You can create a second Facebook account using a different email address or phone number
Facebook allows you to have more than one account, but each one needs its own email address, phone number, or both. You cannot use the same login credentials for two accounts — Facebook's system treats each account as separate. The process takes about five minutes and works the same way as creating your first account.
The main reason people create second accounts is to keep personal and professional contacts separate, run a business page under a different identity, or maintain privacy from certain groups of people. Some people use a second account to manage a community group or brand without mixing it with their personal profile.
Key Takeaways
- Each Facebook account requires its own email address or phone number — you cannot reuse the login information from your first account.
- You create a second account the same way you created your first: go to facebook.com, click "Create New Facebook Account", and fill in your details.
- You can switch between your accounts by logging out of one and logging into the other, or by using Facebook's account switcher if you are on a phone or computer.
- Facebook's rules prohibit fake names and accounts created to impersonate someone else, but having two real accounts under your actual name is allowed.
- If you forget which email or phone number you used for a second account, you can recover it through Facebook's account recovery tool.
The steps to create a second account
Go to facebook.com on a web browser or open the Facebook app on your phone. If you are already logged into your first account, log out first — click the menu icon (three horizontal lines on mobile, or the down arrow on desktop) and select "Log Out".
Once you are logged out, click "Create New Facebook Account" on the login page. A window will pop up asking for your name, email address or phone number, password, birth date, and gender. Enter a different email address or phone number than the one you used for your first account. This is the critical step — Facebook will reject the form if you try to use the same contact information twice.
Fill in the rest of the information, create a strong password, and click "Sign Up". Facebook will send a confirmation code to the email address or phone number you provided. Enter that code into the confirmation window, and your second account is active.
How to switch between your two accounts
On a phone, open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon at the bottom right (three horizontal lines). Scroll down and tap "Log Out". Then log in with the email address and password for your second account. You can repeat this process to switch back and forth, but it requires logging out each time.
On a computer, you can use Facebook's account switcher to move between accounts without logging out. Click the down arrow in the top right corner of Facebook, then click your name. A list of your accounts will appear — click the one you want to switch to. This method is faster if you move between accounts regularly.
If you use the same browser on the same computer, Facebook may remember both accounts and let you click between them. If you use different browsers or devices, you will need to log in separately on each one.
What Facebook's rules say about multiple accounts
Facebook's terms of service allow you to have more than one account, but with restrictions. Each account must use your real name — Facebook prohibits fake names, nicknames, or names designed to hide your identity. If you create a second account under a false name or to impersonate someone else, Facebook can disable both accounts.
You also cannot use a second account to harass, spam, or deceive other people. For example, creating a fake account to message someone's friends without their knowledge, or to bypass a block, violates Facebook's rules. If Facebook detects this behavior, it will disable the account and may take action against your first account as well.
Creating a second account to run a business, manage a community group, or keep work contacts separate from personal ones is permitted, as long as you use your real name and follow the community standards on both accounts.
Using a second account for business or groups
Many people create a second account to manage a Facebook Page or Group without mixing it with their personal profile. Your personal account and your business account are separate — friends on one do not automatically see the other, and posts you make on one do not appear on the other.
If you want to run a business page or community group, you do not technically need a second personal account — you can manage a Page or Group from your first account and keep it completely separate from your personal posts. However, some people prefer a second account so that their personal friends never see notifications that they manage a group or page.
To manage a Page or Group from a second account, create the account first, then create the Page or Group while logged into that account. You can add other people as admins or moderators without giving them access to your personal profile.
If you forget your login information for the second account
If you cannot remember which email address or phone number you used for your second account, go to facebook.com and click "Forgotten password?" on the login page. Enter any information you remember — your name, email, phone number, or username — and Facebook will search for matching accounts.
Facebook will show you a list of accounts associated with that information. Click the one you are trying to recover, and Facebook will send a reset code to the email address or phone number on file. If you no longer have access to that email or phone number, click "No longer have access to these?" and Facebook will walk you through additional verification steps, which may include answering security questions or uploading a photo ID.
Keep in mind that recovery can take several days if Facebook needs to verify your identity. If you have access to the email address or phone number associated with the account, recovery is usually faster.
Deactivating or deleting a second account you no longer use
If you decide you no longer need your second account, you can deactivate it temporarily or delete it permanently. Deactivation hides your profile, posts, and messages from other people, but Facebook keeps your information in case you want to reactivate later. Deletion is permanent — after 30 days, Facebook removes all your data and you cannot recover the account.
To deactivate or delete an account, log into that account, click the down arrow in the top right corner, select "Settings and Privacy", then "Settings". Click "Deactivation and Deletion" on the left side, choose whether you want to deactivate or delete, and follow the prompts. Facebook will ask you to confirm your password and may ask why you are leaving.
If you deactivate the account, you can reactivate it anytime by logging back in with your email and password. If you delete it, the account is gone after 30 days and cannot be recovered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the same phone number for two Facebook accounts?
No. Each Facebook account needs its own phone number or email address. If you try to use the same phone number for a second account, Facebook will reject it and ask you to use a different one. You can use an email address for one account and a phone number for another, but not the same contact information twice.
Will my friends on my first account see my second account?
Not automatically. Your second account is completely separate — your friends on your first account will not see your second account unless you add them as friends on it. Your posts, photos, and activity on one account do not appear on the other.
What happens if Facebook finds out I created a fake second account?
Facebook can disable both your accounts if it detects that you created a second account with a fake name or to impersonate someone. If you created the second account under your real name for legitimate reasons — like running a business or keeping work separate from personal life — you are not violating Facebook's rules.
Can I log into both accounts at the same time on my phone?
The Facebook app only lets you log into one account at a time, but you can switch between them quickly using the account switcher. On a web browser, you can open two different browser windows or tabs and log into each account separately, so you can view both at the same time.
How do I know which email address I used for my second account?
Log into your second account and go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Click "Personal Information" and look for the email address listed there. If you cannot log in, use Facebook's account recovery tool and enter information you remember — Facebook will show you which email or phone number is associated with the account.