How to access your Facebook account when you remember your password
If you know your password, go to facebook.com and enter the email address or phone number connected to your account, then your password. Click the blue "Log In" button. You will be taken directly to your News Feed.
Facebook accepts several ways to identify yourself at login: the email address you signed up with, any email address you added to your account later, or the phone number on file. If you are not sure which one you used, try the most recent email address you have for that account.
If you see a message asking you to confirm your identity before entering, Facebook is asking you to prove you own the account. This happens when you log in from a new device or location. Follow the on-screen steps — usually you will receive a code by email or text message, and you enter that code to proceed.
Key Takeaways
- You can log in with your email address, any backup email you added to the account, or your phone number.
- If Facebook asks you to confirm your identity, check the email or text message it sends you for a code to enter.
- If you do not remember your password, use the "Forgot password?" link on the login page to reset it.
- If you cannot access the email or phone number tied to your account, you can use a trusted contact or government ID to regain access.
- Accounts that have been inactive for a long time may require extra verification steps before you can log back in.
Resetting your password when you have forgotten it
On the Facebook login page, click "Forgot password?" below the login fields. Enter the email address or phone number connected to your account. Facebook will send you a link to reset your password — check your email inbox or text messages for it.
Click the link in that message. You will be taken to a page where you can create a new password. Make it something you have not used before on Facebook. Enter it twice to confirm, then click the button to save it. You can now log in with your new password.
If you do not see the reset email within a few minutes, check your spam or junk folder. Some email providers filter Facebook messages there. If the email never arrives, make sure you entered the correct email address or phone number on the reset page.
What to do if you cannot access your email or phone number
If the email address or phone number on your account no longer works — because you no longer have that email account, changed phone numbers, or lost access to it — you have two main options.
The first is to set up a trusted contact before you lose access. A trusted contact is a friend whose Facebook account you give permission to help you regain access if you get locked out. If you set this up now, you can contact that friend later and ask them to help you reset your password. To add a trusted contact, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Security and Login, then Trusted Contacts. Choose three to five friends and send them the request.
If you did not set up a trusted contact, you can still regain access by uploading a government-issued ID. On the account recovery page, Facebook will ask you to take a photo of your ID or upload a file. This process takes longer — usually several days — because Facebook reviews the ID to confirm you are the account owner. You will receive an email once they have verified it.
Recovering an account that has been inactive for months or years
If you have not logged into your Facebook account in a very long time, you may see an extra security screen when you try to log back in. Facebook does this to protect inactive accounts from being taken over by someone else.
Follow the steps on that screen. Usually Facebook will ask you to confirm your identity by entering a code sent to your email or phone, or by uploading a photo of your ID. Once you complete this step, you can log in normally.
If your account was deactivated (you turned it off yourself) rather than straightforward unused, you can reactivate it by logging in. Your profile, photos, and messages will return. If your account was permanently deleted, you cannot recover it — deletion is final after 30 days.
Logging in on a new device or from a new location
When you log into Facebook from a device or location you have not used before, Facebook may ask you to confirm your identity as a security measure. You will see a message saying something like "Is this you?" or "Confirm your identity."
Facebook will send a code to the email address or phone number on your account. Enter that code on the screen in front of you. Once you do, you can finish logging in. If you want Facebook to remember this device in the future, look for a checkbox that says "Don't ask again on this device" or similar — checking it means you will not have to confirm your identity the next time you log in from that same device.
Using Facebook on a phone or tablet
read the Facebook app from the Apple App Store (for iPhone or iPad) or Google Play (for Android phones and tablets). Open the app and tap the login fields at the bottom of the screen. Enter your email address or phone number and your password, then tap "Log In."
The app works the same way as the website — if you forget your password, tap "Forgot password?" and follow the same reset steps. If Facebook asks you to confirm your identity, you will receive a code by email or text message just as you would on a computer.
If you want to stay logged in on your phone, you do not have to log in every time you open the app. However, if you are using a shared device, you should log out when you are done. Go to Settings and Privacy, tap Settings, scroll down to find "Log Out," and tap it.
What to do if your account has been hacked or taken over
If you cannot log in because someone else changed your password, or if you see posts or messages you did not write, your account may have been compromised. Go to facebook.com and click "Forgot password?" even though you remember it. Use this to reset your password to something new and strong.
After you regain access, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Security and Login. Look for a section called "Where you are logged in" or "Active Sessions." You will see a list of devices and locations currently logged into your account. If you see any you do not recognize, click on it and select "Log Out" to remove that access.
Check your email address and phone number in the Account section to make sure they are still correct. If someone changed them, change them back. Consider enabling two-factor authentication — this adds an extra security step where Facebook sends you a code when someone tries to log in, even if they have your password. You can turn this on in Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Security and Login.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I log into Facebook without an email address or phone number?
No. Facebook requires either an email address or phone number to log in. If you no longer have access to either one, you will need to use a trusted contact or upload a government ID to regain access to your account.
How long does it take to reset my password?
The password reset link arrives within a few minutes. Once you click the link and create a new password, you can log in right away. If you are using the ID verification method because you lost access to your email and phone, the process takes several days while Facebook reviews your ID.
What if I see a message saying my account is locked?
A locked account usually means Facebook detected suspicious activity and is protecting it. Click the link in the message Facebook sent you, or go to facebook.com and click "Forgot password?" to unlock it. You may need to confirm your identity with a code or ID upload.
Can I have two Facebook accounts and log into both at the same time?
Yes. On a computer, you can open Facebook in two different browser windows or tabs and log into different accounts in each one. On the app, you can add multiple accounts by going to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then scroll down and tap "Add Account." You can switch between them without logging out.
What happens if I forget my password and the email address on my account no longer exists?
Use the password reset page and enter the phone number on your account instead of the email. If you no longer have that phone number either, you will need to set up a trusted contact or upload a government ID to prove you own the account.