You can change a Facebook group name from the group settings if you are the group admin
To change your Facebook group name, open the group, click the three dots or gear icon at the top, select "Edit Group Settings," find the name field, type the new name, and save. The change takes effect when ready and all members see the new name right away. Only group admins can make this change — regular members cannot rename a group.
Facebook does not limit how many times you can change a group name, so you can update it whenever you need to. However, members may get confused if you change it too often, especially if they joined because of the original name. Consider whether the new name still matches what the group is actually for.
Key Takeaways
- Only group admins can change the group name by going to group settings and editing the name field directly.
- The new name appears for all members when ready after you save it, with no delay or approval step.
- Facebook does not restrict how often you rename a group, but frequent changes can confuse members about the group's purpose.
- If you are not the admin, you can ask the current admin to make the change or request to become an admin yourself.
- The group URL may stay the same even after a name change, so old links to the group will still work.
Step-by-step instructions for desktop and mobile
On desktop: Go to your Facebook group and look for the three horizontal dots (⋯) or a gear icon near the top of the page, usually next to the group name or in the header area. Click it and select "Edit Group Settings" from the menu. Scroll down until you find the "Group Name" field, clear the current text, type your new name, and click "Save Changes" at the bottom of the form.
On mobile: Open the group in the Facebook app and tap the three dots (⋯) at the top right of the screen. Tap "Edit Group Settings." Scroll to find "Group Name," tap the field, delete the old name, type the new one, and tap "Save" or "Done" depending on your phone's operating system. The change saves automatically once you confirm.
If you do not see the edit option, you are not an admin of the group. Only admins see the settings menu. If you created the group, you are automatically an admin. If someone else created it, you need them to add you as an admin before you can change the name.
What happens to the group after you change the name
All members of the group see the new name when ready in their group list, in notifications, and when they visit the group page. Posts and comments from before the name change stay exactly as they were — nothing gets deleted or hidden. The group's cover photo, description, and all other settings remain unchanged unless you edit them separately.
The group's web address (URL) usually stays the same even after a name change. This means if someone has an old link to the group, it will still work and take them to the group with the new name. This is helpful if the group is shared in other places online or if members have bookmarked it.
When to change a group name and when not to
Change your group name if the original name no longer describes what the group is for, if you made a typo in the original name, or if the group's focus has shifted over time. For example, if you started a "Book Club 2024" group and it is now 2025, updating the year keeps the name current. If a group for dog owners became a general pet owners group, renaming it makes sense.
Avoid changing the name too often, especially if the group is large or has been around for a while. Members joined because they knew what the group was about, and a sudden name change can confuse them or make them think they joined the wrong group. If you are unsure whether a name change is necessary, ask your members first in a post or poll.
If you are not the admin and want the name changed
If you are a regular member and think the group name should change, message the group admin directly and explain why. Be specific — for example, "The group focuses on hiking trails, but the name says 'Running Club'" is clearer than "I think we should change the name." Most admins are open to feedback if you explain the reason clearly.
If the admin does not respond or refuses to change it, you can ask to become an admin yourself. The current admin can add you as an admin from the group settings. Once you are an admin, you can change the name, but remember that this is a big responsibility — other admins and members may expect you to help manage the group going forward.
Troubleshooting: why you might not see the edit option
If you cannot find the three dots or gear icon to edit group settings, check that you are logged into the correct Facebook account. Sometimes people have multiple accounts and do not realize they are using the wrong one. Log out and log back in with the account that created the group or was made an admin.
If you are definitely logged in as an admin but still do not see the edit option, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the Facebook app. Occasionally the interface does not load completely the first time. If that does not work, try accessing the group from a different device or browser to see if the problem is specific to your current setup.
On mobile, make sure you are using the official Facebook app, not Facebook Lite or a web browser. The edit options are sometimes in different places in different versions of the app. If you are using an older version of the app, updating it from your phone's app store may fix the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change a group name if I am not the original creator?
Yes, if you are an admin — whether you created the group or were added as an admin later. The original creator can make you an admin, and then you have the same power to change the name as they do. If you are not an admin, you cannot change the name yourself.
Will members get notified when I change the group name?
Members do not get a separate notification about the name change, but they will see the new name the next time they visit the group or look at their group list. If the name change is important, consider posting an announcement in the group explaining why you changed it.
Can I change a group name back to what it was before?
Yes. There is no restriction on changing a name back. If you change a name and members do not like it, you can change it back to the original. Just go to group settings and edit the name field again.
What if the name I want is already taken by another group?
Facebook does not prevent multiple groups from having the same name. You can name your group the same thing as another group if you want to. However, this can confuse people searching for groups, so it is usually better to pick a unique name that describes your specific group.
Does changing the group name affect the group's privacy settings?
No. Whether the group is public, closed, or secret stays the same when you change the name. Privacy settings are separate from the name and do not change unless you edit them yourself in the group settings.