Where to find your username on Facebook

Your Facebook username is the short text handle that appears in your profile URL — the web address people use to visit your profile directly. If your profile URL is facebook.com/sarah.martinez.42, your username is sarah.martinez.42. You can find it by going to your profile, clicking the three dots next to your cover photo, and selecting "Copy profile URL". The text after facebook.com/ is your username.

If you do not see a username in your profile URL — if it shows a long string of numbers instead — you have not created one yet. Facebook lets you create one, but only once, and you cannot change it afterward. Many people skip this step and use the default number ID instead, which is fine for most purposes.

Key Takeaways

  • Your username appears in your profile URL after facebook.com/ and is the short text handle people can use to find you.
  • You can view your username by visiting your profile, clicking the three dots near your cover photo, and selecting "Copy profile URL".
  • If your profile URL shows only numbers, you have not created a username yet and can create one in your settings.
  • You can only create a username once, and Facebook does not allow you to change it after you set it, so choose carefully.
  • Your username and your display name are different — your display name is what appears on your posts and can be changed anytime.

How to create a username if you do not have one

Open Facebook and go to your profile by clicking your profile picture in the top right corner. Click the three dots next to your cover photo and select "Copy profile URL". If the URL shows only numbers (like facebook.com/100087654321), you have not created a username yet.

To create one, click the three dots again and select "Settings and privacy", then "Settings". On the left side, click "Personal information". Look for the "Username" row and click "Edit". Type the username you want — it must be between 5 and 50 characters and can include letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. Click "Review" and then "Confirm" to save it. Once you confirm, you cannot change it, so make sure the spelling is correct before you finish.

The difference between username and display name

Your display name is what appears on your posts, comments, and messages — the name your friends see when you interact with them. You can change your display name as many times as you want by going to Settings, clicking "Personal information", and editing the "Name" field. Most people use their real name here.

Your username is the short handle in your profile URL that people can use to find you directly. It is separate from your display name and cannot be changed once you set it. You can have a display name like "Sarah Martinez" and a username like "sarah.martinez.42" — they do not have to match.

Why you might want a username

A username makes your profile easier to share and remember. Instead of sending someone a long URL with numbers, you can tell them to search for your username or give them the short link facebook.com/yourname. Usernames are also easier to type into the search bar than a string of digits.

If you use Facebook for business or want people to find you easily, a username is useful. However, if you rarely share your profile link and most of your friends already have you added, you do not need one — the default number ID works just fine.

What to do if your username is taken

When you try to create a username, Facebook checks whether it is already in use. If the name you want is taken, you will see a message saying "This username is not available". Try adding numbers, periods, or underscores to make it unique — for example, sarah.martinez.42 instead of sarah.martinez.

You cannot request that someone else give up their username, and Facebook does not release old usernames from inactive accounts. If the username you want is taken and you cannot find a variation you like, you can still use your profile without a custom username — the number ID works the same way for finding your profile.

How to share your username with others

Once you have created a username, you can share it in several ways. The easiest is to copy your profile URL directly: go to your profile, click the three dots next to your cover photo, and select "Copy profile URL". You can then paste this link anywhere — in a message, email, or social media post.

You can also just tell someone your username and they can search for it in the Facebook search bar at the top of the page. Type your username and your profile should appear in the results. This works whether your profile is public or private, as long as the person searching is logged into Facebook.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username after I create it?

No. Facebook allows you to create a username only once, and you cannot change it after you confirm it. Choose carefully before you click confirm, and make sure the spelling is correct. If you make a mistake, you are stuck with that username on your account.

What if I forgot my username?

Go to your profile and click the three dots next to your cover photo, then select "Copy profile URL". The text after facebook.com/ is your username. If you see only numbers, you never created a custom username and are using your default ID instead.

Is my username the same as my email address?

No. Your email address is what you use to log in to Facebook. Your username is a separate short handle that appears in your profile URL. You can have a username without sharing your email with other people.

Can someone find me on Facebook if they only know my username?

Yes. Anyone can search for your username in the Facebook search bar and find your profile, whether it is public or private. If you want to limit who can find you, adjust your privacy settings in Settings and privacy to control who can search for you by name or username.

Do I need a username to use Facebook?

No. Your default profile ID (the number string) works just as well for everything on Facebook. A username is optional and only useful if you want an easier-to-remember profile link to share with others.