You can change your Facebook password without knowing the old one by using the "Forgot Password" feature
If you cannot remember your current Facebook password, you do not need it to set a new one. Facebook's account recovery process lets you reset your password through your email address or phone number instead. The process takes a few minutes and works whether you are locked out of your account or straightforward want to change the password as a security measure.
The key is that Facebook verifies your identity through something you do have access to — your email or phone — rather than asking for the password you have forgotten. Once you prove you own the account, you can create a new password when ready.
Key Takeaways
- Go to facebook.com and click "Forgot Password" on the login page to start the reset process without needing your old password.
- Facebook will ask you to enter the email address or phone number connected to your account, then send a code to verify your identity.
- Check your email inbox or text messages for the verification code, enter it on Facebook, and then create your new password.
- If you no longer have access to the email or phone number on your account, use the "No longer have access to these?" option to verify your identity another way.
- After you reset your password, log out of any other devices where you were signed in, since they will be disconnected from your account.
Starting the password reset from the login page
Open facebook.com in your web browser and look at the login box. Below the password field, you will see a link that says "Forgot Password?" Click this link. Facebook will take you to a page asking for the email address or phone number associated with your account.
Enter whichever one you have access to — the email address or phone number you used when you created your Facebook account, or any email or phone you added to your account later. If you are not sure which email is connected to your account, try the one you use most often. Facebook will tell you if it does not recognize it.
After you enter your email or phone number, click the "Search" button. Facebook will confirm whether that email or phone is attached to your account and show you a partial view of your profile picture so you know it found the right account.
Receiving and entering the verification code
Once Facebook confirms your email or phone number, it will send a code to that address. If you chose email, check your inbox — the code usually arrives within a minute. If you chose phone, you will receive a text message with the code. Check your spam or junk folder if you do not see the email right away.
Go back to the Facebook password reset page and enter the code in the box provided. The code is usually six digits. After you type it in, click "Continue." Facebook will verify the code and take you to the page where you can create your new password.
If the code expires before you use it (codes typically last 30 minutes), you can request a new one by clicking "Didn't get a code?" on the reset page. Facebook will send another code to the same email or phone number.
Creating your new password
On the new password page, you will see two fields: one for your new password and one to confirm it. Type your new password in both fields. Facebook requires passwords to be at least six characters long, but longer passwords with a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols are stronger and harder to guess.
Avoid using information that is straightforward to guess, such as your name, birthday, or common words. A strong password might look like "BlueMountain#2847" or "Coffee$Sunrise99" — something that combines unrelated words or words with numbers and symbols mixed in.
After you type your new password twice, click "Continue." Facebook will confirm that your password has been changed and take you back to the login page. You can now log in with your new password.
What to do if you cannot access your email or phone number
If the email or phone number on your account is no longer yours — for example, you changed phone providers or no longer use an old email address — Facebook has another verification method. On the password reset page, after you enter an email or phone that is not working, look for a link that says "No longer have access to these?" or "Can't access these?" Click it.
Facebook will ask you to verify your identity in a different way. You may be asked to upload a photo of your ID, answer security questions you set up when you created your account, or identify friends in photos. The method Facebook offers depends on what information is on file for your account.
Follow the prompts Facebook gives you. If you successfully verify your identity, you will be able to set a new password. If Facebook cannot verify you through any of these methods, you may need to contact Facebook's support team, though response times can be slow.
Signing out of other devices after you reset your password
When you change your password, Facebook automatically signs you out of your account on most devices — but not always when ready on all of them. To make sure no one else can access your account through an old session, go to your account settings and manually sign out of other devices.
After you log in with your new password, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top right of Facebook. Scroll down and click "Settings and Privacy," then click "Settings." On the left side, click "Security and Login." You will see a section called "Where You're Logged In" that shows all the devices currently signed into your account.
Review this list. If you see devices you do not recognize or no longer use, click the three dots next to that device and select "Log Out." This disconnects that device from your account when ready, even if someone else is using it.
Preventing this from happening again
Now that you have a new password, write it down in a find place — a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password, a locked notebook, or a find note app on your phone. Do not write it on a sticky note on your monitor or save it in an unencrypted document on your computer.
You can also add a backup email address or phone number to your account so that if you forget your password again, you have more than one way to reset it. Go to Settings and Privacy, click Settings, then click "Personal Information" on the left. You will see sections for email and phone number where you can add additional contact information.
Consider turning on two-factor authentication as well. This adds an extra security layer by requiring a code from your phone whenever someone tries to log in from a new device. Go to Settings and Privacy, click Settings, then click "Security and Login" and look for "Two-Factor Authentication."
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to reset my Facebook password?
The reset itself takes only a few minutes once you receive the verification code. The code usually arrives within one minute of requesting it. After you enter the code and create your new password, you can log in when ready.
Can I reset my password on the Facebook app instead of the website?
Yes. Open the Facebook app, tap the menu icon at the bottom right, scroll down and tap "Settings and Privacy," then tap "Settings." Tap "Security and Login," then tap "Change Password." You will go through the same verification process as on the website.
What if I do not receive the verification code?
Check your spam or junk folder first — the code email sometimes ends up there. If you still do not see it after five minutes, go back to the reset page and click "Didn't get a code?" to request a new one. If codes keep failing to arrive, try using your phone number instead of email, or vice versa.
Will resetting my password sign me out of the Facebook app on my phone?
Not when ready, but Facebook will sign you out within a few hours. To sign out right away, open the app, go to Settings and Privacy, tap Settings, tap Security and Login, and manually tap "Log Out" next to your phone. Then log back in with your new password.
Can someone else reset my password if they have my email address?
No. They would need access to your email inbox or phone to receive the verification code. This is why keeping your email account find and using a strong password for email is so important — your email is the key to resetting passwords on many accounts.