Where Facebook Stores Birthday Information
Facebook keeps birthday information in two places: on a person's profile and in a dedicated birthday calendar. When someone adds their birthday to their profile, Facebook can show it to their friends (depending on their privacy settings), and the platform uses that data to send you reminders and create a birthday list.
To see someone's birthday on their profile, visit their page and look for the "About" section. If they have made their birthday visible to you, it will appear there along with their age or birth date. Not everyone shares this information publicly — some people hide it from all friends, some show it only to close friends, and some don't add it at all.
The birthday information you can see depends on what that person chose when they set up their profile. You cannot override their privacy choice or see a birthday they have hidden from you.
Key Takeaways
- Facebook's birthday calendar, found in the left sidebar or Events section, shows upcoming birthdays of people who have shared that information with you.
- You can view someone's birthday on their profile by opening the "About" section, but only if they chose to make it visible to you.
- Creating a separate calendar or contact list outside Facebook gives you a backup if you want to remember birthdays even after someone deletes their account or changes their privacy settings.
- Facebook sends you notifications about upcoming birthdays, but you can turn these off in your notification settings if you prefer not to receive them.
Using Facebook's Birthday Calendar
Facebook displays a birthday calendar in your left sidebar on desktop, or in your Events section on mobile. This calendar shows all the birthdays of people in your friends list who have shared their birth date with you. The calendar updates automatically as people add or change their birthday information.
On a computer, scroll down your left sidebar until you see "Birthdays" — click it to open a full calendar view. On a phone or tablet, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), then tap "Events," and look for the Birthdays section. The calendar shows the current month and lets you navigate to future months to see upcoming birthdays.
When you click on a specific date, Facebook shows you whose birthday falls on that day. You can then click their name to visit their profile, send them a message, or post on their wall.
Checking Someone's Profile Directly
To find a specific person's birthday, go to their profile and tap or click the "About" tab. Scroll down to the "Basic Information" or "Personal Information" section. If the person has added their birthday and made it visible to you, it will appear there with the month, day, and sometimes the year.
If you do not see a birthday listed, it means either the person has not added one to their profile, or they have chosen to hide it from you. You cannot see hidden birthdays, and there is no way to request that someone show you theirs.
Some people add their birthday but only show the month and day, not the year. This is a privacy choice that lets friends know when to celebrate without revealing their age.
Turning Birthday Notifications On and Off
Facebook sends you notifications when a friend's birthday is coming up — usually a day or two before. These appear as alerts on your phone, in your email, or in your notification center on the website, depending on your settings.
To control these notifications, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Click "Notifications" in the left menu. Search for "birthday" and you will see options to turn birthday reminders on or off, and to choose how you want to be notified (push notification, email, or both).
If you turn off birthday notifications, you can still see the birthday calendar and check profiles manually — you just will not receive automatic reminders.
Saving Birthdays Outside Facebook
Facebook birthdays are only as permanent as the account itself. If someone deletes their Facebook profile, their birthday disappears from your calendar. If they change their privacy settings, their birthday may become hidden from you. For birthdays you want to keep long-term, consider saving them elsewhere.
You can export birthday information from Facebook to your phone's contacts or to a calendar app like Google Calendar. On a computer, you can manually copy birthdays into a spreadsheet or notes app. Some third-party apps claim to sync Facebook birthdays to your phone's calendar, but these require you to give them access to your Facebook account, which carries privacy risks.
The safest approach is to manually add important birthdays to your phone's contact list or calendar app as you learn them. This way, you will have the information even if the person leaves Facebook or changes their settings.
Privacy Considerations When Viewing Birthdays
When you see someone's birthday on Facebook, remember that they chose to share it with you. Some people keep their birthday hidden because they prefer not to be reminded of their age, or because they want to limit how much personal information is public. Respect that choice and do not share someone's birthday if they have hidden it.
If you are looking for someone's birthday and cannot find it on their profile, the simplest approach is to ask them directly. Many people are happy to share their birthday with close friends but do not want it broadcast on their Facebook page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see someone's birthday if they have hidden it from me?
No. If someone has set their birthday to private or hidden from you specifically, you cannot see it on Facebook. There is no workaround or way to view hidden information. You would need to ask them directly.
What happens to birthdays if someone deletes their Facebook account?
Their birthday disappears from your Facebook birthday calendar. If you want to keep track of their birthday, save it to your phone's contacts or a calendar app before they delete their account, or ask them for their birthday through another method.
Can I change how Facebook notifies me about birthdays?
Yes. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Notifications. Search for "birthday" and choose whether to receive notifications, and which type (push, email, or both). You can also turn birthday notifications off entirely.
Is there a way to see all my friends' birthdays at once?
Facebook's birthday calendar shows all upcoming birthdays for the current and future months. On desktop, click "Birthdays" in your left sidebar. On mobile, tap the menu, then Events, then Birthdays. This is the closest thing to a complete list.
Can I add someone else's birthday to Facebook for them?
No. Only the person who owns the account can add or edit their own birthday information. You cannot add a birthday to someone else's profile.