How to change your email on Facebook
You can change the email address on your Facebook account in your settings at any time. The process takes about two minutes and does not affect your password, your friends list, or anything else on your account — it only updates which email address Facebook uses to contact you and which one you can use to log in.
Facebook lets you add multiple email addresses to one account and set which one is your primary email. This means you can keep your old email working while you switch to a new one, or you can remove an old email entirely. You do this all from the same settings page.
Key Takeaways
- You can add a new email address to your Facebook account without removing the old one first, then switch which email is primary.
- Facebook will send you a confirmation link to any new email address you add, and you must click it before that email becomes active on your account.
- If you no longer have access to the email address currently on your account, you can still add a new one and make it primary.
- Changing your email does not change your password, and you can log in with either your old or new email address until you remove the old one.
Steps to add a new email address
Open Facebook and go to the menu in the top right corner (the three horizontal lines on mobile, or the downward arrow on desktop). Tap or click "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." On the left side, look for "Personal information" and click it. You will see a section labeled "Email" with your current email address listed.
Click "Add email" or the plus sign next to your email address. Type your new email in the box that appears and click "Add email" again. Facebook will send a confirmation link to that new email address. Go to that email inbox, find the message from Facebook, and click the confirmation link inside it. Once you click the link, the new email is now connected to your account.
If you do not see a confirmation email within a few minutes, check your spam or junk folder. Some email providers filter Facebook messages. If you still cannot find it, go back to your Facebook settings, find the unconfirmed email, and click "Resend" next to it.
How to make a new email your primary email
Once your new email is confirmed, it appears in your email list with a "Make primary" button or link next to it. Click that button. Your new email is now the one Facebook uses to send you notifications and password reset links. Your old email is still connected to the account — you can still use it to log in — but it is no longer the main one.
You do not have to remove your old email right away. Many people keep both emails on their account for a few weeks or months to make sure they do not miss any messages while they are switching over. Once you are sure everything is working with the new email, you can remove the old one by clicking the X or "Remove" button next to it.
What to do if you cannot access your old email
If your current email address no longer works — you closed that account, lost access to it, or it is a work email you no longer use — you can still add a new email and make it primary without needing to access the old one. Follow the steps above to add your new email and confirm it. Once it is confirmed, click "Make primary" and your new email takes over. You can then remove the old email from your account.
The only time you might run into trouble is if Facebook suspects unusual activity on your account. If you try to change your email and Facebook asks you to confirm your identity, you may need to answer security questions or use a recovery code. If you set up two-factor authentication on your account (which is a good security practice), you can use that to verify yourself instead.
Why you might want multiple emails on one account
Some people add a second email to their Facebook account as a backup way to log in, without making it primary. This is useful if you ever lose access to your main email — you can still get into Facebook using the backup email. It also gives you a way to recover your account if someone else gains access to your primary email address.
If you are switching email providers entirely (for example, moving from Gmail to a work email), you can add the new one, make it primary, and then remove the old one. This is safer than removing the old email first, because if something goes wrong during the switch, you still have a way back into your account.
Security considerations when changing your email
Changing your email address does not change your Facebook password. Your password stays the same no matter which email you use. If you want to change your password at the same time, you can do that in the same settings area — look for "Password" in the Personal information section.
If you are changing your email because you think someone else has access to your account, change your password first, then change your email. This prevents someone with your old email from using a password reset link to lock you out. You should also check your login activity to see if anyone else has been accessing your account. In Settings, go to "Security and login" and look at "Where you are logged in" to see all active sessions.
Troubleshooting common problems
If you added a new email but never received the confirmation link, check your spam folder first. If it is not there, go back to Settings, find the unconfirmed email, and click "Resend." Wait a few minutes and check again. If you still do not receive it, the email address you entered might be wrong — try removing it and adding it again, checking carefully for typos.
If you see an error message saying the email is already connected to another Facebook account, that email address is already in use. You cannot use the same email for two different Facebook accounts. If you think this is a mistake, you may need to check whether you have another account you forgot about, or contact Facebook through their help center to report the issue.
If you changed your email but Facebook is still sending messages to the old one, wait a few hours for the change to sync across Facebook's systems. Changes usually take effect within minutes, but occasionally it can take longer. If it has been more than a day and you are still receiving messages at the old email, go back to Settings and confirm that your new email is marked as primary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the same email for more than one Facebook account?
No. Each email address can only be connected to one Facebook account. If you try to add an email that is already in use on another account, Facebook will block it. If you have multiple accounts and want to consolidate them, you will need to remove the email from one account before you can add it to another.
What happens to my password when I change my email?
Your password does not change. You can log in with either your old email or your new email as long as both are on your account, and your password works with both. If you want to change your password, you can do that separately in the Password section of your settings.
Do I have to remove my old email, or can I keep both?
You can keep both emails on your account indefinitely. Many people do this as a backup. You only need to remove the old email if you no longer want it connected to your account or if you are closing that email address entirely.
How long does it take for Facebook to confirm a new email?
The confirmation is when ready once you click the link in the email Facebook sends you. The email itself usually arrives within a few minutes. If you do not see it, check your spam folder or ask Facebook to resend the confirmation link.
Can I change my email if I do not remember my password?
Yes. You do not need your password to change your email — you only need to be logged into your account. If you are logged out and cannot remember your password, use the "Forgot password?" link on the login page and follow the steps to reset it using your current email address.