Change your Facebook email in settings in under two minutes
Open Facebook and go to the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner on mobile, or the downward arrow in the top right on desktop. Select Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Scroll to Personal Information and tap or click Email. Enter your new email address, then your password to confirm the change. Facebook will send a confirmation link to both your old and new email addresses — you must click the link in the new email to complete the switch.
The entire process takes about two minutes. Your old email stops being associated with your account once you confirm the new one. If you don't see a confirmation email within a few minutes, check your spam folder or wait a few minutes and try again.
Key Takeaways
- You access email settings through Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information on both mobile and desktop.
- Facebook requires you to enter your password before changing your email for security reasons.
- You must click a confirmation link sent to your new email address to finish the change — the new email is not active until you do.
- If you no longer have access to your old email, you can use a recovery email or phone number instead to verify your identity.
What happens to your old email after the change
Once you confirm your new email, your old email address is removed from your Facebook account. You can no longer use the old email to log in. If someone else tries to create a Facebook account with that old email, Facebook will allow it because it is no longer tied to your account.
Your old email will not receive any future notifications or password reset links from Facebook. All future communications go to your new email address. If you want to keep the old email connected to your account for recovery purposes, add it as a secondary email instead of replacing it — Facebook lets you have multiple emails on one account.
Adding a backup email instead of replacing your current one
If you want to keep your current email and add another one for backup, go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, then Email. Instead of changing the existing email, look for an option to add another email address. Facebook will send a confirmation link to the new address. Once confirmed, you will have two emails on your account and can use either one to log in.
Having a backup email is useful if you lose access to your main email account. You can use the backup email to reset your password or recover your account. You can remove either email later if you no longer need it, but you must always have at least one email on your account.
If you cannot access your old email to confirm the change
If your old email account is closed or you no longer have access to it, you cannot receive the confirmation link Facebook sends. Instead, go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information. Look for Email and select it. Facebook may offer you the option to verify your identity using a recovery email or phone number you added to your account previously.
If you do not have a recovery email or phone number on file, Facebook may ask you to answer security questions or upload a photo ID to confirm you own the account. This process can take a few days. If you still cannot regain access, you may need to contact Facebook's support team through the Help Center and explain your situation.
Changing your email on mobile versus desktop
The steps are nearly identical on both platforms, but the menu locations differ slightly. On mobile, tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right of the screen. On desktop, click the downward arrow in the top right corner. Both lead to Settings & Privacy. From there, the path is the same: Settings, then Personal Information, then Email.
Mobile users sometimes see a slightly different layout depending on whether they use the Facebook app or the mobile website. If you cannot find Personal Information in the app, try using Facebook through your phone's web browser instead. The browser version matches the desktop layout more closely.
What to do if the confirmation email does not arrive
Check your spam or junk folder first — confirmation emails sometimes get filtered there by mistake. If it is not there, wait five to ten minutes and try again. Facebook occasionally delays sending confirmation emails during high traffic periods.
If you still do not see the email after waiting, go back to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, then Email. You should see an option to resend the confirmation link. Click it and wait for a new email. If the email arrives this time, click the link to confirm. If it still does not arrive after two attempts, the email address you entered may be invalid — double-check the spelling and try again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the same email for multiple Facebook accounts?
No. Each email address can only be connected to one Facebook account. If you try to add an email that is already in use, Facebook will tell you it is already associated with another account. You must use a different email for each account you create.
Will changing my email affect my password?
No. Your password stays the same. Changing your email only changes how you log in — you can still use your password with either your old email (if it was your login) or your new email. If you want to change your password as well, you can do that separately in Settings under Security.
How long does it take for the new email to be active?
The new email becomes active as soon as you click the confirmation link in the email Facebook sends you. This usually happens within minutes. You can then log in using the new email address immediately.
What if I change my mind and want to switch back to my old email?
You can change your email as many times as you want. Just follow the same steps: go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, then Email. Enter your old email address and confirm it. Facebook will send a confirmation link to that old email, and once you click it, the switch is complete.