You can change your birth date on Facebook, but Facebook limits how often you can do it
Facebook lets you change the birth date on your account, but the platform restricts how many times you can make the change. You can alter your birth date once every 60 days. If you need to change it more frequently than that, you will have to wait for the 60-day window to pass. The change takes effect when ready once you save it.
The reason for this restriction is to prevent account takeovers and fraud. If someone gains access to your account, they cannot repeatedly change your age to lock you out or cause confusion about your identity. This protection works in your favour if your account is ever compromised.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your birth date in Facebook settings under Personal Information, and the change appears when ready to you and your privacy settings.
- Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between changes, so plan ahead if you need to correct your age.
- Your birth date visibility depends on your privacy settings — you can hide it completely, show only the month and day, or display the full date.
- If you cannot change your age because of the 60-day restriction, you will need to wait until the window opens before trying again.
- Changing your age does not affect your account security, login credentials, or any other account information.
How to change your birth date in Facebook settings
Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner of the screen. Select Settings and privacy, then click Settings. On the left side of the screen, click Personal information. You will see your birth date listed there.
Click next to your birth date where it says Edit. A window will open showing your current birth date broken into three fields: month, day, and year. Click on each field and change the numbers to your correct birth date. Once you have entered the new date, click Save changes. Facebook will confirm the change when ready.
If you see a message saying you cannot change your birth date yet, it means you have already made a change within the last 60 days. The message will tell you when you can make your next change. Write down that date so you know when the window opens.
What happens when you change your age on Facebook
When you change your birth date, Facebook updates it in your account when ready. The change does not affect your login information, password, or any other security settings. Your friends will not receive a notification that you changed your age unless your birth date is visible on your profile and they happen to look at it.
If your birth date is set to private, only you will see the change. If it is visible to your friends or the public, they may notice the new age the next time they view your profile. The change does not alter your account history, posts, or any other information you have shared.
How to control who sees your birth date
Your birth date visibility is separate from changing the date itself. After you save your new birth date, you can decide who sees it. Go back to Personal information in Settings. Next to your birth date, you will see a privacy icon — it looks like a circle with lines or a lock symbol.
Click that icon to open a menu with three options: Public (everyone can see it), Friends (only your friends can see it), or Only me (no one but you can see it). You can also choose to show only the month and day without the year, which hides your age while still letting people know when to wish you happy birthday.
Many people set their birth date to Only me for privacy reasons. This prevents strangers and data brokers from collecting your age information. If you want Facebook to remind your friends about your birthday without showing your age, select the month and day option.
What to do if you cannot change your age because of the 60-day limit
If Facebook tells you that you cannot change your birth date yet, you are within the 60-day waiting period from your last change. The only solution is to wait until that period ends. Facebook will not make exceptions to this rule, even if you contact support.
Write down the date when you will be able to change it again. Set a reminder on your phone or calendar so you do not forget. When that date arrives, return to Personal information in Settings and try again. The system will allow the change once the 60 days have passed.
If you made a mistake when you changed your age and need to fix it right away, you cannot. You will have to wait for the 60-day window to close. This is why it is important to double-check your birth date before you click Save changes.
Why Facebook limits how often you can change your age
The 60-day restriction exists to protect your account from unauthorized changes. If someone gains access to your Facebook account, they could change your age repeatedly to cause problems or lock you out of certain features. By limiting changes, Facebook makes it harder for attackers to misuse your account.
This restriction also prevents people from changing their age to bypass Facebook's age-based rules. Facebook requires users to be at least 13 years old. The waiting period makes it more difficult for someone to repeatedly change their age to evade account suspensions or other penalties.
Changing your age on mobile versus desktop
The process is the same whether you use Facebook on a phone, tablet, or computer. On a mobile device, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner of the screen. Tap Settings and privacy, then Settings. Scroll down and tap Personal information. Tap next to your birth date to edit it, make your changes, and tap Save.
On a desktop computer, use the arrow menu in the top right corner as described earlier. The steps are identical; only the button locations change slightly depending on your device. Either way, your change will sync across all devices within a few minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my age more than once every 60 days?
No. Facebook enforces a strict 60-day waiting period between birth date changes. You cannot change it again until that period ends, and there are no exceptions. If you need to correct a mistake, you will have to wait until the window opens.
Will my friends be notified if I change my age?
Only if your birth date is visible on your profile and they happen to see it. If your birth date is set to Only me, no one will know you changed it. If it is visible to friends, they may notice the new age when they view your profile, but Facebook does not send them a notification.
Does changing my age affect my account security?
No. Changing your birth date does not affect your password, login information, or any security settings. It is a straightforward profile update. Your account security remains the same before and after the change.
Can I hide my birth date completely on Facebook?
Yes. Go to Personal information in Settings and click the privacy icon next to your birth date. Select Only me to hide it from everyone except yourself. You can also choose to show only the month and day without the year if you want friends to know when your birthday is but not your age.
What if I forgot my correct birth date and entered the wrong one?
You will have to wait 60 days from when you made the incorrect change before you can update it again. To avoid this in the future, verify your birth date before clicking Save changes. If you need to correct it urgently, you may contact Facebook support, though they typically enforce the 60-day rule.