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

Your Facebook username is the custom web address people use to find your profile — the part that comes after facebook.com/. You can change it yourself in your account settings without contacting Facebook support. The change takes effect immediately, but Facebook limits you to one change every 60 days, so choose carefully before you make the switch.

The username is different from your display name (the name that appears at the top of your profile). You can change your display name as often as you want, but the username has the 60-day restriction. If someone else has already claimed the username you want, you cannot use it — usernames are first-come, first-served and cannot be reserved.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then scroll to Personal Information and select Username to make the change.
  • Your new username takes effect right away, but you can only change it once every 60 days.
  • If the username you want is already taken, you will need to choose a different one — Facebook does not hold usernames.
  • Your old username stops working as soon as you change it, so update your social media links or website if you share your profile URL.
  • You cannot change your username to something you used before if someone else has claimed it in the meantime.

Step-by-step: changing your username on desktop

Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner. Select Settings & Privacy, then click Settings. On the left side, you will see a menu — scroll down until you find Personal Information and click it.

Under Personal Information, look for the row labeled Username. Click on it. A text box will appear with your current username highlighted. Delete it and type your new username. Facebook will show you a preview of what your new profile URL will look like. Click Review Change, then Save Changes to confirm.

The new username is live immediately. Your old username no longer works, and anyone who tries to visit your profile using the old URL will see an error. If you have shared your profile link anywhere — on a website, in an email signature, or on another social platform — update those links to the new username.

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 & Privacy, then tap Settings. Tap Personal Information.

Tap Username. The text box with your current username will open. Clear it and type your new username. You will see a preview of your new profile URL. Tap Review Change, then Save Changes. The change takes effect right away.

What to do if your chosen username is already taken

If you try to save a username and Facebook tells you it is unavailable, someone else has already claimed it. You cannot reserve a username or request that Facebook release one from another account. Your only option is to choose a different username.

Try adding numbers, underscores, or periods to your preferred name. For example, if "jane.smith" is taken, you might use "jane.smith23" or "jane_smith". Keep in mind that usernames are case-insensitive — "JaneSmith" and "janesmith" are treated as the same username.

The 60-day waiting period between changes

After you change your username, Facebook will not let you change it again for 60 days. This rule applies even if you want to change it back to your old username — if someone else has claimed your previous username in the meantime, you cannot reclaim it after the 60 days is up.

Plan your username change carefully. If you are unhappy with your choice, you will have to wait two months before you can try again. Write down the date you made the change so you know when you are may be able to access to change it next.

How your username differs from your display name

Your display name is what appears at the top of your profile and in comments and posts. You can change it as many times as you want, with no waiting period. Your username is the custom web address — the part people type into the URL bar or click to visit your profile directly.

If you only want to change how your name appears on your profile, change your display name instead. Go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, then Name. You can update it right there without any restrictions.

What happens to links and tags after you change your username

Any link to your old profile URL will stop working. If you have shared your profile link in emails, on a website, or on another social platform, update those links to your new username. People who have tagged you in photos or posts will still see your name correctly — tags are tied to your account, not your username.

If someone sends you a message with your old profile URL, clicking it will not take them to your profile. They will see an error page instead. Let people know if you have shared your profile URL widely and you want them to use the new one.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Only if no one else has claimed it. If someone else took your old username after you changed it, you cannot use it again — usernames are not held or reserved for previous owners. You will need to choose a different username.

Does changing my username affect my friends list or messages?

No. Your friends list, messages, photos, and all other account data stay exactly the same. Only the web address changes. Your friends will still see you in their friends list and can still message you.

What if I see an error when I try to save my new username?

The most common error is that the username is already taken. Try a different variation. If you get a different error message, wait a few minutes and try again — temporary glitches sometimes prevent the change from going through on the first attempt.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my username?

No. Facebook usernames can only contain letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. Spaces and other special characters are not allowed. Keep your username simple and easy to type.

How long does it take for my new username to show up everywhere?

The change is instant on your profile and in your settings. However, it may take a few minutes to update across Facebook's systems — search results and cached pages might still show your old username briefly. The old URL stops working right away.