Change your Facebook URL in three steps

Your Facebook URL is the web address people use to find your profile — it looks like facebook.com/yourname. You can change it once per year through Facebook's settings, and the process takes about two minutes. Go to your profile, click the three-dot menu, select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings," then find "Username" in the left menu. Type your new username and click "Review." Facebook will check if it is available and confirm the change.

The username you choose becomes your new Facebook URL when ready. Old links to your previous URL will stop working, so if you have shared your profile link anywhere, you will need to update those links manually. Your friends can still find you by searching your name, even if your URL changes.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook username once every 60 days, and Facebook will tell you when you are may be able to access to change it again.
  • Your new username must be between 5 and 50 characters, use only letters, numbers, periods, and underscores, and cannot be a username someone else already has.
  • Changing your URL does not affect your profile name, friends list, or any other account information — only the web address changes.
  • Links you shared before the change will no longer work, so update them on your website or social media if you have posted your profile link publicly.

Where to find the username setting

Open Facebook and go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture. In the top right corner of your profile, click the three-dot menu icon. A dropdown will appear with several options.

Select "Settings and privacy," then click "Settings" from the submenu. On the left side of the screen, you will see a menu with options like "Personal information," "Password and security," and others. Scroll down until you see "Username" and click it. This is where you change your Facebook URL.

What makes a valid username

Facebook has specific rules for usernames. Your username must be between 5 and 50 characters long. You can use letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), periods (.), and underscores (_). You cannot use spaces, special characters like hyphens or ampersands, or emojis.

The username you choose must not already belong to someone else. If you type a username and Facebook shows a red X, that name is taken. Try a variation — adding a number, a period, or an underscore often makes a name available. Facebook will show you a green checkmark when the username is free and ready to use.

How the change takes effect

Once you confirm your new username, the change happens right away. Your new Facebook URL becomes active, and your old URL stops working. Anyone who tries to visit your old profile link will see an error or be redirected, depending on how Facebook handles the old address at that moment.

Your profile name — the display name that appears at the top of your profile and in search results — does not change when you change your username. If your profile name is "Sarah Okafor" and you change your username to "sarah.okafor," your display name stays "Sarah Okafor." You can change your display name separately if you want it to match your username.

Updating links you have shared

If you have posted your Facebook profile link on a website, in an email signature, or on other social media, that old link will no longer work after you change your username. You will need to find those links and update them to your new URL.

Check your website's "About" page, your email signature, your LinkedIn profile, your Twitter bio, or anywhere else you may have linked to your Facebook profile. Replace the old URL with your new one. This is especially important if you use Facebook for business or professional networking, because broken links hurt your credibility.

What happens if you change your mind

You can change your username again, but Facebook limits how often you can do this. After you change your username, you must wait 60 days before you can change it again. If you change your username and when ready regret it, you are locked into that choice for two months.

If someone else takes your old username during that 60-day window, you cannot get it back. For this reason, think carefully about your new username before you confirm the change. Write it down, say it out loud, and make sure it is something you will be happy with for at least the next two months.

Troubleshooting common problems

If you cannot find the Username option in Settings, make sure you are logged into the right account and using the current version of Facebook. Log out completely, clear your browser cache, and log back in. If the option still does not appear, try using a different web browser or the Facebook mobile app.

If the username you want is taken, Facebook will not let you use it. You cannot reserve a username or request that someone else release theirs. Your only option is to choose a different username. Adding numbers, periods, or underscores to your preferred name usually makes it available — for example, "sarah.okafor" instead of "sarahokafor."

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook username more than once a year?

You can change your username every 60 days, not once per year. After you make a change, Facebook prevents you from changing it again for 60 days. This means you can change it up to six times per year if you wanted to, but most people change it far less often.

Does changing my username affect my friends or messages?

No. Your friends list, messages, photos, and all other account information stay exactly the same. Only the web address of your profile changes. Your friends can still find you by searching your name, and your messages will continue to work normally.

What if someone else takes my old username after I change it?

If you change your username and someone else claims your old one during the 60-day waiting period, you cannot get it back. Facebook does not hold old usernames for you. Choose a new username you are happy with before you confirm the change.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my username?

No. Facebook only allows letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. You cannot use spaces, hyphens, ampersands, or any other special characters. If you try to use them, Facebook will reject the username and ask you to try again.

Will my old Facebook URL still work after I change it?

No. Your old URL will stop working. Anyone who tries to visit it may see an error or be redirected. You should update any links you have shared publicly with your new URL to avoid broken links.