Where to find your birthdate settings on Facebook
Your birthdate lives in your Facebook profile settings, not in your main profile page. To reach it, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of Facebook (on desktop) or tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right (on mobile). Select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side menu, choose Personal information. Your birthdate field appears there.
Facebook stores your birthdate separately from other profile details like your name or location. This is why you cannot edit it directly from your profile photo or cover photo area — you must go through the settings menu. The personal information section also holds your email address, phone number, and gender, all editable from the same screen.
Key Takeaways
- Your birthdate is in Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information, not on your visible profile page.
- Facebook limits how often you can change your birthdate — typically once every 60 days — to prevent misuse.
- If your birthdate is hidden from your profile, only you and Facebook can see it; changing it does not automatically make it visible to others.
- On mobile, the process is the same but uses the three-line menu icon instead of the arrow menu.
Steps to edit your birthdate
Once you are in Personal information, look for the Date of birth field. Click or tap on it to open the date picker. Facebook will show you three dropdown menus: one for the month, one for the day, and one for the year. Select your correct month first, then the day, then the year. The year field scrolls backward — you may need to scroll for several seconds if you were born decades ago.
After you have selected all three parts of your date, look for a Save button or Confirm button near the bottom of the field. Click it to lock in your change. Facebook will show a confirmation message. If you see an error message instead, it usually means you have changed your birthdate too recently and must wait before trying again.
Understanding Facebook's birthdate change limits
Facebook does not let you change your birthdate whenever you want. The platform typically enforces a waiting period of 60 days between changes. This means if you changed your birthdate last month, you cannot change it again for another month or so. The exact timing depends on when your last change was processed, not when you submitted it.
This limit exists to prevent people from repeatedly altering their age to evade Facebook's age-based rules or to confuse others about their identity. If you try to change your birthdate before the waiting period ends, Facebook will show you a message telling you when you can change it next. Write down that date so you know when you are able to make another change.
What happens to your birthdate after you change it
Changing your birthdate does not automatically change your age on your profile or in your birthday reminders. Facebook recalculates your age based on the new birthdate you entered, but this can take a few hours to show up everywhere on the platform. Your birthday reminder (the notification friends see on your birthday) will update to match your new birthdate once the change is fully processed.
If your birthdate was previously hidden from your profile, changing it does not make it visible. Your privacy settings for your birthdate stay the same unless you manually change them. To control who sees your birthdate, go back to Personal information, find the birthdate field, and look for a privacy icon (usually a globe or lock symbol) next to it. Click that icon to choose whether only you, your friends, or everyone can see it.
Troubleshooting common birthdate change problems
If you see a message saying you cannot change your birthdate right now, you have likely hit the 60-day limit. Wait until the date Facebook told you, then try again. Do not attempt to change it multiple times in one day — each failed attempt does not reset the timer.
If the date picker will not let you select your year, make sure you are scrolling in the year field, not clicking outside it. Some browsers require you to scroll within the dropdown rather than click on individual years. If you are on mobile and the date picker looks broken or frozen, try closing the Facebook app completely and reopening it, then navigating back to Personal information.
If you changed your birthdate but it is still showing the old date on your profile after several hours, try logging out of Facebook completely and logging back in. This forces your browser to refresh your profile data. If the old birthdate persists after a full day, contact Facebook through the Help Center — there may be a technical issue on their end.
Privacy considerations for your birthdate
Your birthdate is one of the most sensitive pieces of information you share on Facebook. Even if you hide it from your profile, Facebook itself stores it and uses it for age verification, targeted advertising, and account security. Never share your full birthdate in comments, posts, or messages, because that information becomes public and searchable.
If you are changing your birthdate because you entered it incorrectly when you created your account, do it as soon as you notice the error. The longer an incorrect birthdate sits on your account, the more it may affect Facebook's records of your age. If you are under 18 and your account shows you as an adult (or vice versa), changing your birthdate will adjust which features and ads you see.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my birthdate on Facebook more than once?
Yes, but Facebook limits changes to once every 60 days. If you have already changed it recently, you must wait until the waiting period expires before making another change. Facebook will tell you the exact date you can change it again.
Will my friends be notified if I change my birthdate?
No, Facebook does not send notifications to your friends when you change your birthdate. However, if your birthday reminder changes to a different date, friends may notice the new date when it comes around. Your birthday reminder updates automatically once your birthdate change is fully processed.
What if I cannot remember my exact birthdate?
You can enter your best estimate — month and year are the most important parts for Facebook's age verification. If you are unsure, pick a date you are confident about rather than guessing randomly. You can always change it again after the 60-day waiting period if you remember the correct date later.
Does changing my birthdate affect my Facebook memories or old posts?
No, changing your birthdate does not alter any posts, photos, or memories you have already shared. It only changes how Facebook calculates your current age and when your birthday reminder appears. All your past activity stays exactly as it was.
Why does Facebook ask for my birthdate at all?
Facebook uses your birthdate to verify your age, enforce age restrictions on certain features, and target ads appropriately. Users under 18 see different options than adults. Your birthdate also helps Facebook prevent underage account creation and protects younger users from adult-oriented content.