You can change your birthday on Facebook anytime, but Facebook limits how often you can do it
Facebook lets you edit your birthday in your profile settings. The process takes less than a minute. However, Facebook restricts how many times you can change it — you can change the year and day, but if you change the month or day more than a few times in a short period, Facebook may lock that field for several months.
This matters because your birthday controls who sees it, what reminders people get, and whether Facebook uses it for age-based ad targeting. If you entered the wrong date when you created your account, or your privacy preferences have changed, you should know the limits before you edit.
Key Takeaways
- Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information to find your birthday field.
- You can change your birthday as many times as you want, but Facebook may temporarily lock the field if you change the month or day repeatedly in a short time.
- Your birthday visibility setting controls whether friends, the public, or no one can see it — this is separate from the date itself.
- If Facebook locks your birthday field, you will need to wait several months before you can edit it again.
How to find and edit your birthday in settings
Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner. Select Settings and Privacy, then click Settings. On the left side, click Personal Information. You will see a Birthday field with your current date.
Click on the birthday field to edit it. A calendar will appear. Select the month, day, and year you want. Click outside the calendar or press Enter to save. Facebook will update your birthday when ready.
What happens if you change your birthday too many times
Facebook tracks how often you edit your birthday. If you change the month or day multiple times within a few weeks, Facebook will lock that field. When it is locked, you will see a message saying you cannot edit your birthday right now, and you will need to wait before trying again.
The lock typically lasts several months. There is no way to unlock it early. If you made a mistake and need to correct it urgently, you cannot. This is why it is worth double-checking the date before you save it.
How to control who sees your birthday
Your birthday visibility is separate from the date itself. After you save your birthday, look for a privacy icon next to it — usually a small circle with lines or a lock symbol. Click that icon to change who can see it.
Your options are usually: Friends Only, Public, or Only Me. Friends Only means your friends see it and get a reminder on your birthday. Public means anyone on Facebook can see it. Only Me means no one else can see it, though Facebook still uses it internally for age-based features and ads. Choose the setting that matches your comfort level.
Why Facebook asks for your birthday and how it uses it
Facebook requires a birthday to create an account. It uses your birthday to enforce age restrictions — Facebook's terms require users to be at least 13 years old. It also uses your age to target ads to you, since advertisers can select age ranges for their campaigns.
Your birthday also powers birthday reminders. If your birthday is set to Friends Only or Public, your friends will get a notification on your birthday. If you set it to Only Me, no one will be reminded. Facebook also uses your birthday to show you age-related features — for example, if you are turning 18, Facebook may show you information about new account features available to adults.
What to do if you cannot remember your birthday or entered a fake one
If you entered a fake birthday when you created your account and now cannot remember what you put in, you have two options. You can try changing it to your real birthday — if you have not changed it recently, this should work. If Facebook locks the field, you will need to wait for the lock to expire.
If you truly cannot access your account or remember anything about it, you can contact Facebook through their Help Center. Go to facebook.com/help and search for "birthday" or "account information". Facebook may ask you to verify your identity before making changes to locked fields, but this process is slow and not may provide to work.
How your birthday affects your privacy and security
Your birthday is a piece of personal information that can be used to verify your identity or reset your password on other accounts. If your birthday is set to Public, anyone can see it and use it in social engineering attempts — for example, to guess your password or answer security questions on other websites.
If you use your birthday as part of your password or security questions anywhere, consider setting your Facebook birthday to Only Me. This keeps it visible to Facebook for age verification but hides it from other users. You can also use a different date for Facebook than you use for other accounts, though this makes it harder to remember.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hide my birthday from specific people?
No. Facebook's birthday privacy setting is all-or-nothing: Friends Only, Public, or Only Me. You cannot hide it from one friend while showing it to another. If you want some people to know your birthday but not others, you would need to set it to Only Me and tell them separately.
What happens to my birthday if I deactivate my account?
Your birthday stays in Facebook's records even after you deactivate. If you reactivate your account, your birthday will still be there. If you permanently delete your account, Facebook deletes your birthday along with the rest of your data after 30 days.
Can I change my birthday if I am under 18?
Yes, you can edit your birthday the same way. However, if you change it to a date that would make you under 13, Facebook may restrict your account or ask you to verify your age. Facebook enforces the 13-year minimum strictly.
Why does Facebook say I cannot edit my birthday?
You have likely changed your birthday too many times in a short period. Facebook locks the field to prevent abuse. Wait several months and try again. If the message persists after months have passed, contact Facebook Help Center to report the issue.
Does changing my birthday affect my friends' birthday reminders?
Yes. If you change your birthday to a different date, your friends will get a reminder on the new date instead of the old one. If you change it to Only Me, they will stop getting reminders altogether.