You can change your birthday year in Snapchat settings, but only if your account is less than 60 days old

Snapchat locks your birthday after 60 days to prevent account fraud. If your account is newer than that, open Snapchat, tap your profile icon in the top left, then tap the gear icon to open Settings. Scroll down to "Username" and tap it. You'll see your birthdate listed below your username. Tap the date to edit it, change the year, and tap "Save." The change takes effect when ready.

If your account is older than 60 days, Snapchat will not let you change the year through the app. This is a permanent restriction once the 60-day window closes. You cannot contact Snapchat support to override this — the company treats the birthday lock as a security feature, not a mistake that can be reversed.

Key Takeaways

  • You have 60 days from account creation to change your birthday year; after that, the date is locked permanently.
  • To change it within the window, go to Settings, find your Username section, and tap the birthdate to edit it.
  • Snapchat support cannot unlock or change a birthday after the 60-day period ends, even if you request it.
  • If you entered the wrong year and your account is older than 60 days, you will need to create a new account to use a different birthday.

Why Snapchat locks your birthday after 60 days

The 60-day lock exists because birthdate is tied to age-gating and account security. Snapchat uses your birthday to enforce age restrictions on certain features — some filters, lenses, and content are only available to users over 18. If someone could change their birthday at any time, they could bypass these restrictions or hide their real age.

The lock also prevents account takeover. If a hacker gains access to your account, they cannot change your birthday to lock you out or alter your account identity. Once the 60 days pass, your birthday becomes as permanent as your username.

What to do if you missed the 60-day window

If your account is older than 60 days and you entered the wrong birthday year, you have two options. The first is to keep the account as-is — your birthday year will not affect your ability to use Snapchat's core features like messaging, Stories, or camera filters. The year only matters for age-gating and account recovery.

The second option is to create a new Snapchat account with the correct birthday. You will lose your username, Snap history, and friends list on the old account. Before you delete the old account, read your data through Snapchat's read tool (found in Settings under "read My Data") if you want to keep a record of your Snaps.

How to check when your account was created

You can estimate your account age by checking when you first added your username. Open Snapchat, go to Settings, and look at your Username section. Snapchat does not display the exact creation date in the app, but you can count backward from today. If you created your account fewer than 60 days ago, you still have time to change your birthday year.

If you are unsure, try changing your birthday anyway. If the 60-day window has closed, Snapchat will show an error message saying you cannot edit your birthdate. That message confirms the lock is active.

Common mistakes when changing your birthday

The most common error is tapping the wrong field. In Settings, your birthdate appears below your username, not in a separate "Birthday" or "Personal Info" section. Make sure you are tapping the actual date (it will look like MM/DD/YYYY) and not the username field above it.

Another mistake is assuming you can change your birthday after the 60-day window. Many users contact Snapchat support expecting an exception, but the company does not make exceptions. The lock is automatic and permanent. If you see an error message saying you cannot edit your birthdate, your account is past the 60-day mark and no further changes are possible.

What happens if you enter the wrong birthday initially

If you entered an incorrect birthday when you first created your account, you have until day 60 to fix it. The year matters most for age-gating — if you entered a year that makes you appear under 18, some features will be restricted. Changing it to the correct year will unlock those features when ready.

If you entered a year that makes you appear over 18 but you are actually under 18, Snapchat will not restrict your access based on the birthday you provided. The app relies on the information you enter; it does not verify your real age. However, if Snapchat later discovers you misrepresented your age, your account can be suspended or deleted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my birthday year if my account is 90 days old?

No. Once 60 days have passed since you created your account, Snapchat locks your birthday permanently. There is no way to change it after that point, and Snapchat support cannot override the lock. If you need a different birthday, you must create a new account.

Will changing my birthday affect my Snapchat friends or history?

No. Changing your birthday year does not delete your friends, Snaps, or chat history. The change only updates the date stored in your profile. Your friends will not be notified, and your Snap Streak will continue as normal.

What if I created my account on a specific date — how do I know if I'm still within 60 days?

Count forward 60 days from the date you created your account. If today's date is before that 60-day mark, you can still change your birthday. If today is after that date, the lock is active and you cannot change it. Snapchat does not send a warning when the 60-day window is about to close.

Can I delete my account and create a new one with the same username?

No. Once you delete a Snapchat account, the username is locked for 30 days. After 30 days, you can create a new account with that username, but you cannot use it when ready. During the 30-day waiting period, no one else can claim the username either.

Does Snapchat verify the birthday I enter?

Snapchat does not verify your birthday against government ID or other documents. The app trusts the information you provide. However, if you misrepresent your age and Snapchat discovers it through other means, your account can be suspended or deleted for violating the terms of service.