Your username is the handle that appears in your Facebook profile URL

Your Facebook username is the short name that shows up in your profile web address — the part after facebook.com/. If your profile URL is facebook.com/james.rodriguez, then "james.rodriguez" is your username. This is different from your display name, which is what appears on your posts and comments and can be changed anytime.

Not every Facebook account has a username. If you created your account years ago or never set one up, you may only have a profile ID number instead. You can create a username at any time, and once you do, you can change it once every 60 days.

Key Takeaways

  • Your username appears in your Facebook profile URL after facebook.com/ and is different from your display name.
  • You can find your username by visiting your profile and checking the web address in your browser's address bar.
  • If you do not have a username yet, you can create one from your profile settings in about one minute.
  • Once you set a username, you can change it once every 60 days, but each change takes effect when ready.
  • Your username is public and helps other people find and message you on Facebook.

Check your profile URL in the address bar

The fastest way to find your username is to open your own profile and look at the web address. On a computer, click your profile picture in the top right corner, then click "Profile." Look at the address bar at the top of your browser — it will show something like facebook.com/yourname or facebook.com/yourname.lastname. Everything after the last forward slash is your username.

On a phone, the address bar works the same way. Open the Facebook app, tap your profile picture, and tap "Profile." Then open your phone's browser and look at the address bar. If you are using the Facebook app itself, you may not see the full URL, so switching to a browser view makes this easier.

Look in your profile settings if you cannot see the URL

If the address bar is hard to read or you want to confirm your username another way, you can check your settings directly. On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner, then click "Settings and Privacy," then "Settings." On the left side, click "Personal Information." Your username will appear next to "Username."

On a phone, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner, scroll down and tap "Settings and Privacy," then tap "Settings." Scroll down to "Personal Information" and tap it. Your username will be listed there. If you see only a number instead of a name, you have not created a username yet.

Create a username if you do not have one

If your profile shows only a number (your profile ID) instead of a username, you can create one. Go to your settings the same way described above — click the arrow, then "Settings and Privacy," then "Settings," then "Personal Information." Look for "Username" and click "Create a Username" or the edit button next to it.

Facebook will show you a text box. Type the username you want — it can include letters, numbers, and periods, but no spaces or special characters. Facebook will tell you right away if the name is taken. Once you find one that is available, click "Review" and then "Confirm." Your new username takes effect when ready, and your profile URL changes to match it.

Change your username if you want a different one

You can change your username once every 60 days. Go back to "Personal Information" in your settings and click the edit button next to your username. Type a new one and follow the same steps — Facebook will check if it is available, and you will confirm the change. The new username takes effect right away, and your old URL stops working.

Keep in mind that changing your username does not affect your display name, your friends list, your messages, or anything else on your account. Only the web address changes. If you have shared your profile link with people, that old link will no longer work, so you may want to let them know your new URL.

Use your username to share your profile or send messages

Once you have a username, other people can find you by typing facebook.com/yourname into their browser, or they can search for your username in the Facebook search bar. You can share your username with people who want to add you as a friend or message you. Your username is public — anyone on Facebook can see it and use it to find your profile.

If you do not want people to find you by username, you can change your privacy settings so that only your friends can see your profile. Go to "Settings and Privacy," then "Settings," then "Privacy," and change "Who can see your profile?" to "Friends" or "Only Me." This does not hide your username itself, but it limits who can view your posts and information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my username the same as my display name?

No. Your display name is what shows on your posts and comments and can be changed anytime. Your username is the short name in your profile URL and can only be changed once every 60 days. You can have the same text for both, but they are separate settings.

Can I use my email address as my username?

No. Facebook usernames can only include letters, numbers, and periods. Email addresses contain the @ symbol, which is not allowed. You have to create a separate username that follows Facebook's naming rules.

What if the username I want is already taken?

Try adding a number or period to make it unique — for example, james.rodriguez.1 or james.r.rodriguez. Facebook will tell you when ready if a name is available when you type it in. You can keep trying different versions until you find one that works.

If I change my username, will my old profile link still work?

No. Your old URL will stop working once you change your username. If you have shared your profile link with people, they will need your new URL to find you. You can share your new username with them or send them a fresh link.

Can I delete my username and go back to just having a profile ID?

No. Once you create a username, you cannot remove it — you can only change it to something else. If you want a different username, you have to wait 60 days between changes.