Facebook lets you change your username once every 30 days through your settings

Your Facebook username is the custom web address people use to find your profile — the part that appears after facebook.com/. You can change it anytime, but Facebook enforces a 30-day waiting period between changes. The process takes about two minutes and happens entirely in your account settings, not through a separate form or support request.

Your username is different from your display name. Your display name is what appears at the top of your profile and in comments — you can change that as often as you want. Your username is the permanent-looking address that stays the same across links and shares, unless you deliberately change it.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your username once every 30 days by going to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information.
  • Your new username must be between 5 and 50 characters, use only letters, numbers, periods, and underscores, and cannot be already taken by another account.
  • Changing your username does not affect your password, login email, or any of your account security settings.
  • Old links to your previous username will stop working, so update your profile links on other websites or in your email signature if you use them professionally.

Step-by-step: changing your username on Facebook

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 menu, click Personal Information.

Find the row labeled Username and click the pencil icon next to it. Type your new username in the box that appears. Facebook will tell you when ready if the name is taken or if it breaks their rules — usernames must be 5 to 50 characters long and can only contain letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. No spaces or special characters are allowed. Once you enter a valid username, click Review Change, then Save Changes.

Facebook will confirm the change on screen. Your new username is active right away. If you change your mind within 30 days, you cannot change it again — you will have to wait until the 30-day window passes.

What happens to your old username and links

When you change your username, your old one becomes available for someone else to claim. Facebook does not hold it in reserve for you. If you think you might want it back, do not change your username unless you are certain.

Any links using your old username will stop working. If you shared your Facebook profile link on a resume, business website, or email signature, those links will break. Update them to your new username before you tell people about the change. You can find your new profile link by going to your profile, clicking the three dots near your cover photo, and selecting Copy profile link.

Usernames that Facebook will not allow

Facebook blocks usernames that are already taken, usernames that look like they belong to a public figure or brand you do not represent, and usernames that violate their community standards. You cannot use usernames that impersonate someone else or that contain hate speech or slurs.

Usernames that are too short (fewer than 5 characters) or too long (more than 50 characters) will be rejected. Usernames with spaces, hyphens, or special characters other than periods and underscores will also be rejected. If you see an error message, try a different variation — adding a number, a period, or an underscore often solves the problem.

Username versus display name: which one to change

Your display name is what people see when they look at your profile or read your comments. You can change your display name as many times as you want, with no waiting period. Your username is the web address — facebook.com/yourname — and you can only change it once every 30 days.

If you just want people to see a different name on your profile, change your display name instead. It is faster and has no restrictions. Change your username only if you want to change the web address itself, or if you want a cleaner, shorter link to share with people.

If you cannot find the username setting

On mobile, the process is the same but the menu layout is slightly different. Tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner, scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy, then tap Settings. Tap Personal Information and look for Username.

If you do not see a Username field at all, your account may not have one yet. Older accounts sometimes do not have usernames assigned. You can create one by clicking the pencil icon next to where it says "No username" or by following the same steps above — Facebook will let you create a username for the first time without the 30-day restriction.

Security and privacy considerations when changing your username

Changing your username does not change your password or your login email. Your account security stays exactly the same. Two-factor authentication, if you have it turned on, remains active. No one gains access to your account just because you changed the web address.

Your privacy settings do not change either. If your profile was set to private before you changed your username, it stays private. If it was public, it stays public. The username change only affects the web address people use to find you, not who can see your posts or contact you.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Not when ready. Once you change your username, you have to wait 30 days before you can change it again. Your old username becomes available for someone else to take, so if you want it back, you will need to claim it during your next change window — but someone else might have taken it by then.

What if someone else took my old username?

You cannot get it back from them. Facebook does not reserve old usernames. If you want a specific username and it is taken, you can try adding a number, period, or underscore to make it unique. You can also contact Facebook through their Help Center if you believe the account is impersonating you, but they will not return a username just because you used it first.

Does changing my username affect my Facebook page or business account?

If you have a Facebook Page (separate from your personal profile), it has its own username that you change the same way. Your personal profile username and your Page username are independent. Changing one does not affect the other.

Will my friends still be able to find me after I change my username?

Yes. Your friends can still find you by searching your display name, and they can still see your profile if they already have you added as a friend. The username change only affects the web address — it does not hide your profile or change how your friends see you in their friend list.

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

No. Facebook only allows letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. Hyphens, spaces, and other special characters will be rejected. If you want to separate words, use a period or underscore instead — for example, john.smith or john_smith.