Where to Find Your Profile Settings
Your Facebook profile settings live in one place: the menu at the top right of your screen. Click the downward arrow next to your profile picture, then select "Settings and privacy" from the dropdown. This opens a menu with two options — click "Settings" to reach the main control panel where all profile changes happen.
Once you're in Settings, look for "Personal information" in the left sidebar. This section controls what appears on your profile — your name, email, phone number, birthday, and gender. Every change you make here updates what other people see when they visit your profile, though you can control who sees each piece of information separately.
Key Takeaways
- Your profile settings are in the top-right menu under "Settings and privacy," then "Settings," then "Personal information."
- You can change your name, email, phone number, birthday, and gender from the Personal information section.
- Facebook limits how often you can change your name — typically once every 60 days — to prevent impersonation.
- After making changes, use the privacy controls next to each field to decide who can see that information.
- Your profile picture and cover photo are edited separately from your personal information settings.
Changing Your Name on Facebook
Click "Personal information" in the left sidebar, then find the "Name" field at the top. Click the pencil icon next to your current name to edit it. Type your new name exactly as you want it to appear — Facebook accepts first and last names, and you can include middle names or initials if you choose.
Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between name changes to prevent account takeovers and impersonation. If you've changed your name recently, you'll see a message telling you when you can change it again. After you submit a new name, it takes effect when ready, but Facebook may review it if it doesn't match their naming standards — names with numbers, symbols, or unusual characters sometimes trigger a review.
Updating Your Email and Phone Number
In the Personal information section, scroll down to find "Email" and "Phone." Click the pencil icon next to either field to add or change the information. If you're adding a new email, Facebook will send a confirmation link to that address — you must click it to complete the change. Your phone number updates when ready without confirmation.
You can have multiple email addresses linked to your Facebook account. If you want to remove an old email, click the X next to it. Keep at least one email or phone number active on your account — Facebook uses these to help you recover your password if you get locked out. If you change the email address Facebook uses to send you notifications, go to "Notifications" in the left sidebar to update where you receive alerts.
Changing Your Birthday and Gender
Scroll to the "Birthday" field in Personal information and click the pencil icon. Select your month, day, and year from the dropdown menus. You can choose to hide your birthday from your profile entirely by clicking the privacy icon next to the date — this is useful if you don't want notifications and birthday posts from people you don't know well.
Your gender appears in the "Gender" field below birthday. Click the pencil icon and choose from the options Facebook provides, or select "Custom" to enter your own term. Like birthday, you can control who sees your gender by clicking the privacy icon next to it. These changes take effect when ready and don't have waiting periods like name changes do.
Updating Your Profile Picture and Cover Photo
Profile picture and cover photo changes happen outside the Personal information section. Go to your profile by clicking your name at the top of Facebook, then hover over your current profile picture. A camera icon appears — click it to upload a new photo from your computer or choose one you've already posted. You can also take a new photo with your device's camera if Facebook asks for permission.
Your cover photo (the large banner image at the top of your profile) updates the same way. Hover over the cover photo and click the camera icon that appears. Facebook recommends cover photos be at least 820 pixels wide and 312 pixels tall to display clearly. After you upload a new picture or cover photo, you can crop and position it before confirming — drag the image to center it the way you want.
Controlling Who Sees Your Profile Information
Each field in Personal information has a privacy icon (usually a globe, lock, or people symbol) next to it. Click this icon to choose who can see that information: "Public" (everyone on and off Facebook), "Friends" (only people you've added as friends), "Friends except..." (friends minus specific people you exclude), or "Only me" (visible to you alone). These settings are independent — you can make your email private while keeping your birthday visible to friends.
Your profile picture and cover photo have their own privacy controls. When you upload a new picture, Facebook asks who can see it before you confirm. You can change these settings later by clicking the three dots on the photo itself and selecting "Edit privacy." Remember that anything set to "Public" can be seen and shared by anyone, even people without a Facebook account.
What Happens After You Make Changes
Most profile changes take effect when ready — your friends see the update right away, and it appears in their news feeds as a notification that you've updated your profile. Name changes are the exception; Facebook may hold your new name for review if it looks suspicious, which can take a few hours to a few days. During review, your old name still appears on your profile.
If you change your email address, Facebook sends a confirmation email to the new address. You have a limited time to confirm it — if you don't click the link, the change doesn't complete and your old email stays active. If you accidentally change your email to the wrong address, go back to Personal information and correct it before confirming the new one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often can I change my Facebook name?
Facebook allows one name change every 60 days. If you've recently changed your name, you'll see the date you can change it again in the Name field. This limit exists to prevent account takeovers and impersonation.
What if Facebook rejects my new name?
Facebook reviews names that contain numbers, symbols, or characters it flags as unusual. If your name is rejected, you'll see a message explaining why. You can appeal the decision or choose a different name that follows Facebook's naming standards — typically first and last names without special characters.
Can I hide my birthday from everyone?
Yes. Click the privacy icon next to your birthday and select "Only me." Your birthday won't appear on your profile, though Facebook still knows it for account recovery purposes. You can also choose "Friends" to show it only to people you've added as friends.
Do I need to confirm my new email address?
Yes. When you add a new email to your account, Facebook sends a confirmation link to that address. You must click the link within the time limit to complete the change. Your old email stays active until you confirm the new one.
Will my friends see notifications when I change my profile?
Yes, most changes appear in your friends' news feeds as profile update notifications. Name changes, birthday updates, and profile picture changes all generate notifications. You can control who sees these notifications by adjusting your privacy settings for each field.