You can change your Facebook username once every 60 days through your settings

Facebook lets you change the username (the part that appears in your profile URL, like facebook.com/yourname) separately from your display name. The display name is what friends see on your posts and messages — you can change that whenever you want. The username has a 60-day waiting period between changes, and Facebook tracks this from the date of your last change, not from when you request it.

The username is what matters for privacy and security. It's the handle people use to search for you, tag you, or send you messages through a custom URL. Changing it regularly is one way to make yourself harder to find if you're concerned about unwanted contact, though it won't hide you from people who already know your account.

Key Takeaways

  • Your username and display name are different — you can change your display name anytime, but your username has a 60-day waiting period between changes.
  • To change your username, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, then Username.
  • Your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after you change it, so choose a new one before you confirm the change.
  • Changing your username does not notify your friends or change any messages, photos, or tags — it only changes the URL people use to find your profile.
  • If you see an error message saying you cannot change your username, you may have changed it within the last 60 days or your account may have restrictions on it.

Step-by-step: changing your username on desktop

Open Facebook in a web browser and click the downward arrow in the top right corner. Select Settings and Privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal Information. You will see a row labeled Username with your current username displayed.

Click the pencil icon next to your username to edit it. Type your new username in the field that appears. Facebook will tell you when ready whether the username is available — if it shows a green checkmark, no one else has claimed it. If it shows a red X, that username is taken and you need to choose a different one. Once you have chosen an available username, click Review Change, then Confirm. Your new username takes effect right away.

Step-by-step: changing your username on mobile

Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Tap Personal Information, then Username. Tap the pencil icon next to your current username.

Type your new username and Facebook will show you whether it is available. Once you have chosen one that is free, tap Review Change, then Confirm. The change happens when ready on mobile just as it does on desktop.

What happens to your old username and your links

When you change your username, your old one becomes available for anyone else to claim. This happens right away — you do not get a grace period to change your mind. If you have shared links to your profile (like facebook.com/youroldname) in emails, on other websites, or in messages, those links will no longer work. People who click them will see an error or be taken to a generic Facebook page.

Your friends' tags, messages, and comments do not change. If someone tagged you in a photo when your username was "jane.smith", that tag stays connected to your account even after you change your username to "jane.s.smith". The tag follows you, not the old username. However, any custom links you created for events, groups, or pages you manage will break and need to be updated.

The difference between username and display name

Your display name is what appears next to your posts, comments, and messages. You can change it as often as you want with no waiting period. To change your display name, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, then Name. Type your new name and click Review Change.

Your username is the handle in your profile URL. It can only contain letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. Display names can include spaces, accents, and special characters. If you want people to find you by a certain name but do not want to change your username, changing your display name is faster and has no restrictions.

Why you might want to change your username regularly

If you are concerned about privacy, changing your username every 60 days makes it harder for someone to find your profile by guessing or searching for a username they saw months ago. This is a minor security measure — it does not hide you from people who already follow you or know your real name. It is most useful if you use Facebook under a pseudonym and want to reduce the chance of being found by someone searching old usernames.

Changing your username does not affect your account security in the way a strong password does. It is a privacy choice, not a security requirement. If you are worried about someone accessing your account, change your password and review your login activity instead. If you are worried about someone finding you, changing your username is one of several steps you can take alongside adjusting your privacy settings.

Troubleshooting: why you cannot change your username

If Facebook shows an error when you try to change your username, the most common reason is that you changed it within the last 60 days. Facebook counts from the date you made the last change, not from today. If you changed your username on March 15, you cannot change it again until May 14. Check your Settings to see when your last change was made — Facebook does not always display this clearly, but the error message will tell you to wait.

A second reason is that your account may have restrictions on it. New accounts sometimes cannot change usernames for the first few weeks. If your account was recently created or recently recovered after being hacked, Facebook may lock this feature temporarily. If you see a message saying your account does not have permission to change its username, wait a few days and try again. If the problem persists, you can report it through Facebook's Help Center, though responses are slow.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Only if no one else has claimed it. Once you change your username, it becomes available when ready. If someone else has taken it, you cannot reclaim it. You can choose a different username instead. If you realize you made a mistake right after changing it, try changing it back when ready — the sooner you act, the less likely someone else will have grabbed it.

Does changing my username affect my Facebook Messenger or Instagram?

Changing your Facebook username does not change your Messenger username or your Instagram handle. They are separate. If you want to change your Instagram username, you do that through Instagram's settings. Messenger uses your Facebook display name, not your username, so changing your Facebook username will not affect how you appear in Messenger.

Will my friends be notified when I change my username?

No. Changing your username does not send a notification to your friends. They will not see it in their feed or get a message about it. If you want people to know about the change, you have to tell them yourself, especially if you have shared your old username in emails or on other websites.

What usernames should I avoid?

Avoid usernames that are too similar to your real name if you are trying to stay private. Avoid usernames that include numbers that look like birthdates, since that information can be used to guess passwords. Avoid usernames that are the same as usernames you use on other websites — the more unique your Facebook username is, the harder it is for someone to connect your accounts across platforms.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my username?

No. Facebook usernames can only contain letters (a-z), numbers (0-9), periods (.), and underscores (_). You cannot use spaces, hyphens, or other special characters. If you want to use spaces or special characters, change your display name instead — that field allows them.