What you can change and what stays fixed

Facebook lets you create a custom URL for your profile or page — a short web address like facebook.com/yourname instead of facebook.com/profile.php?id=123456789. You can change this custom URL once every 30 days, but you cannot change the underlying ID number that Facebook assigns when you create your account. The custom URL is what people see and share; the ID is what Facebook uses behind the scenes.

Your profile URL and your page URL are separate. If you run a business page, you change its URL independently from your personal profile URL. The same 30-day waiting period applies to both.

Before you change your URL, understand that old links to your profile will stop working. If you have shared your profile link on a resume, website, or business card, you will need to update those places too. Facebook does not automatically redirect old links to your new one.

Key Takeaways

  • You can set a custom URL for your profile or page once every 30 days by going to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Username.
  • Your custom URL must be at least five characters long, contain only letters, numbers, periods, and underscores, and cannot be a name already claimed by someone else.
  • Old links to your profile will break when you change your URL, so update any websites, resumes, or business cards that list your old address.
  • If you have not set a custom URL yet, Facebook may show you a prompt to claim one when you visit your profile.

How to change your personal profile URL

Open Facebook and go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture in the top left corner. In the top right of your profile, click the three dots (more options) and select Settings and privacy, then Settings.

On the left side of the Settings page, scroll down and click Username. You will see your current custom URL displayed. Click the pencil icon next to it to edit. Type your new username in the box that appears. Facebook will tell you when ready if the name is taken or if it breaks the rules. When you are happy with it, click Review, then Confirm.

If you have never set a custom URL, you may see a prompt on your profile that says "Claim your username" or similar. Click that prompt and follow the same steps.

How to change your page URL

If you manage a business page, go to that page and click Settings in the top right. On the left side, click Basic info. Scroll down to find the Page address (URL) field. Click the pencil icon next to it and type your new page name. Facebook will check availability in real time. Click Save changes when you are done.

Page URLs follow the same rules as profile URLs: at least five characters, no special characters except periods and underscores, and the name must be available. If you see a message that says you cannot change your page URL yet, you may have changed it recently and need to wait 30 days from the last change.

Rules for choosing a new URL

Your custom URL must be at least five characters long. You can use letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), periods (.), and underscores (_). You cannot use spaces, hyphens, or other punctuation. Facebook is case-insensitive, so "JohnSmith" and "johnsmith" are treated as the same URL.

The name you choose cannot already be claimed by someone else, and it cannot be a reserved word that Facebook protects (like "facebook", "help", "pages", or "groups"). If you try to claim a name that is taken, Facebook will show you that person's or page's profile so you can see who has it.

You cannot change your URL to something you have used before on the same account. If you changed from "jane.doe" to "janedoe" last month, you cannot switch back to "jane.doe" for at least 30 days after the second change.

What happens to your old links

When you change your custom URL, Facebook does not redirect your old address to the new one. If someone clicks a link to your old profile URL, they will see an error page or be taken to a generic Facebook page. This matters if you have shared your profile link on your website, LinkedIn profile, resume, business card, or anywhere else online.

Before you change your URL, search for places where you have shared the old one. Update your personal website, social media bios, email signature, and any printed materials. If you run a business page, update your website's link to your Facebook page as well.

If you are worried about breaking links, you can create a redirect using a URL shortener like Bit.ly or Linktree that points to your new Facebook address. That way, old shortened links will still work even after you change your Facebook URL.

If you cannot change your URL right now

Facebook enforces a 30-day waiting period between URL changes. If you changed your URL recently and see a message saying you cannot change it again yet, you will have to wait until 30 days have passed since your last change. There is no way to speed this up.

If you have never set a custom URL and Facebook will not let you claim one, your account may be too new. Facebook sometimes requires accounts to be active for a few days or weeks before allowing a custom URL. Try again in a few days.

If you see a message that your desired username is unavailable, someone else has already claimed it. You can try a variation — adding a number, period, or underscore — or choose a different name altogether.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Not when ready. You must wait 30 days from the date you changed away from it. After 30 days, you can claim it again as long as no one else has taken it in the meantime. If someone else claimed it, you cannot get it back.

Will my friends' links to my profile still work after I change my URL?

No. Any links that point to your old custom URL will break. Your friends will see an error or a generic page. If they search for you by name, they will still find you, but direct links will not work.

Does changing my URL affect my Facebook ID or my account security?

No. Your Facebook ID stays the same forever. Changing your custom URL is purely cosmetic and does not affect your account security, login information, or any of your data.

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

No. Facebook only allows letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. Hyphens, spaces, and other punctuation will not work. If you want to separate words, use an underscore or period instead.

What if someone else has the username I want?

You cannot claim it. You can try messaging that person to ask if they will change their URL, but Facebook does not force people to give up usernames. Your best option is to choose a variation — adding a number, your location, or your profession to make it unique.