What a Facebook link is and why you might change it

Your Facebook profile link is the web address people use to find your profile — it looks like facebook.com/yourname or facebook.com/yourprofilenumber. Facebook assigns you a default number-based link when you create an account, but you can change it to something shorter and easier to share, like facebook.com/jane.smith or facebook.com/janesmith23.

You might change your link if you want it to match your real name instead of a number, if you've changed your name, or if you want a cleaner version for sharing on a resume or business card. Once you change it, your old link stops working — people who try to visit the old address will see an error — so only change it if you're sure about the new one.

Facebook lets you change your link once every 60 days, and you can only use letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. The link must be at least five characters long and can't contain spaces.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Facebook profile link is the web address facebook.com/yourname, and you can customize it to be shorter and easier to share.
  • You can change your link once every 60 days, and it must be at least five characters long using only letters, numbers, periods, and underscores.
  • After you change your link, the old one stops working when ready, so make sure you want the new one before you confirm the change.
  • You change your link through the Settings menu on Facebook, not through your profile name — changing your name and changing your link are two separate actions.

How to change your link on desktop

Open Facebook in a web browser and click the downward arrow in the top right corner of the screen. Select Settings and privacy, then click Settings. On the left side, click Personal information.

Look for the row labeled Username — this is your profile link. Click the pencil icon next to it to edit. Type the new username you want, then click Review Change. Facebook will show you what your new link will look like. If it's correct, click Confirm. If you want to change it again, you'll have to wait 60 days.

If the username you want is already taken, Facebook will tell you and suggest alternatives. You can try a different variation — adding a number, a period, or an underscore often makes a taken name available.

How to change your link on mobile

Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings. Tap Personal information.

Find Username and tap it. Tap the pencil icon to edit, type your new username, and tap Review Change. Check that the new link looks right, then tap Confirm. The change takes effect when ready.

What happens to your old link

Once you change your username, your old link becomes inactive. Anyone who tries to visit your old Facebook address will see a message that the page doesn't exist. This means you should update your link anywhere you've shared it publicly — on a website, resume, business card, or other social media profiles — before people try to visit the old one.

If you have a business page or a page you manage, changing your personal profile link does not affect those pages. Each page has its own separate link that you manage independently.

Troubleshooting a username that won't change

If you see a message that you can't change your username yet, you've already changed it within the last 60 days. Facebook enforces this waiting period to prevent spam and account takeovers. You'll have to wait until the 60 days have passed before you can change it again.

If the username you want is taken, try adding a number at the end, using a period or underscore in the middle, or using a slightly different spelling. Facebook will show you suggestions when you try a name that's already in use. You can also check if the name is available by typing facebook.com/[username] into your browser — if the page loads with someone else's profile, that username is taken.

If you're having trouble accessing the Settings menu or the Personal information section, make sure you're logged into the right account. If you manage multiple Facebook accounts, you might be looking at the wrong one. Log out completely and log back in to the account you want to change.

The difference between changing your name and changing your link

Your Facebook name (the one that appears on your posts and profile) is separate from your profile link. You can change your name through Settings > Personal information > Name, and you can change your link through Settings > Personal information > Username. Changing one does not change the other.

If you change your name but not your link, your profile link stays the same but your display name changes. For example, you could have the link facebook.com/jsmith but display your name as Jane Smith. This is useful if you want a straightforward link but prefer a full name on your profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook link back to what it was before?

No. Once you change your username, the old one is released and may become available for someone else to use. If you want to use an old username again, you would have to wait for it to become available and then claim it, but there's no may provide it will be. Choose carefully before you confirm a change.

What if someone else took the username I want?

You can't force them to give it up. Try a variation instead — add a number, a period, or an underscore. For example, if jane.smith is taken, try jane.smith23 or jane_smith. Facebook will suggest alternatives when you try a name that's already in use.

Does changing my link affect my messages or friends list?

No. Your messages, friends, photos, and all other account information stay exactly the same. Only the web address people use to find your profile changes. Your friends can still message you and find you by searching your name.

Can I have a link with spaces or special characters?

No. Facebook only allows letters, numbers, periods, and underscores in usernames. You can't use spaces, hyphens, or other special characters. If you want to separate words, use a period or underscore instead.

How long does it take for the new link to work?

The change takes effect when ready after you confirm it. Your new link is active right away, and the old one stops working at the same time. You don't have to wait for Facebook to process the change.