Why you might add a second email to Facebook

Facebook lets you add more than one email address to your account. You might do this if you've changed email providers, want to use a work email alongside a personal one, or need a backup way to log in if you lose access to your main email. The process takes a few minutes and doesn't affect your existing login — both emails work right away.

Adding an email is different from changing your primary email. When you add one, both addresses stay active on your account. When you change your primary email, the old one stops being your main login method, though Facebook may keep it on file for account recovery.

Key Takeaways

  • You can add up to four email addresses to a single Facebook account, and all of them can be used to log in.
  • The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're using Facebook on a computer, iPhone, or Android phone.
  • Facebook sends a confirmation email to any new address you add — you must open that email and confirm the address before it becomes active.
  • If you want to change which email is your primary login, you do that in the same settings area after adding the new address.

Adding an email on a computer

Open Facebook in a web browser and log in. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner of the screen — it's next to your name. From the menu that appears, select Settings and privacy, then click Settings.

On the left side of the screen, click Personal information. You'll see a section labeled Email addresses. Click the pencil icon next to it to edit. Type your new email address into the field that appears, then click Add. Facebook will send a confirmation email to that address. Open your email inbox, find the message from Facebook, and click the link inside it. Once you click that link, the new email is active on your account.

Adding an email on iPhone or Android

Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner (on iPhone) or top right corner (on Android). Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings.

Scroll down to Personal information and tap it. Tap Email addresses. Tap Add email address and type the new address into the field. Tap Add. Facebook sends a confirmation email — go to your email inbox, open the message from Facebook, and tap the link inside. The address is now active on your account.

What happens after you confirm the email

Once you've clicked the confirmation link, both your old and new email addresses can be used to log into Facebook. You don't have to do anything else — they work when ready. If you ever forget your password, Facebook can send a reset link to either address.

If you want to make the new email your primary login (the one that appears first when you log in), go back to the email addresses section and look for the option to set it as primary. On a computer, this is usually a radio button or checkbox next to the address. On a phone, it may be a button labeled Make primary. Your old email stays on the account — it just won't be the main one.

Removing an email address you no longer use

If you've added an email by mistake or no longer need it, you can remove it. Go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Email addresses. Find the address you want to remove and click or tap the X or delete button next to it. You must have at least one email on your account at all times, so Facebook won't let you delete your only email.

If you're trying to remove your primary email, you'll need to set a different email as primary first. Once another email is set as primary, you can delete the old one.

Troubleshooting: confirmation email didn't arrive

If Facebook sent a confirmation email but you can't find it, check your spam or junk folder — sometimes email providers filter Facebook messages there. If it's not in spam, wait a few minutes and check again. Facebook usually sends the confirmation right away, but occasionally there's a short delay.

If you've waited 15 minutes and still don't see it, go back to your Facebook email settings. You should see the unconfirmed address listed. Click or tap the option to resend the confirmation email, and check your inbox again. If the problem continues, make sure you typed the email address correctly — a typo will cause the confirmation to go to the wrong place.

What Facebook does with multiple email addresses

Having multiple emails on your account doesn't change how Facebook uses your information. All the emails are tied to the same account, so Facebook's data practices remain the same regardless of how many addresses you've added. The emails are stored in your account settings and used only for login and account recovery — Facebook doesn't use them to send you marketing emails unless you've separately turned on email notifications in your preferences.

If you're concerned about which information is visible to which contacts, adding emails won't change that. Your privacy settings control who sees your posts and profile — the email addresses themselves are not visible to other users.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same email address on two different Facebook accounts?

No. Each email can only be attached to one Facebook account. If you try to add an email that's already connected to another account, Facebook will tell you it's already in use. You would need to remove it from the first account before adding it to a second one.

What if I don't have access to the email address I want to add?

You won't be able to add it because Facebook requires you to confirm the address by clicking a link in a confirmation email. If the email account is closed or you can't access it, you can't complete the process. You can only add emails you can actually receive messages at.

Will adding an email change my Facebook password?

No. Adding an email address doesn't affect your password at all. Your password stays the same, and you can still log in with it using either your old email or your new email. The two are separate — one is how you prove who you are, the other is how you receive account recovery messages.

Can I add an email and then when ready delete my old one?

Yes, once the new email is confirmed. You must have at least one email on your account, but you can remove the old one as soon as the new one is active. If you want to make the new email your primary first, you can do that before deleting the old one — it's not required, but it's a good habit.