Where to find your profile settings on Facebook
Your profile settings live in one place: the menu at the top right of Facebook. On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner. On a phone, tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) in the bottom right. Both will show you a list of options. Look for "Settings and privacy" and tap or click it, then select "Settings."
Once you are in Settings, you will see a left-hand column with different categories. The one you need is called "Personal information." Click or tap it, and you will see all the details Facebook lets you change: your name, email, phone number, birthday, gender, and the links to your website or social media accounts.
Key Takeaways
- Your profile settings are accessed through the menu icon at the top right of Facebook on a computer or the three-line menu at the bottom right on a phone.
- You can change your name, email, phone number, birthday, gender, and website links from the Personal Information section of Settings.
- Your profile picture and cover photo are changed from your profile page itself, not from Settings — click your profile picture or cover photo and select "Change."
- Facebook limits how often you can change your name: you must wait 60 days between changes, and your name must follow Facebook's real-name policy.
- Changes to your email or phone number take effect when ready, but Facebook may ask you to confirm the change by sending a code to your old email or phone.
How to change your profile picture
Your profile picture is the small circular photo that appears next to your name everywhere on Facebook. To change it, go to your profile page by clicking or tapping your name at the top of the screen. Once you are on your profile, look for your current profile picture in the top left area of the page.
Click or tap directly on your profile picture. A menu will appear with options including "Change picture," "Upload photo," and "Remove picture." Select "Upload photo" to choose a new image from your phone or computer. You can also select "Change picture" to use a photo you have already posted on Facebook. Once you choose a photo, you can crop it to fit the circular frame, then click "Save."
How to change your cover photo
Your cover photo is the large banner image at the top of your profile. To change it, go to your profile page and look for the large image at the top. Hover your mouse over it (on a computer) or tap it (on a phone), and a "Change cover" button will appear.
Click or tap "Change cover." You will see options to upload a new photo, choose from photos you have already posted, or remove the cover photo entirely. Select the option you want, crop the image if needed, and click "Save." Facebook will resize your cover photo to fit the standard dimensions, which are 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels tall on a computer.
How to change your name on Facebook
To change your name, go to Settings, select "Personal information," and look for the "Name" field. Click or tap on it and type your new name. Facebook requires that your name follow its real-name policy, which means it should be the name you go by in everyday life — not a nickname, business name, or string of numbers and symbols.
After you type your new name, click "Review change." Facebook will show you what your name will look like on your profile. If it looks correct, click "Save changes." Your new name will appear on your profile when ready. However, Facebook limits name changes to once every 60 days. If you try to change your name again before 60 days have passed, you will see a message telling you when you can change it next.
How to change your email address and phone number
Go to Settings and select "Personal information." You will see fields for "Email" and "Phone." Click or tap the field you want to change and type your new email address or phone number. Click "Save changes."
Facebook may ask you to confirm the change by sending a code to your old email address or phone number. Check your email or text messages for the code, then enter it on Facebook to complete the change. Your new email or phone number will be active once you confirm it. If you no longer have access to your old email or phone, you can skip this step, but Facebook may ask you to verify your identity in other ways before allowing the change.
How to change your birthday and gender
Go to Settings and select "Personal information." You will see fields for "Birthday" and "Gender." Click or tap each field to change it. For birthday, select the month, day, and year from the dropdown menus. For gender, you can select from a list that includes Male, Female, Custom, and Prefer to self-describe.
If you select "Custom," Facebook will let you type in your own description and choose which pronouns appear on your profile. Once you have made your changes, click "Save changes." Your birthday and gender will update on your profile. Note that you can control who sees your birthday — you can make it visible to everyone, friends only, or just yourself. To change who can see it, look for the privacy icon next to the birthday field.
How to change your website and social media links
Go to Settings and select "Personal information." Scroll down until you see sections for "Websites" and "Social links." Click or tap "Add" or the plus icon to add a new link, or click on an existing link to edit or remove it.
For websites, type the full URL (for example, www.yourwebsite.com). For social links, select the platform from a dropdown menu — options include Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and others — then type your username or profile URL. You can add multiple websites and social media accounts. Once you have entered all your links, click "Save changes." Your links will appear on your profile so visitors can click through to your other accounts.
What happens after you make changes
Most changes to your profile take effect when ready. Your new name, email, phone number, birthday, and gender will show up on your profile right away (though some information may be hidden depending on your privacy settings). Your profile picture and cover photo will also update when ready.
If you change your email address, Facebook may send you a confirmation message to your old email asking you to verify the change. This is a security measure to make sure someone else did not change your email without your permission. If you did not make the change, you can click the link in that email to undo it. Changes to your phone number work the same way — Facebook will text a confirmation code to your old number if you have one on file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my name more than once?
Yes, but Facebook limits you to one name change every 60 days. If you try to change your name before 60 days have passed since your last change, Facebook will tell you when you can change it again. This rule applies even if you made a typo or changed your mind.
What if Facebook says my name does not follow the real-name policy?
Facebook requires names to be what you go by in everyday life. If your name contains numbers, symbols, or words that look like a business name, Facebook may reject it. Try using only letters and spaces. If your name genuinely contains numbers or symbols, you can appeal Facebook's decision by clicking the "Appeal" button and explaining your situation.
Can I hide my birthday or phone number from other people?
Yes. Next to your birthday and phone number fields in Personal Information, you will see a privacy icon (usually a circle or lock). Click or tap it to choose who can see that information — everyone, friends only, or just you. Your email address is always private and visible only to you.
What if I forget my password and cannot access my email to confirm a change?
If you cannot confirm an email change because you do not have access to your old email, contact Facebook through the Help Center. Go to Settings, select "Help and support," and choose "Report a problem." Explain that you cannot confirm an email change, and Facebook will walk you through other ways to verify your identity.
Can I change my profile picture without posting it as a photo first?
Yes. When you click "Change picture," you have the option to "Upload photo," which lets you choose any image from your computer or phone without posting it to your timeline first. Only you and people you have given permission to will see it as your profile picture.