Change Your Facebook Profile URL in Three Steps

Your Facebook profile URL is the web address people use to find you — it looks like facebook.com/yourname. You can change it to something custom once, and Facebook will let you pick a new one every 60 days after that. The process takes less than a minute and happens entirely in your account settings.

To change your profile URL, open Facebook on a computer (the mobile app does not have this option), go to your profile, click the three-dot menu, select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings," and find "Username" in the left menu. Type your new username and click "Review Change." Facebook will check if it is available, and if it is, you confirm and you are done.

Key Takeaways

  • You can only change your Facebook username from a computer web browser, not from the mobile app or Facebook Lite.
  • Your first username change is permanent until 60 days have passed; after that, you can change it every 60 days.
  • Usernames must be between 5 and 50 characters, contain only letters, numbers, periods, and underscores, and cannot be someone else's name or a reserved word.
  • Changing your username does not affect your friends list, messages, or any other part of your account — only the web address people use to visit your profile.
  • If your desired username is taken, Facebook will suggest alternatives, or you can try a different variation.

Access Your Username Settings on a Computer

Open Facebook in a web browser on your computer and log in to your account. Click on your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen. From the dropdown menu, select "Settings and privacy," then click "Settings."

On the left side of the screen, you will see a menu with several options. Scroll down until you find "Username" and click it. This is where you will see your current username and the option to change it.

Enter Your New Username and Check Availability

In the Username section, you will see a text field with your current username highlighted. Click in the field and delete the old username, then type your new one. Facebook will show you a preview of what your new profile URL will look like as you type.

As you enter characters, Facebook checks in real time whether the username is available. If the name you want is taken, Facebook will tell you when ready and suggest similar alternatives. If your choice is available, a green checkmark will appear next to it. Keep in mind that usernames are case-insensitive — facebook.com/JohnSmith and facebook.com/johnsmith are the same address.

Confirm Your Change and Understand the 60-Day Wait

Once you have entered an available username, click the "Review Change" button. Facebook will show you a confirmation screen with your new username and the URL it will create. Click "Confirm" to save the change.

Your new username takes effect when ready. However, you cannot change it again for 60 days — this is a Facebook rule that applies to everyone. After 60 days have passed, you can change your username as often as you want, but you must wait 60 days between each change. If you change your mind within those 60 days, you are stuck with your choice until the waiting period ends.

Rules for Valid Usernames

Facebook has specific rules about what characters and words you can use in a username. Your username must be between 5 and 50 characters long. You can use letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), periods (.), and underscores (_), but no spaces, hyphens, or special characters like @ or #.

You cannot use someone else's real name, a famous person's name, or words that Facebook has reserved — such as "facebook," "help," "settings," or "pages." If you try to use a reserved word, Facebook will reject it and ask you to choose something else. Usernames are permanent identifiers, so Facebook protects them to prevent impersonation and confusion.

What Happens to Your Old Profile Link

When you change your username, your old profile URL stops working. Anyone who tries to visit your old address will see an error page. This means you should tell your friends, family, and anyone who has your old link that it has changed.

If you have shared your old profile URL on a website, in an email signature, or anywhere else online, those links will break. Update them to your new username so people can still find you. Your Facebook ID number (a long string of digits) never changes, so links that use your ID instead of your username will still work, but most people use the username version because it is easier to remember.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

If you see a message that says "This username is not available," it means someone else has already claimed it. Try adding a number, underscore, or period to make it unique — for example, john_smith or johnsmith22. Facebook will suggest alternatives when you type, so look at those suggestions for inspiration.

If you cannot find the Username option in your Settings menu, make sure you are using a computer web browser, not the mobile app. The mobile app does not have a username settings page. Also check that you are logged into the correct account — if you manage multiple Facebook accounts, you may have opened the wrong one.

If you changed your username fewer than 60 days ago and want to change it again, you will see a message telling you when you can make the next change. You cannot bypass this waiting period — it is enforced on Facebook's servers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook username from my phone?

No. The username settings are only available on the Facebook website when you use a computer. The mobile app and Facebook Lite do not have this feature. You must use a web browser on a desktop or laptop to change your username.

What happens to my messages and friends list when I change my username?

Nothing changes. Your messages, friends, photos, posts, and all other account data stay exactly the same. Only the web address people use to visit your profile changes. Your friends can still message you and find you the same way they always have.

Can I use special characters like hyphens or @ symbols in my username?

No. Facebook only allows letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. Hyphens, spaces, @ symbols, and other special characters are not permitted. If you try to use them, Facebook will reject the username and ask you to choose a different one.

What if I regret my username change within the 60-day waiting period?

You cannot change it again until 60 days have passed from the date you made the change. Facebook enforces this rule for all users. Mark your calendar for when the 60 days are up, and you can choose a new username then.

Will my old username become available for someone else to use?

Yes. Once you change your username, your old one goes back into the pool of available usernames. Someone else can claim it after you change yours. If you think you might want it back later, you should not change to something else unless you are certain.