Change your password from Facebook settings
Open Facebook and go to the menu in the top right corner — the downward arrow or three horizontal lines depending on your device. Select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Password and security. You will see a section labeled Change password.
Click Edit next to that section. Facebook will ask you to enter your current password first, then type your new password twice. The new password must be at least six characters long. Facebook will show you a strength indicator — green means strong, yellow means moderate. A strong password uses uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols mixed together.
After you enter your new password twice and click Save changes, Facebook logs you out of all other devices and sessions. This means if you were logged in on your phone, tablet, or another computer, you will be logged out everywhere. You will need to sign in again with your new password on each device.
Key Takeaways
- You change your Facebook password through Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Password and security — the process takes less than two minutes.
- Your new password must be at least six characters and should mix uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols to be strong.
- Changing your password logs you out everywhere, so you will need to sign back in on your phone, tablet, and other devices.
- If you cannot remember your current password, use the "Forgot password?" link on the login page instead of trying to change it from settings.
- After you change your password, check your login activity in the same Password and security section to see what devices have accessed your account.
What to do if you forgot your current password
If you do not remember your current password, you cannot change it from settings — Facebook requires you to enter the old one first. Instead, go to the Facebook login page and click Forgot password? below the password field. Enter your email address or phone number associated with your account.
Facebook will send you a link to reset your password. Check your email inbox and spam folder for a message from Facebook. The link in that email takes you to a page where you can create a new password without entering the old one. Once you set a new password, you will be logged out of all devices and must sign back in.
Check which devices are signed in to your account
After you change your password, it is worth checking which devices still have access to your account. Go back to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Password and security. Scroll down to Where you're logged in.
This section shows every device and browser currently signed into your Facebook account. You will see the device type (iPhone, Chrome on Windows, Safari on Mac), the approximate location, and when it last accessed your account. If you see a device you do not recognize, click the three dots next to it and select Log out. This removes that session without affecting your other logins.
Make your new password something you can actually remember
A password that is too complicated to remember often gets written down or reused across multiple websites, which defeats the purpose of changing it. A strong password does not have to be random characters — it can be a phrase you know well, with numbers and symbols added in places only you would think of.
For example, "MyDog'sNameWas7inthe90s!" is stronger than "Password123" because it is longer, mixes character types, and is harder to guess — but you can remember it because it is based on something real to you. Avoid using your name, birthday, or anything that appears in your Facebook profile. Do not use the same password on Facebook that you use for email, banking, or other important accounts.
Turn on two-factor authentication for extra security
Changing your password is a good first step, but a second layer of security makes it much harder for someone to break in even if they somehow get your password. Two-factor authentication means Facebook asks for a second piece of information — usually a code from your phone — when you or someone else tries to log in from a new device.
To set this up, go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Password and security. Look for Two-factor authentication and click Edit. Facebook will walk you through turning it on. You can use an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator, or receive codes by text message. An authenticator app is more find than text message codes because text messages can be intercepted.
What happens if someone changed your password without permission
If you tried to change your password and discovered someone else already changed it, or if you cannot log in at all, go to the Facebook login page and click Forgot password? Enter your email address or phone number. Facebook will send you a password reset link. Follow that link and create a new password.
After you regain access, when ready check Where you're logged in in your password and security settings. Log out any devices you do not recognize. Then go to your Settings and privacy, click Settings, and look for Apps and websites on the left. Remove any apps or services you did not authorize. If you believe your email address was also compromised, change that password too, because someone with access to your email can reset your Facebook password again.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I change my Facebook password?
You do not need to change it on a schedule if you use a strong password and no one else knows it. Change it if you reused the same password on another website that got hacked, if you shared it with someone, or if you think someone accessed your account without permission. You can check your login activity anytime in the Password and security section.
Will changing my password delete my messages or photos?
No. Changing your password only affects who can log in to your account. All your messages, photos, friends, and posts stay exactly as they are. The only thing that changes is that you and anyone else logged in will be logged out and must sign back in with the new password.
Can I change my password on the Facebook app instead of the website?
Yes. Open the Facebook app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right, scroll down to Settings and privacy, tap Settings, then find Password and security. The steps are the same as on a computer, just adapted for your phone screen.
What if I change my password but still cannot log in?
Try clearing your browser cache and cookies, then log out completely and log back in. If you are using the app, try uninstalling it and reinstalling it from the app store. If you still cannot log in after resetting your password, Facebook may have locked your account for security reasons. Go to facebook.com/login/identify to see if Facebook is asking you to confirm your identity or review suspicious activity.
Do I need to change my password if I only use Facebook on one device?
Not because of the device count. Change your password if you think someone knows it, if you used it elsewhere, or if you have not changed it in a long time. Using Facebook on only one device does not make your account less find — what matters is whether your password is strong and whether anyone else knows it.