You cannot find your existing Facebook password, but you can reset it
Facebook does not show you your current password anywhere — not in settings, not in email, nowhere. That is by design. If you have forgotten it, the only way forward is to reset it, which means creating a new one. The reset process takes a few minutes and works the same way whether you remember your email address, phone number, or neither.
The fastest path is to go to facebook.com, click "Forgotten password?" on the login screen, and enter the email address or phone number connected to your account. Facebook will send you a link to create a new password. If you no longer have access to that email or phone number, the process takes longer but still works — you will just need to verify your identity another way.
Key Takeaways
- Facebook passwords cannot be retrieved or viewed; you must reset your password by creating a new one through the "Forgotten password?" link.
- If you remember the email or phone number on your account, you can reset your password in minutes by clicking the link Facebook sends you.
- If you have lost access to your email or phone number, you can verify your identity using a trusted contact, a photo ID, or a security code you saved earlier.
- After you reset your password, change any other accounts that use the same password, because the old one no longer works on Facebook.
Reset your password using email or phone number
Go to facebook.com and look for the login screen. Below the password field, click the blue "Forgotten password?" link. Facebook will ask you to enter the email address or phone number tied to your account — whichever one you remember.
Facebook will send a password reset link to that email address or a code to that phone number. If you chose email, open your inbox (check spam if you do not see it), click the link, and you will land on a page where you can type a new password twice. If you chose phone, enter the code Facebook texted you, then create your new password. Either way, your new password takes effect when ready.
Write down your new password somewhere safe, or use a password manager to store it. Do not use the same password you used before, and do not use a password you have used on other websites.
Reset your password if you cannot access your email or phone
If the email address on your account no longer works or you no longer have that phone number, click "Forgotten password?" as before, but when Facebook asks for your email or phone, enter whatever you do remember — an old email, a different phone number, anything tied to the account. Facebook will tell you it cannot find the account, then offer you other ways to prove who you are.
Facebook will ask you to choose one of these verification methods: use a trusted contact (a friend you named in advance), upload a photo of your ID, or enter a security code you saved when you set up two-factor protection. If you have none of these, Facebook may ask you to answer security questions about your account history — when you created it, which cities you have lived in, which email addresses you have used.
Once Facebook confirms you are the account owner, you will be able to create a new password. This process usually takes a few minutes, but Facebook may take up to 24 hours to review your identity documents if you upload a photo ID.
Use a trusted contact if you set one up in advance
A trusted contact is a friend you chose ahead of time to help you regain access if you get locked out. If you named one, Facebook will send that person a special link. Your friend clicks the link and confirms to Facebook that you are who you say you are. Then you can reset your password.
This only works if you set up a trusted contact before you lost access. If you did not, you will need to use one of the other verification methods — photo ID, security code, or security questions.
What to do after you reset your password
Once you have created a new password and logged back in, take a few minutes to check your account security. Go to Settings, then Password and Security. Make sure the email address and phone number listed are ones you still use and can access. If either one is outdated, update it now — that way you will not get locked out again.
If you use the same password on other websites, change those passwords too. Your old Facebook password no longer works on Facebook, but if you used it elsewhere, those accounts are now at risk. A password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password can help you create and store different passwords for each site.
Prevent lockouts by saving a security code
Facebook offers a backup code — a long string of numbers you can save and use to reset your password if you lose access to your email and phone. To get one, go to Settings, then Password and Security, then look for "Get backup codes." Facebook will show you a code. Write it down on paper or save it in a password manager, then store it somewhere safe.
If you ever lose access to your email and phone, you can use this code to verify your identity and reset your password without needing a trusted contact or photo ID. You only get one code, so if you use it, generate a new one right away.
Why Facebook will not show you your password
When you create a Facebook password, Facebook scrambles it using a mathematical process called hashing. Facebook stores the scrambled version, not the real password. This means even Facebook employees cannot see your actual password — if someone hacks Facebook's servers, they cannot steal your password because it is not stored anywhere in readable form.
The downside is that you cannot recover a forgotten password. You can only reset it and create a new one. This is true for almost every major website, not just Facebook. If a site ever offers to email you your password, that is a sign the site is not storing passwords securely and you should not trust it with sensitive information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reset my Facebook password without a phone or email?
Yes. If you do not have access to your email or phone, you can verify your identity using a photo ID, a security code you saved in advance, a trusted contact, or by answering security questions about your account. The process takes longer — sometimes up to 24 hours — but you will still be able to reset your password.
What if I forgot my password and my email was hacked?
If someone else has access to your email, they may have already changed your Facebook password. Go to facebook.com and click "Forgotten password?" anyway. If the email address no longer works, use one of the other verification methods — phone number, photo ID, security code, or trusted contact. Once you regain access, change your email password when ready and enable two-factor protection on both accounts.
How long does it take to reset my password?
If you use email or phone, it takes a few minutes. If you upload a photo ID for verification, Facebook may take up to 24 hours to review it. If you use a trusted contact, it depends on how quickly your friend responds to Facebook's message.
Will resetting my password log me out on other devices?
Yes. When you reset your password, Facebook logs you out everywhere — on your phone, tablet, computer, and any other device. You will need to log back in with your new password on each device.
Can I use the same password I used before?
Technically yes, but do not. If you forgot your password once, use a new one this time. Write it down or save it in a password manager so you do not forget it again. Avoid passwords that are straightforward to guess, like your birthday or the word "password."