The quickest way to change your Facebook email

Go to your Facebook settings, find the email field under "Personal Information," and add a new email address. Facebook will send a confirmation link to that new address. Click the link, and your email is updated. The whole process takes about five minutes if you have access to both your old and new email accounts.

You do not need to log out or create a new account. Your password stays the same, your friends list stays the same, and everything else on your account remains exactly as it was. Only the email address changes.

Key Takeaways

  • You can add a new email to your account before removing the old one, which keeps you from getting locked out if something goes wrong.
  • Facebook sends a confirmation link to the new email address, and you must click it for the change to take effect.
  • If you no longer have access to your old email, you will need to verify your identity using a phone number or government ID before changing it.
  • Changing your email does not affect your login options — you can still use your phone number or username to sign in if you set those up previously.

Step-by-step: adding and confirming a new email

Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner. Select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." On the left side, click "Personal information." You will see a section labeled "Email" with your current address listed.

Click "Add email" or the pencil icon next to your email. Type your new email address into the field that appears. Facebook will not let you use an email that is already connected to another Facebook account, so if you see an error message, that email is taken.

Click "Add email" to confirm. Facebook sends a confirmation link to the new address within a few seconds. Go to that email inbox, find the message from Facebook (check spam if you do not see it), and click the link inside. Once you click it, the new email is active on your account.

When to remove your old email address

After the new email is confirmed, you can delete the old one. Go back to Settings, click "Personal information," find the old email address, and click the X or delete button next to it. You can only have one primary email at a time, so Facebook will ask you to confirm the deletion.

There is no rush to remove the old email when ready. Many people keep both for a few weeks to make sure the new one is working properly. If something goes wrong with the new email, you still have the old one as a backup. Once you are confident the new address is set up correctly, delete the old one.

What to do if you cannot access your old email

If your old email account no longer exists or you cannot log into it, you cannot receive the confirmation link for a new email. Facebook has a workaround: you can verify your identity using a phone number instead.

Go to Settings, click "Personal information," and look for the email section. Click "Change" or the pencil icon. Facebook will ask you to verify who you are. Select "Use a phone number" and enter the phone number connected to your account. Facebook will send a code to that phone via text message. Enter the code, and you can then change your email without needing access to the old one.

If you do not have access to the phone number either, you will need to upload a government ID — a driver's license, passport, or state ID. Facebook uses this to confirm you are the account owner. The process takes longer (usually a few days), but it works when both email and phone are unavailable.

Using your phone number or username to sign in instead

Changing your email does not force you to use it for logging in. If you set up a phone number with Facebook, you can sign in with that number instead of an email. If you set up a username, you can use that too. This is useful if you change emails frequently or want to keep your email private.

To set up a phone number for login, go to Settings, click "Personal information," find "Phone," and add a number. To create a username, go to Settings, click "Personal information," find "Username," and choose one that is not already taken. Once either is set up, you can use it at the Facebook login screen instead of typing an email address.

Protecting your account when you change email

When you change your email, take a moment to check your login activity. Go to Settings, click "Security and login," and scroll down to "Where you are logged in." You will see a list of devices and locations currently signed into your account. If you see anything unfamiliar, click "Log out" next to it.

Also check "Login alerts" in the same section. This setting sends you a notification whenever someone signs into your account from a new device or location. Turning this on means you will know when ready if someone else tries to use your account, even if they have your password.

Changing email on Facebook apps and linked accounts

If you use the Facebook app on your phone, you do not need to do anything extra. The app automatically uses your updated email once you confirm the change on the website. You will not be logged out.

If you have linked your Facebook account to other apps — like Instagram, Spotify, or a game — those apps will continue to work. They are linked to your Facebook account itself, not to your email address, so changing the email does not break the connection. However, if those apps ever ask you to re-authenticate or sign in again, use your new email address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my email without confirming the old one?

No. Facebook requires you to click a confirmation link sent to the new email address before the change takes effect. This is a security measure to prevent someone from changing your email without your knowledge. If you cannot access the new email account, you cannot complete the change.

What happens to my password when I change my email?

Your password does not change. You can still log in with the same password you have always used. The only thing that changes is the email address associated with your account. If you want to change your password at the same time, you can do that separately in Settings under "Security and login."

Can I use the same email for two Facebook accounts?

No. Each email address can only be connected to one Facebook account. If you try to add an email that is already in use, Facebook will show an error. You would need to remove that email from the other account first, or use a different email address.

How long does it take for the email change to show up everywhere?

Once you click the confirmation link, the change is when ready. Your email is updated when ready on your account, and you can use it to log in right away. There is no waiting period.

Will my friends see my new email address?

No. Your email address is private by default on Facebook. Friends cannot see it unless you change your privacy settings to show it. Even if you change your email, your privacy settings stay the same, so your new email remains hidden from your friends list.