Your Facebook username is the custom web address that appears in your profile link

Your Facebook username is the short text string that comes after facebook.com/ in your profile URL. If your profile link is facebook.com/james.rodriguez.tech, then "james.rodriguez.tech" is your username. Facebook assigns you a default username based on your name when you create an account, but you can change it once to something custom — and that custom username is what most people think of as their "Facebook username."

Finding your own username takes about 30 seconds. Finding someone else's username is straightforward if their profile is public, but requires a different approach if their privacy settings restrict what you can see. The method depends on whether you're looking at your own account or someone else's, and whether that person has set a custom username at all.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Facebook username appears in your profile URL and can be found by clicking your profile picture, then looking at the address bar or the "About" section of your profile.
  • You can change your username once, and Facebook will keep your old username reserved for 60 days in case you want to switch back.
  • To find someone else's username, visit their profile and look at the URL in your browser's address bar — it will show their username if they have set one.
  • If someone's profile is private or they have not set a custom username, you may only see their numeric Facebook ID instead of a readable username.
  • Usernames are different from display names; a person's display name is what appears on their posts and comments, while their username is the web address.

Finding your own username on desktop

Open Facebook in a web browser and click your profile picture in the top right corner. Select "Profile" from the menu that appears. Look at the address bar at the top of your browser — the text after facebook.com/ is your username. If you see a long string of numbers instead of a word or phrase, you have not set a custom username yet.

You can also find your username by clicking the three-line menu icon (hamburger menu) at the bottom right of your profile, then scrolling to the "About" section. Your username will be listed there under "Username" if you have set one. If the field is empty or missing, Facebook is still using your default numeric ID.

Finding your own username on mobile

Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right of the Facebook app. Tap your name at the top of the menu to go to your profile. Look at the top of your profile page — you should see your name displayed prominently. Tap the three dots next to your name, then select "View as" or scroll down to find "Username" in your profile details.

On iPhone, you can also swipe left on your profile name to reveal your username. On Android, the process is the same: navigate to your profile, then look for the username field in your "About" section or tap the menu to find it listed there.

Finding someone else's username

Go to the person's Facebook profile by searching for their name or clicking their profile from a mutual friend's page. Once you are on their profile, look at the address bar in your browser. The text after facebook.com/ is their username if they have set one. If you see only numbers, they have not created a custom username.

If the profile is public, you can also hover over their profile picture and look for a small popup that sometimes displays their username. On mobile, tap their profile picture to see if additional information appears. Some profiles display the username directly under the person's name on their profile header.

What to do if you see a numeric ID instead of a username

A long string of numbers in the URL (like facebook.com/100087654321098) means that person has not set a custom username, or their privacy settings prevent you from seeing it. Facebook assigns every account a numeric ID automatically, and this ID never changes even if the person later creates a custom username.

If you need to contact this person or share their profile, the numeric ID works just as well as a username — the link will still take you to their profile. However, numeric IDs are harder to remember and share, which is why Facebook allows users to create custom usernames in the first place.

Changing your own username

Click your profile picture, then select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." On the left side, click "Personal information." Find the "Username" field and click "Edit." Type your new username and click "Review change." Facebook will show you the new URL and ask you to confirm. Click "Change username" to save it.

Facebook allows you to change your username once every 60 days. If you change your mind within 60 days of your last change, you can switch back to your previous username without waiting. After 60 days, your old username becomes available for anyone else to claim, so choose carefully.

Username rules and restrictions

Your username must be between 5 and 50 characters long and can contain letters, numbers, and periods. It cannot contain spaces, special characters, or consecutive periods. Facebook will not allow you to use a username that is already taken, that impersonates someone else, or that violates Facebook's community standards.

Usernames are case-insensitive, meaning facebook.com/James.Rodriguez and facebook.com/james.rodriguez point to the same profile. You cannot use a username that is identical to a public figure's name or a trademarked brand name, though Facebook's enforcement of this rule depends on whether the person or organization reports it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my Facebook username the same as my display name?

No. Your display name is what appears on your posts and comments and can be changed as often as you like. Your username is the web address and can only be changed once every 60 days. Many people set their display name to match their username for consistency, but they are separate settings.

Can I see someone's username if their profile is private?

If their profile is completely private and you are not friends with them, you may not be able to see their profile at all. If you can see their profile page, the URL in your browser will still show their username or numeric ID. Privacy settings control what information appears on the profile itself, not the URL.

What happens to my old username after I change it?

Facebook reserves your old username for 60 days. During this time, only you can claim it again. After 60 days, anyone can register that username. If you think you might want to switch back, do it within the 60-day window — after that, you would have to wait for the new owner to abandon it.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my username?

No. Usernames can only contain letters, numbers, and periods. Spaces, hyphens, underscores, and other special characters are not allowed. If you want to separate words, use periods instead — for example, james.rodriguez.tech is valid, but james-rodriguez or james_rodriguez would not be accepted.

Why does Facebook show me a number instead of a username?

That number is your numeric Facebook ID, which every account has automatically. It means either the person has not set a custom username yet, or you do not have permission to see theirs due to their privacy settings. The numeric ID works as a permanent profile link and never changes.