Change your password from Facebook settings on any device

Open Facebook and go to the menu in the top right corner — it looks like a downward arrow or three horizontal lines depending on whether you're on a computer or phone. Select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Password and security (on a phone, scroll down to find this section). Click Change password.

Facebook will ask you to enter your current password first. Type it in, then create a new password in the next two boxes. Your new password should be at least six characters long, but longer passwords with a mix of uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols are harder to guess. After you enter your new password twice to confirm it matches, click Change password at the bottom. Facebook will log you out of all your devices and you'll need to sign back in with your new password.

The entire process takes about two minutes. If you forget your current password partway through, click Forgot password? on the change password screen and Facebook will send you a reset link to your email address or phone number.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook password from Settings and privacy > Settings > Password and security on any computer or phone.
  • Facebook requires you to enter your current password before you can set a new one, which protects your account if someone else gains access to your device.
  • Changing your password logs you out everywhere, so you will need to sign back in on each device you use.
  • A strong password is at least six characters and includes uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols — the longer and more mixed it is, the harder it is to crack.
  • If you forget your current password, use the "Forgot password?" link to reset it through your email or phone number instead of trying to change it.

Why you should change your password regularly

Changing your password every few months reduces the window of time a stolen password can be used against you. If someone obtained your password from a data breach on another website — which happens often — they might try it on Facebook. A password you changed recently means they cannot get in, even if they have an old version.

You should also change your password when ready if you think someone else knows it, if you used the same password on multiple websites and one of those sites was breached, or if you logged into Facebook on a public computer or borrowed device. Each of these situations puts your account at higher risk.

What happens when you change your password

When you click Change password, Facebook logs you out of every device where you were signed in — your phone, tablet, computer, and any other place. This is a safety feature: if someone was using your account without permission, logging them out stops them when ready.

You will see a notification that says you've been logged out everywhere. After that, you can sign back in on each device using your new password. This takes a few minutes per device, but it's worth doing right away so you don't accidentally try to use Facebook and get stuck on a login screen.

Create a password you can remember but others cannot guess

The strongest passwords are long and random — a string of letters, numbers, and symbols that mean nothing. But a password you cannot remember is useless because you'll write it down or reuse it everywhere. Instead, aim for something you can remember but that is not based on your name, birthday, pet's name, or other information someone could find on your profile or social media.

A practical approach is to use a phrase only you know — like the name of a street you lived on as a child, plus a number that matters to you, plus a symbol. For example: Maple1987! is harder to guess than Password123 because it's based on something personal to you, not a common pattern. Write it down in a find place (a locked drawer, not a sticky note on your monitor) until you've typed it enough times to remember it.

If you use the same password on multiple websites, change it on all of them. A password that works on Facebook, Gmail, and your bank is a password that compromises all three accounts if it leaks. Consider using a different password for each important account, or at minimum use different passwords for email, banking, and social media.

If you cannot access the Settings menu

If you're locked out of your account or cannot reach the Settings menu, go to facebook.com/login and click Forgot password? below the login boxes. Enter your email address or phone number, and Facebook will send you a link to reset your password. Click the link in your email or text message, then create a new password.

This reset process works even if you don't remember your current password. Facebook will ask you to confirm your identity by entering a code sent to your email or phone, which prevents someone else from resetting your password without your permission. After you set a new password this way, you can sign back in and change it again from Settings if you want to use a different one.

Use two-factor authentication for extra protection

Changing your password is important, but a second layer of protection is even better. Two-factor authentication means Facebook asks for something you know (your password) and something you have (your phone). Even if someone steals your password, they cannot sign in without access to your phone.

To turn on two-factor authentication, go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Password and security and look for Two-factor authentication. Click it and choose whether you want Facebook to send codes by text message or through an authentication app like Google Authenticator. After you set it up, every time you or someone else tries to sign in from a new device, Facebook will ask for a code from your phone. This takes an extra 30 seconds but stops most account takeovers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my password delete my photos or messages?

No. Changing your password only changes how you sign in. All your photos, messages, friends, and posts stay exactly as they are. The only thing that changes is that you need to use your new password the next time you sign in.

Can I change my password on the Facebook app instead of the website?

Yes. The steps are the same on the app: tap the menu (three lines) at the bottom right, go to Settings and privacy > Settings, scroll to Password and security, and tap Change password. The app and website are connected, so changing it one place changes it everywhere.

What if I change my password and then forget the new one?

Go to facebook.com/login and click Forgot password?. Enter your email or phone number and Facebook will send you a reset link. You don't need to remember your old password to reset it — you just need access to your email or phone number.

How often should I change my Facebook password?

There's no single rule, but changing it every three to six months is reasonable if you use Facebook regularly. Change it sooner if you think someone knows it, if you reused the password on another website that was breached, or if you logged in on a public computer.

If I change my password, will my friends know?

No. Changing your password is private. Your friends won't see a notification, and it won't show up in your activity log. Only you will know you changed it.