrong birth date is causing a serious problem — for example, if it lists you as under 13 and your account is at risk of being disabled — you can contact Facebook's Help Center and explain the situation. Go to the Help Center, search for "birth date," and look for the option to report a problem. Facebook may ask you to send a photo ID to verify your real age. This process can take several weeks, and Facebook does not may provide a response, but it is the only way to override the 60-day limit.

How your birth date appears to other people

You control who can see your birth date through your privacy settings. By default, your full birth date (month, day, and year) is visible only to you and people you have added as friends. You can change this by going to Personal Information, clicking the privacy icon next to your birth date, and selecting who can see it — options usually include "Only Me," "Friends," or "Public."

Even if you hide your birth date, your friends will still receive a birthday reminder on the day you were born. Facebook sends these reminders automatically based on the birth date in your account, regardless of your privacy settings. If you do not want birthday reminders sent to your friends, you can turn them off in your settings, though this is a separate control from your birth date itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my birth date more than once every 60 days?

No. Facebook enforces a waiting period between changes, typically 60 days. If you try to change it before the waiting period ends, you will see a message telling you when you can make the next change. The only exception is if you contact Facebook's Help Center and provide proof of identity, though there is no may provide they will override the restriction.

What happens if I list my birth date as under 13?

Facebook will disable your account. The platform does not allow anyone under 13 to have an account under any circumstances. If you accidentally entered a birth date that makes you appear under 13, you need to change it as soon as possible to reactivate your account. If you cannot change it due to the 60-day waiting period, contact Facebook's Help Center with a photo ID.

Will my friends be notified if I change my birth date?

No. Facebook does not send a notification to your friends when you change your birth date. The change happens silently in your account settings. Your friends will only know if you tell them or if they happen to look at your profile and notice the date has changed.

Can I hide my birth date from my friends?

Yes. Go to Personal Information, click the privacy icon next to your birth date, and select "Only Me." This hides your full birth date from everyone except Facebook itself. Your friends will still receive a birthday reminder, but they will not see your actual birth date on your profile.

What if someone else changed my birth date without permission?

If you believe your account has been compromised, change your password when ready and review your recent login activity in Settings. Then go to Facebook's Help Center and report the unauthorized change. Facebook may ask you to verify your identity with a photo ID before they help you change it back before the 60-day waiting period ends.