Where to find your birthday setting on Facebook
Your birthday lives in your Facebook profile under a section called "Personal Information" or "About". To reach it, open Facebook and click your profile picture in the top right corner, then select "Profile" from the menu that appears. On your profile page, look for a button or link that says "Edit profile" or a pencil icon — this is usually near the top of your profile, close to your cover photo.
Once you click to edit, Facebook shows you several tabs across the top. Look for the tab labeled "About" or "Personal Info". Click that tab and you will see sections for your contact information, work history, education, and other details. Your birthday field is in this same area, usually grouped with other personal details like your hometown or relationship status.
Key Takeaways
- Your birthday is stored in the "About" section of your profile, accessible through the "Edit profile" button on your profile page.
- Facebook lets you control who sees your birthday by changing the privacy setting from "Public" to "Friends Only" or "Only Me".
- If you change your birthday, Facebook may ask you to wait a certain number of days before changing it again to prevent misuse.
- Removing your birth year while keeping the month and day is an option if you want to hide your age but still receive birthday reminders from friends.
The steps to update your birthday
Once you are in the "About" section of your profile, find the line that shows your current birthday. It may appear as "Birthday" with your date listed next to it, or it may show as blank if you have not entered one yet. Click directly on the birthday field or look for a pencil icon next to it to edit.
A small window will pop up asking you to enter your birth month, day, and year. Use the dropdown menus to select each part of your date. Start with the month, then the day, then the year. After you have entered all three, look for a button labeled "Save" or "Confirm" and click it. Facebook will update your birthday when ready.
If you already have a birthday on file and are changing it to a different date, Facebook may display a message saying you can only change your birthday once every 60 days (this number can vary). If you have already made a recent change, you will need to wait until that period passes before making another change.
Controlling who can see your birthday
By default, Facebook may show your birthday to all your friends or even to the public, depending on your privacy settings. To control this, stay in the "About" section where your birthday is displayed. Look for a small icon next to your birthday — it often looks like a globe, a group of people, or a lock. This icon shows your current privacy setting.
Click that icon to open a menu with privacy options. You will typically see choices like "Public" (everyone can see it), "Friends" (only your friends can see it), or "Only Me" (no one else can see it). Select the option you prefer. "Only Me" is the most private choice if you do not want anyone to know your birthday. "Friends" is a middle ground that lets your friends see it and send you birthday messages.
After you select your privacy level, the change saves automatically. You can return to this same menu at any time to change who sees your birthday.
What happens if you hide your birth year
Facebook allows you to enter just your birth month and day without including the year. This means your friends will still see when your birthday is and can send you messages on that day, but they will not know your age. To do this, edit your birthday field and leave the year blank or select a year you do not want displayed, then adjust your privacy settings so only you can see the full date.
However, if you leave the year blank entirely, Facebook may not send you birthday reminders or let your friends know it is your birthday. The safest approach is to enter a year (even if it is not your real one) and then set the privacy to "Only Me" so that only you can see the complete information.
Troubleshooting if your birthday will not change
If you see a message saying you cannot change your birthday right now, the most common reason is that you have already changed it within the last 60 days. Facebook limits how often you can modify this information to prevent misuse of accounts. You will need to wait until that time period has passed before trying again.
If you are certain you have not changed it recently and it still will not update, try logging out of Facebook completely, closing your browser, and logging back in. Sometimes a page refresh or a fresh login clears temporary glitches. If the problem continues, you can report the issue to Facebook through their Help Center by searching for "birthday" and selecting "Report a Problem".
Why Facebook asks for your birthday
Facebook requests your birthday for several reasons. It helps the platform verify your age — Facebook requires users to be at least 13 years old. Your birthday also powers the birthday reminder feature that notifies your friends when it is your special day, and it allows Facebook to show you age-appropriate content and ads.
You are not required to make your birthday visible to others, even though Facebook asks you to provide it. You can keep it completely private by setting the visibility to "Only Me" while still giving Facebook the information it needs for account verification and internal features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my birthday more than once?
Yes, but Facebook limits how often you can change it — usually once every 60 days. If you try to change it before that period ends, you will see a message telling you to wait. This restriction is in place to prevent account misuse.
What if I entered the wrong birthday when I created my account?
You can change it the same way you would update any birthday. Go to your profile, click "Edit profile", find the "About" section, and modify the date. If you have already changed it recently, you may need to wait 60 days before making another change.
Will my friends be notified if I change my birthday?
No, Facebook does not send notifications to your friends when you change your birthday. However, if you change it to a date that is coming up soon, your friends may see it in their birthday reminders and send you messages on that new date.
Can I delete my birthday instead of changing it?
You can remove your birthday from public view by setting its privacy to "Only Me", but Facebook may still require you to have a birthday on file for account verification. To completely remove the date, try clearing the field and saving, though Facebook may ask you to re-enter it.
Does changing my birthday affect my Facebook memories or old posts?
No, changing your birthday does not alter any of your past posts, photos, or memories. It only changes the date Facebook uses going forward for birthday reminders and age-based features.