What you can change on your Facebook account

Facebook lets you change your name, email address, password, phone number, and profile picture without closing your account or creating a new one. You can also change your privacy settings, who can contact you, and what information appears on your profile. Most changes take effect right away, though some—like a name change—have a waiting period before you can change again.

The settings you can modify depend on what you're trying to do. If you want to update basic information like your email or phone number, you'll go to one place. If you want to change who can see your posts or message you, you'll go to another. This guide walks you through the most common changes people make.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your email address, password, phone number, and name directly from your account settings without losing your account or data.
  • Facebook name changes have a waiting period—you can only change your name once every 60 days.
  • Privacy settings control who can see your posts, send you messages, and find your profile through search.
  • Two-factor authentication adds a security layer by requiring a code from your phone when you log in from a new device.
  • If you've been locked out of your account, you can recover it using your email address, phone number, or trusted contacts.

How to change your email address or password

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'll see your current email address listed. Click next to it to edit it, type your new email, and click Change email. Facebook will send a confirmation link to both your old and new email addresses—you must confirm the change from the new email before it takes effect.

To change your password, go back to Settings and privacy > Settings and click Password and security on the left. Click Change password. Type your current password, then your new password twice, and click Change password. You'll be logged out of all devices and will need to log back in with your new password.

How to change your name on Facebook

Go to Settings and privacy > Settings and click Personal information. Click next to your name to edit it. Type your new name and click Review change. Facebook will show you how your new name will appear. Click Save changes. Your name change takes effect right away, but you cannot change it again for 60 days. If Facebook rejects your name as fake or against its rules, you'll see an explanation and can try a different name.

Facebook's name policy requires that you use the name you go by in everyday life. You can include accents, hyphens, numbers, or symbols if they're part of your actual name, but you cannot use all capital letters, excessive punctuation, or characters that don't represent a real name.

How to change your phone number or add a backup contact

Go to Settings and privacy > Settings and click Personal information. Click next to your phone number to add or change it. Type your new number and click Add or Change. Facebook will send a confirmation code to that phone number—enter the code to confirm. You can add multiple phone numbers to your account, and you can remove old ones by clicking the X next to them.

You can also add trusted contacts—friends who can help you regain access if you're locked out. In the same Personal information section, look for Trusted contacts and click to add up to five friends. If you can't log in, you can ask these contacts to send you a special link to get back into your account.

How to change your privacy settings

Go to Settings and privacy > Settings and click Privacy on the left. Here you can control who sees your posts, who can contact you, and who can find your profile. The main settings are Who can see your posts? (choose Public, Friends, or Custom), Who can contact you? (Friends or Everyone), and Who can look you up? (Everyone or Friends only).

You can also block specific people, hide your online status, and control who can see your friend list. Click each setting to change it. These changes take effect right away. If you want to hide a single post instead of changing your overall privacy, you can click the three dots on that post and select Edit privacy.

How to set up two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication means Facebook requires a code from your phone in addition to your password when you log in from a new device. Go to Settings and privacy > Settings and click Password and security. Click Two-factor authentication. Choose whether you want to receive codes by text message or through an authentication app like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator. If you choose text message, enter your phone number. If you choose an app, scan the QR code with your phone's camera and follow the prompts.

Facebook will ask you to enter a test code to confirm the setup works. Once you've confirmed, two-factor authentication is on. The next time you log in from a new device, you'll be asked for a code. Save your backup codes in a safe place—you can use them if you lose access to your phone.

How to recover a locked or hacked account

If you can't log in, go to the Facebook login page and click Forgotten password? Enter your email address, phone number, or username. Facebook will show you the email addresses and phone numbers connected to your account. Click the one you still have access to. Facebook will send you a link or code—follow the instructions to reset your password and log back in.

If you don't recognize recent activity on your account or believe it's been hacked, change your password right away and review your login history. Go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Password and security and click Where you're logged in. You'll see all devices currently logged into your account. Click the three dots next to any device you don't recognize and select Log out. If you can't regain access, use the recovery process above or contact Facebook's support team through their help center.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook username?

Yes. Go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information and click next to your username. Type a new one and click Check availability. If it's available, click Save. You can change your username as often as you want, but each new username must be unique across Facebook.

What happens if I change my email address?

Your account stays the same—only the email address you use to log in changes. You'll receive account notifications and password reset links at your new email address. Make sure you confirm the change from your new email, or the old email will remain your login address.

How long does a name change take to show up?

Your new name appears on your profile right away. However, you cannot change your name again for 60 days. If Facebook rejects your name, you can try a different one when ready, but the 60-day timer still applies once a change is accepted.

Can I change my account back to a previous name?

Yes, but you still have to wait 60 days between changes. If you changed your name and want to change it back, you'll need to wait until the 60-day period is over, then make the change as you normally would.

What should I do if I forget my password?

Go to the Facebook login page and click Forgotten password? Enter your email address or phone number. Facebook will send you a link to reset your password. Click the link, create a new password, and log in. If you don't have access to your email or phone, use the trusted contacts recovery option or contact Facebook support.