How to change your email on Facebook
You can change the email address linked to your Facebook account through your settings menu. The process takes about two minutes and does not require you to log out or create a new account. Facebook will send a confirmation message to your new email address before the change takes effect.
You need access to both your current email and the new email you want to use. If you no longer have access to your current email, the process is more complicated — Facebook will ask you to verify your identity through other means, such as a phone number or government ID.
Key Takeaways
- Go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information to find your email field.
- Facebook sends a confirmation link to your new email address, and you must click it within a set time for the change to complete.
- If you cannot access your old email, you can verify your identity using a phone number, security questions, or a photo of your ID.
- Your login email and recovery email can be different — you can have multiple email addresses tied to your account.
- The change is immediate once you confirm, and you can log in using either your old or new email address for a short period afterward.
Steps to change your email through Settings
Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner of your screen. Select Settings & Privacy, then click Settings. On the left side, click Personal Information.
Find the Email field and click the pencil icon next to it. Type your new email address into the box. Click Change Email or the checkmark button to save. Facebook will immediately send a confirmation message to the new email address you entered.
Go to your new email inbox and look for a message from Facebook. The subject line usually says "Confirm your email address" or similar. Open the message and click the confirmation link inside. This link typically expires after 24 to 48 hours, so complete this step soon after you start the change.
Once you click the link, your email address is updated. You can now log into Facebook using your new email address. Your old email address will no longer work for logging in, though Facebook may keep it on file as a recovery option for a limited time.
What to do if you cannot access your old email
If you no longer have access to the email address currently linked to your Facebook account, you cannot complete the standard email change process. Instead, you will need to verify your identity through an alternate method.
When you try to change your email and do not receive the confirmation message, Facebook will offer you other ways to prove who you are. These include answering security questions you set up previously, entering a code sent to a phone number on your account, or uploading a photo of your government ID. The specific options available depend on what information you provided when you created your account.
If you set up two-factor authentication using a phone number, that is usually the fastest route. If you did not, you may be asked to wait several days while Facebook reviews your identity documents. During this time, you cannot change your email, so plan ahead if you know you are losing access to your current email address.
Adding multiple email addresses to your account
Facebook allows you to link more than one email address to a single account. This is useful if you want to keep an old email as a backup or if you use different emails for different purposes. You can add an email without removing your current one.
Go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information. Click the Email field and look for an option to add another email (sometimes labeled "Add Email" or a plus icon). Enter the new email address and click Add. Facebook will send a confirmation message to that address. Click the confirmation link to complete the addition.
Once you have added a second email, you can log into Facebook using either one. If you want to change which email is your primary email, go back to the Email field in Personal Information and click the radio button or option next to the email you want to make primary. Your primary email is the one Facebook uses to send you notifications and account alerts.
Changing your email on mobile devices
The process on iPhone, Android, or mobile web is similar to the desktop version, though the menu layout is slightly different. Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Tap Settings & Privacy, then Settings.
Scroll down and tap Personal Information. Tap Email and then tap the pencil icon to edit. Type your new email address and tap Change Email. You will receive a confirmation message at your new email address. Tap the link in that message to complete the change.
If you are using the mobile web version of Facebook (m.facebook.com), the steps are identical to the desktop version. The mobile app and mobile web sometimes show slightly different button labels, but the underlying process is the same.
What happens to your old email address
After you change your email, your old email address is removed from your active account settings. However, Facebook may retain it in its system for a period of time as a recovery option. This means if you forget your password, Facebook might offer your old email as a way to reset it.
Your old email will not receive Facebook notifications or account alerts going forward. If someone tries to sign up for Facebook using your old email address, they will be told that email is already associated with an account (yours), and they will not be able to use it.
If you want to use your old email address for a different Facebook account or a different service entirely, you may need to wait a few weeks after the change. Facebook's system sometimes takes time to fully release old email addresses from inactive status.
Troubleshooting common problems
If you do not receive the confirmation message after changing your email, check your spam or junk folder first. Sometimes email providers filter Facebook messages incorrectly. If it is not there, wait a few minutes — the message can take up to 10 minutes to arrive.
If the confirmation link has expired (usually after 24 to 48 hours), go back to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information. Click the pencil icon next to Email again and re-enter your new email address. Facebook will send a fresh confirmation message.
If you see an error message saying the email is already in use, that email address is linked to another Facebook account. You cannot use the same email for two different accounts. You will need to choose a different email address, or if you own both accounts, remove the email from the other account first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my email if I do not remember my password?
Yes. You do not need to enter your password to change your email through Settings. However, if you are logged out and cannot log back in, you will need to use the "Forgot Password" option first. That process will send a reset link to your current email address, allowing you to regain access to your account.
Will changing my email affect my Facebook friends or messages?
No. Your friends will not be notified, and your messages will remain intact. Your username, profile, and all your content stay the same. Only the email address used to log in and receive notifications changes.
How long does it take for the email change to go through?
Once you click the confirmation link in your new email, the change is immediate. You can log in using your new email address right away. However, Facebook's system may take a few hours to fully update across all its servers, so if you experience any login issues, wait a few hours and try again.
Can I change my email back to my old one?
Yes. Follow the same process: go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, and change your email to whatever address you want. You can switch back and forth between email addresses as often as you need to.
What if Facebook says my new email is invalid?
Double-check that you typed the email address correctly — common mistakes include missing the @ symbol, misspelling the domain name (like "gmial.com" instead of "gmail.com"), or adding extra spaces. If the address is correct and Facebook still rejects it, try again in a few minutes. Temporary server issues sometimes cause this error.