Where to find and edit your birthday on Facebook
Your birthday lives in your Facebook profile under a section called "Basic Information." To change it, open Facebook and click your profile picture in the top right corner, then select "Profile" from the menu. On your profile page, look for the "About" tab — it's usually the second tab after your cover photo.
Once you're in the About section, scroll down until you see "Basic Information." Your current birthday should be listed there. Click the pencil icon next to it to edit. Facebook will open a small window where you can change the month, day, and year. After you've made your changes, click "Save Changes" at the bottom of that window.
If you're using Facebook on a phone or tablet, the steps are nearly identical. Tap your profile picture, tap "Profile," tap "About," scroll to "Basic Information," and tap the pencil icon next to your birthday to edit it.
Key Takeaways
- Your birthday is stored in the Basic Information section of your About tab on your Facebook profile.
- You can change your birthday by clicking the pencil icon next to it and selecting a new month, day, and year.
- Facebook allows you to hide your birthday from your timeline while keeping it on file for account recovery and friend notifications.
- If you change your birthday, Facebook will not send new birthday notifications to your friends unless you change it to a date that hasn't passed yet in the current year.
- You can change your birthday as many times as you want, but Facebook limits how often you can change the year to prevent misuse.
Controlling who sees your birthday
When you edit your birthday, Facebook gives you privacy options. After you save your new birthday, you'll see a dropdown menu that lets you choose who can see it. Your options are usually "Public" (everyone can see it), "Friends" (only your friends can see it), or "Only Me" (no one else can see it).
Many people choose "Only Me" or "Friends" because they don't want their birthday visible to strangers or to the entire Facebook network. If you select "Only Me," your friends won't receive birthday notifications, but Facebook will still use your birthday for account recovery and security purposes.
What happens when you change your birthday
If you change your birthday to a date that hasn't occurred yet in the current year, Facebook will send new birthday notifications to your friends on that date. If you change it to a date that has already passed this year, your friends won't receive a notification until next year on the new date.
Changing your birthday does not affect your account security, your login information, or any of your posts or photos. Your account will function exactly as it did before. Facebook keeps a record of birthday changes for security reasons, but this record is not visible to you or your friends.
Limits on how often you can change the year
Facebook restricts how often you can change the year of your birthday. You can usually change the month and day as many times as you want, but you may only be able to change the year once every few months or once per year, depending on Facebook's current policies.
This restriction exists to prevent people from using birthday changes to hide their age or to circumvent account security measures. If you try to change the year and Facebook won't let you, wait a few weeks and try again. The restriction is temporary and will lift after a certain period has passed.
If you can't find your birthday section
Some older Facebook accounts or accounts with privacy restrictions may not show the birthday field in Basic Information. If you don't see it, check whether your profile privacy settings are preventing you from editing it. Go to "Settings and Privacy," then "Settings," then "Privacy," and make sure your profile information is not locked.
If you still can't find the birthday field after checking your privacy settings, try logging out and logging back in, or try accessing Facebook from a different browser. Clearing your browser's cache and cookies can also help if the page isn't loading correctly.
Changing your birthday on the Facebook app
The Facebook mobile app works the same way as the website. Tap your profile picture at the bottom right, tap "Profile," tap "About," scroll to "Basic Information," and tap the pencil icon next to your birthday. Make your changes and tap "Save."
If you're using an older version of the Facebook app, the layout might be slightly different, but the basic steps remain the same. If the app isn't showing your birthday field, update the app to the latest version from your phone's app store.
Why Facebook asks for your birthday
Facebook requires a birthday when you create an account to verify that you're old enough to use the platform — you must be at least 13 years old. Your birthday is also used to send notifications to your friends on your birthday and to help Facebook show you age-appropriate content and ads.
Your birthday is not displayed on your profile by default when you first create an account. You have to manually change your privacy settings to make it visible to friends or the public. Facebook stores your birthday securely and does not share it with third-party advertisers or apps without your permission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hide my birthday from my friends but keep it on Facebook?
Yes. When you edit your birthday, use the privacy dropdown to select "Only Me." Your friends won't see your birthday or receive a birthday notification, but Facebook will still have your birthday on file for account recovery and age verification.
What if I entered the wrong birthday when I created my account?
You can change it the same way you would change any birthday — go to your About tab, find Basic Information, click the pencil icon, and enter the correct date. If Facebook won't let you change the year, wait a few weeks and try again.
Will my friends get a new birthday notification if I change my birthday?
Only if you change it to a date that hasn't passed yet in the current year. If you change your birthday to a date that already happened this year, your friends will get a notification next year on the new date instead.
Can I delete my birthday from Facebook entirely?
No, Facebook requires a birthday on every account for age verification. You can hide it from everyone by setting the privacy to "Only Me," but you cannot remove it completely from your account.
How often can I change my birthday on Facebook?
You can change the month and day as often as you want. Changing the year is limited — you may only be able to do it once every few months or once per year. If Facebook blocks you from changing the year, try again after waiting several weeks.