Open Facebook Settings and Find the Birthday Field
To change your birthday on Facebook, start by logging into your account on a computer or the Facebook app. On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of the page, then select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the mobile app, tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the bottom right, scroll down, and tap Settings and privacy, then Settings.
Once you are in Settings, look for the Personal information section on the left side (computer) or scroll to find it (mobile). Click or tap Personal information. You will see a field labeled Birth date — this is where your current birthday appears.
Edit Your Birthday and Choose Who Can See It
Click or tap the pencil icon next to your birth date to edit it. Facebook will open a form where you can change the month, day, and year. Select the correct information from the dropdown menus. If you want to hide your birth year from your profile but still have it on file, you can do that — Facebook lets you choose whether to show the full date, just the month and day, or nothing at all.
After you enter the new date, look for the privacy setting next to the birth date field. This controls who can see your birthday on your profile. You can set it to Public (everyone sees it), Friends (only your Facebook friends see it), Only me (nobody sees it), or Custom (you pick specific people). Choose the setting that matches your preference, then click or tap Save changes.
Key Takeaways
- Your birthday field is in Settings under Personal information, accessible from the menu in the top right (computer) or the three-line menu (mobile app).
- You can change the month, day, and year separately using dropdown menus, and you can hide your birth year while keeping the month and day visible.
- The privacy setting next to your birth date controls who sees it — you can limit it to friends, show it to everyone, or hide it completely.
- Changes take effect immediately once you save them, and you can edit your birthday again at any time.
What Happens When You Change Your Birthday
When you update your birthday, Facebook does not notify your friends or post anything to your timeline. The change is private — only people who can see your birthday based on your privacy settings will see the new date. If you had already received birthday wishes on the old date, those posts stay on your timeline and do not disappear.
If you change your birthday to a date that is coming up soon, Facebook may start showing a birthday reminder to your friends on that new date. If you change it to a date in the past, the reminder will not appear until the next year on that date.
Changing Your Birthday on Mobile vs. Computer
The steps are nearly identical on mobile and computer, but the layout is slightly different. On a computer, you navigate through a left-side menu. On mobile, you scroll through settings vertically. Both versions let you edit the same fields and set the same privacy controls. If you start on one device and finish on another, your changes will sync automatically — you do not need to repeat the process.
Some older versions of the Facebook app may have the birthday setting in a different location. If you cannot find Personal information in your Settings menu, try updating the app to the latest version from your device's app store.
Fixing a Birthday You Cannot Change
If the birth date field is grayed out or you see a message saying you cannot edit it, Facebook may have flagged your account for security reasons. This sometimes happens if you recently changed your birthday multiple times or if Facebook detected unusual account activity. In this case, you will need to wait a few days before trying again.
If the field remains locked after several days, you can contact Facebook Support through the Help Center. Go to Settings, scroll to the bottom, and click Help and support. Select Report a problem and describe that you cannot edit your birth date. Facebook will review your account and may unlock the field or ask you to confirm your identity.
Privacy Considerations for Your Birthday
Your birthday is personal information that scammers sometimes use to guess passwords or answer security questions. Consider setting your birthday to Only me or Friends rather than Public. This limits who can see it and reduces the risk of someone using it to compromise your account.
If you share your birthday publicly and later want to hide it, you can change the privacy setting at any time without changing the date itself. Just click the pencil icon next to your birth date and adjust the privacy dropdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hide my birth year but show the month and day?
Yes. When you edit your birth date, Facebook lets you choose what parts to display. You can show only the month and day, hide everything, or show the full date. This setting is separate from who can see it — you control both what information displays and who sees it.
Will my friends be notified if I change my birthday?
No. Changing your birthday does not send notifications to your friends or post to your timeline. The change is silent. If you move your birthday to a new date, Facebook will send reminders to your friends on the new date next year.
How many times can I change my birthday on Facebook?
You can change it as often as you want, but Facebook may restrict the feature temporarily if you change it many times in a short period. If you hit a limit, wait a few days and try again. This is a security measure to prevent account abuse.
What if I entered my birthday wrong when I created my account?
You can correct it using the same steps — go to Personal information and edit the birth date field. There is no limit on correcting an incorrect birthday, though Facebook may ask you to verify your identity if the account is new.
Does changing my birthday affect my Facebook memories or timeline?
No. Your timeline and memories are tied to when you posted things, not to your birthday. Changing your birthday does not alter any posts, photos, or memories. It only changes the date Facebook uses to send birthday reminders to your friends.