Open Facebook and go to your settings

To change your Facebook name on a mobile phone, start by opening the Facebook app. Tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) at the bottom right of your screen on iPhone, or at the bottom right on Android. This opens your main menu.

Scroll down until you see Settings & Privacy, then tap it. A submenu will appear. Tap Settings to enter your account settings page.

Find the personal information section

Once you are in Settings, look for a section labeled Personal Information or Account. The exact wording varies slightly between iPhone and Android, but both phones have this section. Tap on it to expand your options.

You should now see several fields including your name, email address, phone number, and other account details. Your name will appear near the top of this list.

Tap on your name to edit it

Find the line that shows your current Facebook name and tap directly on it. A text box will open where you can edit your name. The text box may show your full name split into a first name and last name field, or it may show your name as one entry depending on your phone and Facebook version.

Clear the old name by selecting all the text and deleting it, or straightforward tap in the field and make your changes directly. Facebook allows you to use your real name, a nickname, or a combination — the platform does not restrict what you enter here, though it does ask that you use the name you go by in everyday life.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Facebook app, tap the menu icon, then go to Settings & Privacy and select Settings to reach your account page.
  • Navigate to Personal Information or Account section and tap on your name field to open the editing box.
  • Type your new name and tap Save or Confirm to explore the change when ready.
  • You can change your Facebook name as often as you want, though Facebook may limit how frequently you can do so if you change it repeatedly in a short time period.
  • Your new name will appear on your profile, in comments, and in messages within minutes of saving.

Type your new name and save the change

Once the text box is open and you have entered your new name, look for a Save, Confirm, or Done button. The button name depends on your phone type and Facebook app version, but it will be near the text box or at the bottom of the screen. Tap it to save your new name.

Facebook will process the change within seconds. Your new name will appear on your profile, in your comments, in messages, and anywhere else your name shows on the platform. Friends will see the updated name the next time they view your profile or see your activity.

What happens if you change your name too often

Facebook allows you to change your name, but the platform has a built-in limit to prevent abuse. If you change your name multiple times within a short period — typically within 60 days — Facebook may temporarily prevent you from changing it again. If you see a message saying you cannot change your name right now, wait at least 60 days before trying again.

This limit applies to the number of changes, not to how many times you view the settings page. Each time you tap Save on a new name, that counts as one change. If you make a typo or want to fix capitalization, make sure your new name is correct before you tap Save, because you may not be able to change it again when ready.

Changing your name back to your original

If you want to revert to a previous name, follow the same steps: open Settings, go to Personal Information, tap your name, and enter the name you want to use. Facebook keeps a history of your past names, so you can return to any name you have used before without any special process. The 60-day limit still applies, so you cannot switch back and forth repeatedly.

Your old names are visible only to you in your settings history. Other people on Facebook cannot see what your name used to be unless you tell them. When you change your name, your friends straightforward see your new name going forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my friends get a notification that I changed my name?

Facebook does not send a specific notification about name changes. However, your friends may notice the change if they visit your profile or see your activity in their feed. Some people check profiles regularly and will spot the difference, but there is no automatic alert.

Can I use special characters or numbers in my Facebook name?

Facebook restricts certain characters and does not allow purely numeric names or names that look like email addresses. Stick to letters, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes. If you try to save a name with symbols Facebook does not accept, the app will show an error message and ask you to revise it.

What if the Save button does not appear after I type my new name?

Try scrolling down on the screen — the Save button may be below the text box rather than beside it. If scrolling does not reveal it, close the app completely and reopen it, then return to your name settings. If the problem continues, make sure your Facebook app is updated to the latest version in your phone's app store.

Can I change my name on mobile if I usually use Facebook on a computer?

Yes. Your Facebook account is the same across all devices. A name change made on your phone will appear on your computer and any other device you use to access Facebook. The change syncs automatically within minutes.

Is there a different process for Facebook Business Pages?

Business Pages have a separate name field. To change a Business Page name on mobile, go to the page, tap the menu icon, select Settings, then find Page Name or Page Title. The process is similar to changing your personal name, but you are editing the page identity rather than your account name.