You can recover your Facebook username and password through Facebook's built-in recovery tools

Facebook stores your username (the custom web address you may have set up) separately from your login email or phone number. If you have forgotten either one, you do not need to contact Facebook support — the platform has self-service recovery pages that work within minutes. The process differs slightly depending on whether you remember your email address, your phone number, or neither.

The fastest route is to go to facebook.com/login/identify and enter any piece of information you remember: your name, email, phone number, or username. Facebook will show you account suggestions and let you reset your password from there. If you set up a recovery email or phone number on your account, Facebook can send a reset link to either one.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Facebook username is the custom web address (like facebook.com/yourname), which is different from the email or phone number you use to log in.
  • Go to facebook.com/login/identify to recover your account using your name, email, phone number, or username.
  • If you have a recovery email or phone number on file, Facebook will send you a password reset link within minutes.
  • If you cannot remember any login information, you can use a trusted contact or a photo ID to verify your identity and regain access.

Finding your username if you are locked out

Your Facebook username is the custom web address you may have created in your account settings — it looks like facebook.com/yourname. This is not the same as your login email or phone number. If you are locked out and need to find your username, start at facebook.com/login/identify.

Enter your full name, email address, phone number, or any other account information you remember. Facebook will search for matching accounts and show you a list of suggestions. When you see your account, click on it. Facebook will then ask you to verify your identity by sending a code to your email or phone number — whichever one is on file with your account.

If you do not have access to the recovery email or phone number anymore, scroll down on that same page and select "No longer have access to these?" Facebook will walk you through additional verification steps, which may include uploading a photo ID.

Resetting your password when you know your email or phone

If you remember the email address or phone number you used to create your Facebook account, go to facebook.com/login and click "Forgotten password?" below the login box. Enter your email or phone number in the field that appears.

Facebook will send a password reset link to that email or phone number. Open the link on the same device or browser where you received it — Facebook checks that the link is being used from a trusted location. Click the link, create a new password, and log in. Your new password takes effect when ready.

If you do not see the reset email in your inbox, check your spam or junk folder. Some email providers filter password reset messages. If the email never arrives, return to facebook.com/login/identify and try entering a different piece of information — you may have used a different email address when you signed up.

What to do if you cannot remember any login information

If you cannot recall your email, phone number, username, or password, Facebook has a longer verification process. Go to facebook.com/login/identify, select "Can't find your account?" and enter your full name. Facebook will show you accounts matching that name.

Click on the account you think is yours. Facebook will ask you to verify your identity using one of these methods: a recovery email or phone number, a trusted contact you named in your account settings, or a government-issued photo ID. If you set up a trusted contact before losing access, that person can help you regain entry by confirming your identity to Facebook.

If you have none of those options, you can upload a photo of your ID. Facebook's support team will review it and send you a password reset link if the ID matches the name on your account. This process typically takes a few days. During that time, your account remains locked.

Setting up recovery options so you do not get locked out again

Once you regain access to your account, add recovery information so you can get back in faster next time. Go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Click Password and Security on the left side.

Add a recovery email address (different from your login email if possible), a phone number, and a trusted contact. A trusted contact is a friend whose account you trust — if you ever lose access, that person can confirm your identity to Facebook without seeing your password. You can name up to five trusted contacts.

You can also change your username from this same Settings menu. Click Username under Personal Information. Facebook lets you change your username once every 60 days. Your old username becomes available for others to claim after you change it, so choose carefully.

Why Facebook asks for verification during password recovery

When you reset your password, Facebook sends the reset link to your recovery email or phone number rather than asking you to create a new password on the spot. This protects your account from someone who has guessed your login email but does not have access to your phone or email inbox.

If you receive a password reset email you did not request, do not click the link. Instead, log into your account (if you can), go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, and check Password and Security to see if anything looks wrong. If someone else has access to your recovery email or phone number, change those when ready and consider changing your password again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my username the same as my email address?

No. Your username is the custom web address you may have set up (facebook.com/yourname). Your email or phone number is what you type into the login box. You can have one username but multiple email addresses linked to your account.

Can I change my username after I recover my account?

Yes. Go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, and click Username under Personal Information. You can change it once every 60 days. After you change it, your old username becomes available for others to use.

What if someone else has my recovery email or phone number?

Change your recovery email and phone number when ready after you regain access. Go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, and click Password and Security. Remove any email or phone number you no longer control, and add new ones.

How long does it take to recover my account with a photo ID?

Facebook's support team usually reviews photo ID submissions within a few days. You will receive an email with a password reset link once they confirm your identity. During the review period, your account remains locked.

Can I recover my account if I do not have a phone or email anymore?

Yes, but it takes longer. Use a trusted contact if you named one before losing access, or upload a government-issued photo ID. Facebook will verify your identity and send you a password reset link by email.