You can change your birth date on Facebook through your personal settings, but Facebook limits how often you can make the change

To change your birth date on Facebook, go to your profile, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines on mobile, or the down arrow on desktop), select Settings and privacy, then Settings. From there, click Personal information on the left side, find the birth date field, and click Edit. Enter your correct date and click Save changes. The entire process takes about two minutes.

Facebook restricts how often you can change this information. You can change your birth date once every 60 days. If you try to change it more frequently, Facebook will block the change and tell you when you can try again. This limit exists to prevent account tampering and fraud.

Your birth date visibility on Facebook depends on your privacy settings. By default, only you can see your full birth date. You can choose to show your birth month and day to friends, or make it visible to everyone, but most people leave it private. You control this in the same Personal information section where you edit the date itself.

Key Takeaways

  • Access your birth date settings through Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information, then click Edit next to your birth date.
  • Facebook allows you to change your birth date once every 60 days, so plan ahead if you need to correct it.
  • Your birth date is private by default, visible only to you, regardless of your other privacy settings.
  • If you cannot remember your birth date or need to change it when ready, contact Facebook Support through your settings menu.

Why Facebook limits birth date changes

Facebook restricts birth date edits to prevent account security problems. A person who gains unauthorized access to your account could change your birth date to lock you out or cause other damage. The 60-day waiting period makes it harder for someone to quickly alter your account information and then cover their tracks.

The birth date field also connects to other Facebook systems. Your age determines which ads you see, which groups you can join, and whether certain features are available to you. Frequent changes could trigger Facebook's fraud detection systems, which is why the company built in the waiting period.

What to do if you cannot change your birth date

If Facebook tells you that you cannot change your birth date because you have already changed it recently, you must wait until the 60 days have passed. There is no way to bypass this limit. Mark your calendar so you know when you can try again.

If you entered your birth date incorrectly when you created your account and need to change it when ready, contact Facebook Support. Open your settings menu, scroll to the bottom, and click Help and support. Select Help Center, then search for "change birth date" or "birth date error." Facebook Support can sometimes override the 60-day limit if you explain the situation, though response times vary.

Birth date visibility and privacy

Facebook shows your birth date only to you by default. Even if your profile is public and your friends can see most of your information, they cannot see your full birth date unless you change your privacy settings. This is one of the few pieces of personal information Facebook protects this way automatically.

To adjust who can see your birth date, go to Personal information in your settings and look for the eye icon next to your birth date. Click it to change the visibility from Only me to Friends or Public. Most people keep it set to Only me because birth dates are commonly used in identity theft and account recovery scams.

Changing your birth date on mobile versus desktop

The steps are nearly identical on mobile and desktop, but the menu layout differs slightly. On mobile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right of the screen, then tap Settings and privacy and Settings. On desktop, click the down arrow in the top right corner and select Settings and privacy, then Settings. Both routes lead to the same Personal information page.

Mobile users sometimes find the menu harder to locate because Facebook reorganizes it periodically. If you cannot find Settings and privacy, try searching for "birth date" in the Facebook search bar at the top of the app. This often brings up a shortcut to your personal information page directly.

What happens if you list the wrong birth date

If your birth date is wrong on your account, Facebook may restrict your access to certain features. For example, if you listed yourself as under 13, you cannot use Messenger or join certain groups, even if you are actually older. If you listed yourself as over 65, you might not see ads targeted to younger age groups. Correcting your birth date fixes these restrictions when ready.

A wrong birth date can also cause problems if you need to recover your account. Facebook uses your birth date as one way to verify your identity if you lose access to your email or phone number. If the date on file does not match your records, Facebook may not let you back in. This is another reason to correct it as soon as you notice the error.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my birth date more than once every 60 days?

No. Facebook enforces a strict 60-day waiting period between birth date changes. If you try to change it before 60 days have passed, Facebook will show you an error message with the exact date you can try again. There is no way to override this limit except by contacting Facebook Support with a documented error.

Will my friends see when I change my birth date?

No. Birth date changes do not appear in your friends' news feeds or activity logs. The change is private to your account. Your friends will only know you changed it if you tell them or if they happen to visit your profile and notice the new date in your personal information section.

What if I created my account with a fake birth date?

You can change it to your real birth date using the steps above, but you must wait 60 days between changes. If you need to change it when ready because you listed yourself as under 13 and cannot access features, contact Facebook Support and explain the situation. They may be able to help you faster than the standard waiting period allows.

Does changing my birth date affect my Facebook birthday reminders?

Yes. If you change your birth date, Facebook will update when it sends birthday reminders to your friends and when your birthday appears on the Facebook calendar. The change takes effect when ready, so if you change your birthday to a different date, your friends will receive reminders on the new date instead.

Can I hide my birth date completely from Facebook?

You cannot delete your birth date entirely, but you can set it to Only me so that no one else can see it. You can also choose to show only your birth month and day without the year, which lets friends know when to wish you happy birthday without revealing your age. Both options are available in your Personal information settings.