You can change your date of birth on Facebook, but Facebook limits how often you can do it

Facebook lets you change your date of birth through your account settings, but the platform restricts changes to once every 60 days. If you entered the wrong date when you created your account, or your birthday information is now inaccurate, you can update it yourself without contacting Facebook support. The process takes about two minutes and works the same way on desktop and mobile.

The reason for the 60-day waiting period is to prevent account takeovers. If someone gains unauthorized access to your account, they cannot when ready change your birthday to lock you out or hide your real age from your contacts. This delay is a security feature that protects you, even though it can be frustrating if you need to make a correction right away.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your date of birth once every 60 days through Facebook's account settings under "Personal Information."
  • If you set your birthday to under 18 when you created your account, you cannot change it to 18 or older without Facebook's help.
  • Your birthday visibility is separate from the ability to change it — you can change who sees your birthday even if you cannot change the date itself right now.
  • If you need to change your birthday before 60 days have passed, you will need to contact Facebook through their Help Center and provide proof of your identity.

How to change your birthday in account settings

Open Facebook and go to the menu in the top right corner (on desktop) or bottom right (on mobile). Select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." On the left side, click "Personal information." You will see a section labeled "Basic information" — click on the date of birth field to edit it.

Enter your correct date of birth and click "Save changes." Facebook will confirm the update and show you when you can change it again. If you have not changed your birthday in the past 60 days, the change will go through when ready. If you have changed it recently, Facebook will tell you the exact date you can make another change.

What happens if you set your age as under 18 originally

Facebook has a strict rule: if your account was created with a birthday that made you under 18 years old, you cannot change it to show you are 18 or older on your own. This is because Facebook uses age to determine what features and ads you see, and the platform wants to prevent minors from bypassing age restrictions.

If this applies to you, you will need to contact Facebook and provide a government-issued ID that shows your real date of birth. Facebook's Help Center has a form for age-related account changes. Upload a clear photo of your ID (passport, driver's license, or national ID card), and Facebook will review it. This process can take several days, and Facebook may deny the request if the ID does not clearly show your birthdate or does not match the name on your account.

Controlling who can see your birthday

Your birthday visibility is separate from whether you can change the date. Even if you cannot change your birthday for another 30 days, you can control who sees it right now. In the same "Personal information" section, look for the privacy icon next to your date of birth — it usually looks like a globe or a lock.

Click that icon to choose who sees your birthday: "Public" (everyone), "Friends" (only people you are connected with), "Friends except..." (friends minus specific people), or "Only me" (private). Many people set their birthday to "Friends" or "Only me" to reduce how much personal information is visible to strangers or advertisers. You can change this setting as often as you want, with no waiting period.

Why Facebook limits birthday changes and what it means for your security

The 60-day limit exists because birthdate is one of the pieces of information that can help you recover a hacked account. If someone takes over your Facebook, changing your birthday is one way they can make it harder for you to prove you own the account. By limiting changes, Facebook makes it less useful as a takeover tool.

This also means you should be careful about who you give your real birthday to outside of Facebook. If someone has your email address and your real birthdate, they have two pieces of information that could help them break into your account. Keep your birthday private in other places — do not share it in public social media posts, on dating apps, or in online forums where you use the same email address as your Facebook account.

What to do if you cannot change your birthday and need help

If you have already changed your birthday recently and need to change it again before 60 days have passed, go to Facebook's Help Center and search for "change date of birth." You will find a form to request an exception. Facebook does not always grant these requests, but they will consider them if you explain why the change is urgent.

If you are locked out of your account because of a birthday change, or if you believe someone else changed your birthday without permission, report it as a security issue. Go to "Settings and privacy," then "Settings," then "Help and support," and select "Report a problem." Describe what happened, and Facebook's support team will investigate. Response times vary, but Facebook prioritizes account security issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my birthday more than once every 60 days?

No, Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between changes. If you need to change it sooner, you can contact Facebook through their Help Center, but they do not always approve early changes. The only exception is if your account was created with an age under 18 — in that case, you must provide government ID and go through a separate review process.

What if I entered my birthday wrong by accident?

If you entered the wrong date recently, you can change it when ready as long as you have not changed it in the past 60 days. Go to "Personal information" in your settings and update the date. If you have already made a change in the past 60 days, you will have to wait until the 60-day window closes.

Does changing my birthday affect my Facebook memories or old posts?

No. Changing your birthday does not delete or hide any of your posts, photos, or memories. It only updates the date Facebook uses to send birthday reminders to your friends and to determine what features you can access. Your past activity stays the same.

What if someone else changed my birthday without permission?

This is a sign your account may have been compromised. Change your password when ready, check your login activity in "Settings and privacy," and look for any devices or locations you do not recognize. Then report the unauthorized change to Facebook through their Help Center. If you cannot access your account, use Facebook's account recovery tool to regain control.

Is my birthday safe on Facebook?

Your birthday is safer on Facebook if you limit who can see it. Set it to "Friends" or "Only me" instead of "Public." Avoid sharing your full birthdate in comments, posts, or your "About" section. The less personal information visible to strangers, the harder it is for someone to use that information to break into your account or commit identity theft.