Change your birthday on Facebook from your profile settings
Open Facebook and go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture in the top right. Click the "About" tab below your cover photo. On the left side, you will see "Basic Information" — click it. Find the "Birthday" field, click the pencil icon next to it, and enter your correct date. Facebook lets you choose who sees your birthday: "Public" (everyone), "Friends" (your friends only), or "Only Me" (hidden from all). After you pick your privacy setting, click "Save Changes".
The process takes less than a minute. Your birthday will update when ready, and Facebook will show it on your profile and in friends' birthday reminders if you set it to visible. If you have already had a birthday this year and want Facebook to remind your friends next year, make sure the year is correct — Facebook uses the year to calculate when to send reminders.
Key Takeaways
- Go to your profile, click "About", then "Basic Information" to find the birthday field.
- Click the pencil icon next to your birthday and type in the correct date.
- Choose who can see your birthday: everyone, friends only, or nobody.
- Facebook updates your birthday when ready after you save, and friends will see it in their birthday reminders if you set it to visible.
- If you entered the wrong year, correct it so Facebook sends reminders on the right date next year.
Why Facebook asks for your birthday
Facebook uses your birthday to send reminders to your friends on your birthday, to show your age on your profile, and to verify your identity if you need to recover your account. The platform also uses it to show you age-appropriate ads — for example, you will not see alcohol ads if your birthday shows you are under 21.
You do not have to make your birthday visible to everyone. Many people set it to "Friends" or "Only Me" for privacy. Even if your birthday is hidden, Facebook still uses it internally for reminders and ads.
What happens if you change your birthday
Changing your birthday updates it everywhere on Facebook — your profile, your friends' birthday reminders, and Facebook's internal records. If you set your birthday to visible and change it, your friends will see the new date in their reminders. If you set it to hidden, only you and Facebook see the change.
Facebook does not notify your friends that you changed your birthday. If you had already received birthday wishes on the old date, those posts stay on your timeline — changing the date does not erase them.
Changing your birthday on mobile
On the Facebook app for iPhone or Android, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. Tap your name at the top. Tap "About" and then "Basic Information". Scroll down to "Birthday", tap the pencil icon, and enter your correct date. Choose your privacy setting and tap "Save".
The mobile app works the same way as the desktop version — the change takes effect when ready and shows up everywhere you have set it to be visible.
If you cannot find the birthday field
If the birthday field is missing or grayed out, Facebook may have locked it because you recently changed it. Facebook limits how often you can change your birthday — you can usually change it once every 60 days. If you changed it recently and need to change it again, you may have to wait.
If the field is completely missing and you have never entered a birthday, you can add one by going to "About" and "Basic Information", then clicking "Add" next to Birthday. If you still cannot see the option, try logging out and back in, or use a different browser.
Removing your birthday entirely
You cannot delete your birthday from Facebook — the platform requires a birthday to keep your account active. However, you can hide it from everyone by setting the privacy level to "Only Me". This keeps your birthday in your account but removes it from your profile and friends' reminders.
If you want to hide your birthday before your birthday arrives, set it to "Only Me" now. Your friends will not see a reminder, and your birthday will not appear on your profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my birthday more than once?
Facebook allows you to change your birthday, but there is usually a waiting period between changes — typically 60 days. If you changed it recently and see a message saying you cannot change it again, wait until the 60-day window passes.
Will my friends know I changed my birthday?
No. Facebook does not send a notification to your friends when you change your birthday. If you change it before your actual birthday arrives, your friends will straightforward see the new date in their reminders.
What if I entered the wrong year?
Go back to "About" and "Basic Information", click the pencil icon next to your birthday, and change the year. Make sure the year is correct so Facebook sends reminders on the right date next year.
Can I hide my birthday from specific people?
No. Facebook's birthday privacy settings are all-or-nothing: public, friends only, or hidden from everyone. You cannot hide your birthday from one person while showing it to another.
What happens to birthday posts if I change my birthday?
Birthday posts that people wrote on your old birthday stay on your timeline. Changing your birthday does not delete them or move them to a different date.