What a Facebook profile link is and why you might change it
Your Facebook profile link is the web address people use to find your profile. By default, Facebook assigns you a long string of numbers (your user ID), so your link looks like facebook.com/profile.php?id=1234567890. You can change this to a custom URL that uses your name or a username instead, making it shorter and easier to share — something like facebook.com/yourname.
You might change your profile link if you want it to match your real name more closely, if you've changed your name, or straightforward because a custom URL is easier to remember and looks cleaner when you share it. Facebook lets you change it once, and then you have the option to change it again after 60 days have passed since your last change.
Key Takeaways
- You can create a custom Facebook profile link from your Settings menu under "Username" — it does not require any special account status.
- Your custom URL must be at least five characters long and can only contain letters, numbers, periods, and underscores.
- Once you set a custom URL, you must wait 60 days before you can change it again.
- Changing your profile link does not affect your account security, login email, or password — it only changes the web address people see.
- Your old profile link will stop working once you set a new one, so update any websites or documents where you've shared the old address.
How to set or change your custom profile link
Open Facebook and go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture in the top left corner. Once you're on your profile page, look for the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right area of your cover photo. Click it and select Settings and privacy, then Settings.
In the Settings menu, look for the Personal information section on the left side. Click Username. You'll see your current profile link displayed. If you haven't set a custom one yet, you'll see your user ID number. Click the Edit button next to your username field, type in the custom URL you want, and click Review. Facebook will tell you whether that username is available. If it is, click Save to confirm the change.
The change takes effect when ready. Your old profile link will no longer work, and anyone who tries to visit it will be redirected to your new one — but only for a limited time. After a while, the old link may stop working entirely, so if you've shared it anywhere public, update those links to your new custom URL.
Rules for choosing a custom profile link
Facebook has specific rules about what characters and words you can use in a custom URL. Your username must be at least five characters long. You can use letters (a–z, A–Z), numbers (0–9), periods (.), and underscores (_). You cannot use spaces, hyphens, or special characters like @, #, or $.
You also cannot use certain reserved words that Facebook protects — words like "facebook," "help," "login," or "home" will be rejected. If you try a username and Facebook says it's unavailable, it either means someone else already has it, it contains a reserved word, or it doesn't meet the character requirements. Try a variation: add a number, use an underscore, or add a period to make it unique.
Your username does not have to match your display name. Many people use a variation of their name, a nickname, or even an unrelated word they like. The only requirement is that it follows Facebook's rules and is not already taken.
What happens to your old profile link
When you set a new custom URL, your old profile link becomes inactive. If someone clicks the old link, Facebook will redirect them to your new profile — but this redirect is temporary and may not work forever. For this reason, if you've shared your old profile link on a website, in an email signature, or anywhere else public, you should update it to your new custom URL.
Your login information does not change. You still log in with your email address and password, not your username. Changing your profile link is purely cosmetic — it affects only the web address people see when they visit your profile, not how you access your account.
The 60-day waiting period between changes
Once you set a custom profile link, you must wait 60 days before you can change it again. This rule applies whether you're changing from a numbered ID to a custom URL or from one custom URL to another. Facebook enforces this to prevent people from rapidly cycling through usernames or impersonating others.
If you try to change your username before 60 days have passed, Facebook will show you a message telling you when you'll be able to change it next. Mark that date on your calendar if you know you'll want to make another change soon. There is no way to bypass this waiting period — you straightforward have to wait.
Troubleshooting: username not available or rejected
If Facebook rejects your chosen username, the most common reason is that someone else already has it. Try adding a number at the end, using an underscore between words, or adding a period somewhere in the middle. For example, if "john.smith" is taken, try "john.smith1" or "john_smith" or "john.smith."
If you're certain no one else would have that username and Facebook still rejects it, the username may contain a reserved word or violate Facebook's naming rules. Check that you're only using letters, numbers, periods, and underscores, and that the username is at least five characters long. If you're still stuck, try a completely different username.
If you see an error message that says something like "Something went wrong," try refreshing the page and starting over. If the problem persists, log out and log back in, then try again. Occasionally Facebook's servers have temporary issues that clear up on their own.
When to contact Facebook support
Most username changes work smoothly through the Settings menu. However, if you cannot access the Username section, if you see repeated error messages, or if you believe your account has been compromised and someone else changed your username without permission, you should contact Facebook directly.
Go to the Facebook Help Center by clicking the question mark icon in the top right of any Facebook page. Search for "change username" or "profile link," and you'll find options to report a problem or message Facebook support. Explain what you've tried and what error message you're seeing. Response times vary, but Facebook typically replies within a few days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my profile link back to my user ID number?
No. Once you set a custom username, you cannot revert to your numbered user ID. You can only change your custom username to a different custom username, and only after 60 days have passed. Choose carefully the first time.
Does changing my profile link affect my Facebook page or business account?
No. Your personal profile link and any Facebook Pages you manage have separate usernames. Changing one does not affect the other. If you manage a business page, you can set a custom URL for that page independently through the page's Settings menu.
Will my friends still be able to find me if I change my profile link?
Yes. Your profile is still searchable by your name, and your friends' friend lists will not be affected. The only thing that changes is the web address. People can still find you by searching for your display name or by looking through mutual friends.
What if someone else has the username I want?
You cannot take someone else's username. If it's taken, you'll need to choose a different one. Try variations like adding numbers, underscores, or periods. If you believe the account holding that username is inactive or fake, you can report it to Facebook, but Facebook will not transfer the username to you.
Can I use special characters like hyphens or @ symbols in my profile link?
No. Facebook only allows letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. Hyphens, spaces, and special characters like @, #, or $ will be rejected. If you want to separate words, use an underscore or period instead.