Where to find your username and what you can change

Your Facebook username is the short web address that appears in your profile URL — the part after facebook.com/. You can change it once every 60 days through your account settings. The username is different from your display name, which is what appears on your posts and profile and can be changed anytime without restrictions.

Facebook lets you pick any available username that is between 5 and 50 characters long. You can use letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. Usernames cannot contain spaces or special characters like hyphens or ampersands. Once you change it, your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after a short waiting period, so choose carefully if you have shared your profile link with others.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Facebook username once every 60 days through Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information.
  • Your username must be between 5 and 50 characters and can only contain letters, numbers, periods, and underscores.
  • Changing your username does not affect your display name, which people see on your posts and can be changed anytime.
  • Your old username becomes available for others to use after you change it, so update any links you have shared before making the switch.

Step-by-step: changing your username on desktop

Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner of your screen. Select Settings and Privacy, then click Settings. On the left side, click Personal Information. You will see a section labeled Username with your current username displayed.

Click the pencil icon next to your username to edit it. Type your new username in the field that appears. Facebook will tell you when ready whether the username is available — if it is taken, you will see a red X and a message saying the name is not available. Keep trying different options until you find one that works. Once you see a green checkmark, click Review Change to confirm.

Facebook will ask you to enter your password to verify the change. Type your password and click Confirm. Your new username is now active. Your profile URL will change to facebook.com/yournewusername, and any old links to your profile using your previous username will no longer work.

Changing your username 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 and then tap Username.

Tap the pencil icon next to your current username. Type your new username and wait for Facebook to check availability. When you see the green checkmark, tap Review Change. Enter your password when prompted and tap Confirm. The change takes effect when ready on your mobile device and across all platforms where you are logged in.

What happens to your old username

When you change your username, your old one does not disappear right away. Facebook holds it for a period of time before releasing it back into circulation. During this holding period, if someone tries to visit your old profile URL, they will be redirected to your new one automatically.

After the holding period ends, your old username becomes available for anyone else to claim. This means if you have shared your profile link in emails, on other websites, or in messages, those links will stop working. Before you change your username, search for places where you have shared your profile URL and update them to your new username if possible.

The difference between username and display name

Your display name is what appears next to your posts, comments, and profile picture. It is the name your friends see when they interact with you on Facebook. You can change your display name as often as you want with no restrictions, and it does not affect your username or profile URL.

Your username is the short web address used to find your profile. It appears in your profile URL and is what you would share if you wanted someone to visit your profile directly. The username has the 60-day change limit, while your display name does not. Many people use their real name as their display name but choose a shorter or more creative username for their profile URL.

Troubleshooting username changes

If you see a message saying you cannot change your username because you have already changed it recently, you have hit the 60-day limit. Facebook enforces this rule strictly — you must wait the full 60 days from your last change before trying again. If you are unsure when you last changed it, check your activity log or contact Facebook support for the exact date.

If a username you want is showing as unavailable, it means someone else has already claimed it. Try adding numbers, periods, or underscores to make a variation. For example, if "john.smith" is taken, you might try "john.smith23" or "john_smith". Remember that usernames are case-insensitive, so "JohnSmith" and "johnsmith" are treated as the same username.

If you cannot find the Username option in your Personal Information settings, make sure you are using the current version of Facebook. Log out completely and log back in, or uninstall and reinstall the app if you are on mobile. If the option still does not appear, try accessing Facebook through a web browser instead of the app.

Keeping your profile find when you change your username

Changing your username does not affect your account security or password. Your login credentials remain the same — you still log in with your email address or phone number, not your username. However, if you are changing your username because you are concerned about privacy, consider also reviewing who can see your profile and posts through your privacy settings.

After you change your username, check your login activity to make sure no one has accessed your account without permission. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Security and Login. You will see a list of devices and locations where you have recently logged in. If you see anything unfamiliar, log out of that session and change your password when ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username back to what it was before?

Not when ready. Once you change your username, you must wait 60 days before changing it again. If you want to go back to your old username, you will need to wait until that 60-day period is over, and even then, someone else may have claimed it in the meantime. Choose your new username carefully because you cannot switch back quickly.

Will changing my username affect my friends list or messages?

No. Your friends list, messages, and all your content stay exactly the same. Only the web address of your profile changes. Your friends will still be able to find you and message you — the username change does not disconnect you from anyone or affect your account history.

What if I want to change my display name instead of my username?

Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, and click on your name at the top. You can edit your display name and change it back and forth as many times as you want with no restrictions. This does not affect your username or profile URL.

Can I use special characters like hyphens or spaces in my username?

No. Facebook only allows letters, numbers, periods, and underscores in usernames. Spaces, hyphens, ampersands, and other special characters will not work. If you want to separate words, use a period or underscore instead.

Do I need to tell my friends about my new username?

Only if they have bookmarked or shared your old profile URL. If they find you through search or through your friends list, the change will not affect them. But if you have shared your profile link on a website, resume, or other public place, update those links to your new username so people can find you.