Change Your Birthday in Settings
Open Facebook on your computer or phone and go to your profile. Click the three-line menu (hamburger icon) in the bottom right on mobile, or the downward arrow in the top right on desktop. Select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal information. Find the Date of birth field and click Edit next to it.
Enter your correct birth month, day, and year. Facebook will ask you to confirm the change. Click Save changes when you are done. The update takes effect when ready, though it may take a few minutes to show on your profile.
If you cannot find the Personal information section, make sure you are logged into the account you want to change. Some older accounts or accounts with restricted settings may have the birthday field in a different location — try searching "birthday" in the Settings search bar at the top of the page.
Key Takeaways
- Your birthday is stored in Settings under Personal information, not on your profile page itself.
- You can change your birthday as many times as you want, though Facebook may flag frequent changes as suspicious.
- Your birthday visibility is separate from the date itself — you can change who sees it without changing the date.
- If you cannot edit the field, your account may have a restriction in place; contact Facebook Support to request removal.
Control Who Sees Your Birthday
After you save your birthday, Facebook shows it to different people based on your privacy settings. In the same Personal information section, look for the privacy icon next to your birth date — it usually looks like a lock or an audience symbol. Click it to change who can see your birthday.
Your options are typically Public (anyone can see it), Friends (only your friends see it), or Only me (nobody else sees it). Choose the setting that matches your comfort level. Many people set their birthday to Friends only so that only people they know can see when it is.
Why Facebook Might Block a Birthday Change
Facebook limits how often you can change your birthday to prevent fraud and account takeovers. If you have changed it multiple times in a short period, Facebook may temporarily lock the field. Wait a few days and try again.
If the birthday field is completely grayed out or shows an error message, your account may have a restriction. This sometimes happens if Facebook suspects unusual activity. Go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Account and look for any security alerts. If you see a message about your account, follow the steps Facebook provides. If the field remains locked after a week, you can contact Facebook Support through the Help Center.
What Happens When You Change Your Birthday
Changing your birthday does not delete your old birthday or create a record of the change that others can see. Your friends will not receive a notification that you changed it. However, if your birthday was already visible to friends, they may notice the difference if they check your profile soon after.
If you had already received birthday wishes on your old date, those posts stay on your timeline. Your new birthday will be used for future birthday reminders and notifications. Facebook will send birthday notifications to your friends on your new date going forward.
Changing Your Birthday on Mobile
On the Facebook mobile app, tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right (iPhone) or top right (Android). Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then Settings. Tap Personal information and then Date of birth. Tap Edit and enter your correct date. Tap Save when finished.
The process is the same whether you use iPhone or Android, though the menu locations may look slightly different. If you have trouble finding the setting, use the search bar at the top of Settings and type "birthday."
If You Cannot Remember Your Current Birthday
If you set a fake birthday when you created your account and cannot remember what you entered, you can still change it. Go to Personal information and click Edit next to the birth date field. The current date will show — you can then replace it with your real birthday. Facebook does not require you to explain why you are changing it.
If you have changed your birthday many times recently and Facebook has locked the field, you will need to wait before trying again. If the wait does not work, contact Facebook Support and explain that you need to update your birthday information. They can sometimes override the restriction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hide my birthday completely from Facebook?
Yes. In Personal information, click the privacy icon next to your birth date and select Only me. Your birthday will still be stored in your account, but nobody else — including friends — will see it. Facebook will still use it for internal purposes like account security.
Will my friends get notified if I change my birthday?
No. Your friends will not receive a notification that you changed your birthday. If they visit your profile and check the birthday field, they may see the new date, but Facebook does not send out an alert about the change.
How often can I change my birthday?
Facebook does not publish a specific limit, but changing your birthday multiple times within days or weeks may trigger a temporary lock on the field. If this happens, wait several days before trying again. Frequent changes can flag your account as potentially compromised.
What if I set my birthday to a date I am not comfortable with?
You can change it whenever you want by going back to Personal information and clicking Edit. There is no penalty for correcting a birthday you entered incorrectly. Just be aware that very frequent changes may temporarily lock the field.
Does changing my birthday affect my Facebook memories or timeline?
No. Your timeline and memories are not affected by a birthday change. Posts you made on your old birthday stay where they are. Your new birthday is used only for future birthday notifications and reminders sent to your friends.