Change your password from Facebook settings on any device

To change your Facebook password, go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Security and Login. You'll see a line that says "Password" with your last password change date next to it. Click "Edit" and Facebook will ask you to enter your current password, then type your new password twice. Click "Save Changes" and you're done. The new password takes effect immediately across all your devices and apps.

If you're on a phone or tablet, the steps are the same but the menu layout looks slightly different. Tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right of Facebook, scroll down to Settings & Privacy, tap Settings, then tap Security and Login. Find Password and tap Edit to change it.

You don't need to log out and back in after changing your password. Facebook keeps you logged in on that device. However, if you change your password on purpose because you think someone else has access to your account, you should log out of all other devices and sessions right after. You can do this in the same Security and Login menu by clicking "Where you're logged in" and ending each session you don't recognize.

Key Takeaways

  • Your password change happens in Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login > Password > Edit, and takes effect immediately on all devices.
  • You must enter your current password before you can create a new one, so you need to remember what it is now.
  • If you suspect someone else is using your account, log out of all other sessions after you change your password by going to "Where you're logged in" in the same menu.
  • Facebook will not send you a confirmation email when you change your password, but you can check your login activity to see if anyone else has accessed your account recently.

What to do if you don't remember your current password

If you can't remember your current password, you can't use the Settings menu to change it. Instead, go to facebook.com and click "Forgotten password?" on the login screen. Facebook will ask you to enter the email address or phone number linked to your account. You'll receive a link by email or text message that lets you set a new password without entering the old one.

The reset link usually arrives within a few minutes. Click it and you'll be taken to a page where you can type a new password. Once you save it, you can log back in with your new password. This process works whether you forgot your password or you think someone else changed it without your permission.

Make your new password strong and hard to guess

A strong password is at least 12 characters long and uses a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like ! or #. Avoid using words from the dictionary, your name, your birthday, or anything someone could find out about you on social media. Don't reuse a password you've used on other websites or accounts.

If you have trouble remembering a complex password, consider using a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the password manager built into your phone or browser. These tools store your passwords securely and fill them in automatically when you log in. You only have to remember one master password to access all of them.

Check where you're logged in and remove unknown sessions

After you change your password, it's a good idea to check which devices and browsers are currently logged into your Facebook account. Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login > Where you're logged in. You'll see a list of every device, browser, and location that has an active Facebook session.

Look through the list and make sure you recognize every entry. If you see a device, browser, or location you don't recognize, click it and select "Log out" to end that session. This is especially important if you think someone else has been accessing your account. Logging out of unknown sessions prevents them from seeing your messages, photos, or personal information even if they somehow still know your old password.

Turn on two-factor authentication for extra security

Two-factor authentication (also called two-step verification) adds a second layer of security to your account. After you enter your password, Facebook asks you to enter a code from your phone before you can log in. This means that even if someone knows your password, they can't access your account without your phone.

To turn on two-factor authentication, go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login > Two-Factor Authentication. Facebook will ask you to choose whether you want to receive codes by text message, through an authentication app like Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator, or through a security key (a physical device you plug into your computer). Most people choose text message because it's the easiest option. Once you set it up, you'll receive a code every time you log in from a new device or browser.

What happens if you change your password on a shared device

If you change your password on a computer or phone that other people use, they will be logged out of Facebook on that device. They won't be able to access your account, but they also won't be able to access their own Facebook accounts on that device until they log back in with their own passwords. This is actually a safety feature — it prevents someone from staying logged into your account after you've changed your password.

If you share a device with family members or roommates and you want to change your password without logging them out, use a private or incognito browser window to go to facebook.com and change your password there. Private browsing doesn't save login information, so it won't affect their sessions on the regular browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Facebook send me an email when I change my password?

No, Facebook does not send a confirmation email when you change your password through Settings. However, if someone changes your password without your permission, Facebook will send you an alert. If you receive an unexpected password change alert, go to the "Where you're logged in" menu immediately and log out of all sessions, then change your password again.

Can I change my password on the Facebook app?

Yes. Open the app, tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right, scroll to Settings & Privacy, tap Settings, then tap Security and Login. The steps are the same as on a computer, but the menu layout is designed for a phone screen.

What if I change my password but still can't log in?

Try resetting your password again using the "Forgotten password?" link on the login screen. Make sure you're using the correct email address or phone number. If you still can't log in after resetting, Facebook may have temporarily locked your account for security reasons. Wait a few hours and try again, or contact Facebook through their Help Center to report the problem.

Do I need to change my password if I just want to log out?

No. To log out without changing your password, go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login > Where you're logged in, find the device you want to log out of, and click "Log out." You can log back in with your current password anytime. You only need to change your password if you want to create a new one or if you think someone else knows your current password.