Where to find and update your birthday on Instagram

Your birthday on Instagram lives in your profile settings, not on your public profile page. Open Instagram, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right, then tap Settings and privacy. From there, go to Account information, then Personal information. You will see a field labeled Date of birth — tap it to change what you entered before.

The process is the same whether you are on iPhone, Android, or using Instagram through a web browser on a computer. If you have never entered a birthday, Instagram will ask you to add one the first time you visit this section. The platform requires a birth date from all users, though you control who sees it.

Key Takeaways

  • Your birthday is stored in Settings and privacy > Account information > Personal information > Date of birth.
  • You can change your birthday as many times as you want, with no waiting period or limit on how often you update it.
  • Your birthday is hidden from other users by default — only you and Instagram can see it unless you choose to share it publicly.
  • Instagram uses your birthday to enforce age restrictions on certain features and to send you a birthday notification on your profile.

Why Instagram asks for your birthday

Instagram requires a birth date to verify you are old enough to use the platform. The minimum age is 13 in most countries. Instagram also uses your birthday to block access to certain features — for example, some advertising tools and business account features are not available to users under 18.

On your birthday, Instagram displays a cake emoji next to your name on your profile and sends you a notification. This is a built-in feature you cannot turn off, though you can hide your birthday from your followers so they do not see the notification.

Controlling who sees your birthday

By default, your birthday is private — only you can see it on your profile. Other users cannot view it unless you change your privacy setting. To make your birthday visible to your followers, go to Settings and privacy > Account information > Personal information, then look for the option next to your date of birth that says Who can see this. You can set it to Everyone, Followers, or Only me.

If you share your birthday publicly, it will appear on your profile for anyone to see. You can change this setting back to private at any time without affecting the birthday itself.

What happens if you enter the wrong birthday

If you made a mistake when you first set up your account, you can correct it. Instagram does not lock you into your original entry. However, if you are trying to change your birthday to bypass age restrictions — for example, to make your account appear older than it is — Instagram may detect the change and reverse it.

Instagram monitors for patterns of users repeatedly changing their age or birth date in ways that seem designed to circumvent age limits. If your account is flagged, you may lose access to certain features temporarily or be asked to verify your real age through a government ID.

Changing your birthday on the Instagram app versus the website

The steps are identical on the mobile app and the Instagram website. On mobile, tap the menu icon and navigate to settings. On a computer, click your profile picture in the top right, then click Settings, and follow the same path through Account information and Personal information. Changes you make on one device sync when ready to all your devices.

If you are using Instagram through a third-party app or tool, you will not be able to change your birthday there. You must use the official Instagram app or website to update account information.

Troubleshooting: Birthday field not appearing

If you cannot find the date of birth field, make sure you are in the right section. The path is Settings and privacy > Account information > Personal information. If that section does not exist on your account, you may be using an older version of the app. Update Instagram from your device's app store and try again.

If you still cannot locate the field after updating, try logging out and logging back in. Sometimes the app needs a fresh session to display all settings. If the problem persists, try accessing your account through the Instagram website instead of the mobile app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hide my birthday from Instagram entirely?

No. Instagram requires all users to enter a birth date, and you cannot delete it or leave it blank. You can only hide it from other users by setting the privacy option to Only me. Instagram itself will always know your birthday.

How often can I change my birthday?

You can change it as many times as you want with no restrictions. However, if you change it repeatedly in ways that appear designed to bypass age restrictions, Instagram may flag your account and ask you to verify your real age.

Will changing my birthday affect my account or posts?

No. Changing your birthday will not delete posts, lose followers, or affect any other part of your account. It only updates the date stored in your profile settings.

What if I do not remember my real birthday?

If you entered a fake birthday when you created your account and cannot remember what you entered, you will need to contact Instagram support. Go to Settings and privacy > Help > Help requests and describe the issue. Instagram may ask you to verify your identity with a government ID before changing it.