Your Facebook username is the custom web address you can set for your profile

Your Facebook username is a short, custom text string that creates a direct link to your profile — something like facebook.com/yourname instead of facebook.com/profile.php?id=123456789. Not every account has one. If you set one up, you can share it more easily, and it becomes part of how you control who finds you and what they see.

Finding your own username takes less than a minute. If you don't have one yet, you can create one in the same place. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're on a phone or a computer, but the settings are in the same location either way.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Facebook username is the custom web address for your profile, separate from your display name, and you can only set it once.
  • To find your username on a computer, go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Username.
  • On a phone, open the menu, tap Settings and Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Username.
  • If you don't have a username yet, you can create one in that same location, but you can only change it once every 30 days.
  • Your username is public by default, so anyone who knows it can visit your profile — check your privacy settings if you want to limit what they see.

Finding your username on a computer

Open Facebook in a web browser and log in. Click the downward arrow or menu icon in the top right corner of the page. Select Settings and Privacy, then Settings.

On the left side of the screen, you'll see a menu. Click Personal Information. Your username appears in the section labeled Username. If you see a field that says "Create a username" instead, you haven't set one yet — you can create one there by typing a name and clicking Save.

Write down or copy your username exactly as it appears. This is the text that goes after facebook.com/ in your profile link.

Finding your username on a phone or tablet

Open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner on Android, or the bottom center on iPhone. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy, then Settings.

Scroll down to Personal Information and tap it. You'll see your username listed there. If the field says "Create a username," you can tap it and create one by entering your chosen text and confirming.

The difference between your username and your display name

Your display name is what appears on your posts and comments — the name your friends see when you interact with them. You can change your display name as often as you want, and it can include spaces, special characters, and multiple words.

Your username is different. It's a single word or phrase with no spaces, used only to create your profile link. You can change it once every 30 days, and Facebook may restrict certain words or usernames that are already taken or violate their policies. Once you set a username, you're locked into that change window, so choose something you're comfortable with for at least a month.

What to do if your username is taken or unavailable

If the username you want is already taken, Facebook will tell you when you try to save it. You'll need to choose a different one. Try adding a number, a period, or an underscore — for example, if "jane.smith" is taken, you might use "jane.smith1" or "jane_smith."

Some usernames are reserved by Facebook and can't be used by regular accounts — these include common words like "help," "settings," or "facebook." If you see a message that a username is unavailable rather than taken, it's likely reserved. Pick something more specific to you instead.

How your username affects your privacy and who can find you

Your username is public information. Anyone who knows it can type it into the Facebook search bar or visit facebook.com/yourname directly, regardless of your privacy settings. This means your profile link is discoverable if someone has your username.

Your privacy settings control what those people can see once they reach your profile — whether they can see your photos, posts, friends list, or contact information. If you want to limit who can find you, go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Privacy and adjust who can search for you by name or contact information. You can also set your profile to Private, which means only people you've accepted as friends can see your posts and information.

If you're concerned about being found by someone specific, consider whether you want to change your username to something less obvious, or adjust your privacy settings to limit what's visible to people who aren't your friends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username back to what it was before?

No. Once you change your username, the old one becomes available for someone else to claim. If you change it again within 30 days, you can't use the previous username. If you wait more than 30 days, someone else may have already taken it. Choose carefully before you save.

What if I can't find the Personal Information section?

Make sure you're logged in to your own account, not viewing someone else's profile. The Settings menu only appears when you're in your own account. If you're on a phone, scroll all the way down in Settings — Personal Information is near the bottom. On a computer, it's in the left menu under Settings.

Does my username show up on my posts and comments?

No. Your display name shows on your posts and comments. Your username is only used for your profile link. People see your display name in their feed, but they need to visit your profile to see your username in the URL.

Can someone else use my username if I delete my account?

If you permanently delete your Facebook account, your username becomes available for someone else to use after a waiting period. If you only deactivate your account (temporary), your username remains reserved under your account.

Is it safe to share my Facebook username?

Yes, sharing your username is safe. It's public information and only creates a link to your profile. What matters is your privacy settings — make sure you've set them to show only what you're comfortable with to people who aren't your friends. Your username itself doesn't expose any private information.