Facebook lets you change your birth date in your profile settings, but the platform limits how often you can do it and what you can change it to

You can update your age on Facebook through your profile settings at any time. The process takes about two minutes. However, Facebook restricts how frequently you can make changes — you can only modify your birth date once every 60 days. If you need to change it more often than that, you will have to wait for the cooldown period to expire.

The age you list on Facebook affects who can see your profile, what content you can access, and which ads you see. If your birth date is incorrect, changing it now prevents confusion later and ensures your account settings match your actual age.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your birth date through Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Date of Birth on both desktop and mobile.
  • Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between changes, so you cannot update your age more than once every two months.
  • Your birth date visibility is separate from the change itself — you control whether friends, the public, or no one can see your age.
  • If you created your account with a false birth date to bypass age restrictions, Facebook may not allow you to change it to your real age.
  • Changing your age does not affect your account history, posts, or friendships — only the age displayed in your profile.

Steps to change your birth date on desktop

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. You will see a section labeled Date of Birth with your current birth date displayed.

Click the pencil icon next to your birth date. A window will open showing your current month, day, and year. Update each field to your correct birth date. Click Save Changes when you are finished. Facebook will confirm the change and show you when you can next modify this information — typically 60 days from the date of this change.

Steps to change your birth date on mobile

Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings. Tap Personal Information. You will see Date of Birth listed with your current age or birth date.

Tap the pencil icon next to your birth date. Select the correct month, day, and year using the dropdown menus or date picker. Tap Save or Done depending on your device. Facebook will confirm the update and display the date when you can change it again.

What happens if you cannot change your birth date

If you see an error message or the option to edit your birth date is greyed out, you may be within the 60-day waiting period from your last change. Check the message on screen — it will tell you the exact date you can make another change. If that date has passed and you still cannot edit, try logging out and logging back in, or clearing your browser cache.

If you created your Facebook account using a birth date that does not match your real age — for example, if you used a false date to create an account before you were 13 — Facebook may prevent you from changing it to your actual birth date. The platform enforces a minimum age requirement of 13 years old. If your account was set up with a birth date that would make you younger than 13 today, you cannot change it to a date that would lower your age below that threshold.

Controlling who can see your age

Changing your birth date and controlling who sees it are two separate settings. After you update your birth date, you can choose whether your age appears on your profile at all. Go back to Personal Information and look for the privacy icon next to Date of Birth — it usually looks like a globe, a lock, or a person icon.

Click or tap that icon to choose your visibility setting. Your options are typically Public (anyone can see it), Friends (only your friends can see it), or Only Me (no one else can see it). You can change this setting as often as you want — there is no waiting period for privacy adjustments, only for changing the birth date itself.

Why Facebook limits how often you can change your age

Facebook restricts birth date changes to prevent account takeovers and fraud. If someone gains unauthorized access to your account, limiting changes to once every 60 days slows down their ability to alter your profile information. The restriction also helps Facebook maintain accurate records for age-gated content and advertising purposes.

The 60-day window resets each time you make a change. If you change your birth date on January 1st, you cannot change it again until March 1st. If you then change it on March 1st, the next change window opens on May 1st. The timer is based on the date of your change, not a calendar month.

What to do if you need to change your age urgently

If you are locked out of changing your birth date because of the 60-day restriction and you need to update it for a specific reason — such as correcting an error on a business account or addressing a security issue — you can contact Facebook's support team. Go to Settings & Privacy > Help & Support > Report a Problem and describe your situation. Facebook does not always override the 60-day restriction, but they may review your request if there is a legitimate reason.

Be specific about why you need the change. For example, if you entered the wrong year by mistake and it is affecting your account access or age-restricted features, explain that clearly. Facebook is more likely to help with genuine errors than with requests to bypass the waiting period for other reasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my age on Facebook affect my other accounts or services?

No. Your Facebook birth date is separate from your age on Instagram, WhatsApp, or other platforms. If you use the same email address across multiple services, changing your age on Facebook does not automatically update it elsewhere. You would need to change your age in each service's settings individually.

Will my friends be notified if I change my birth date?

Facebook does not send a notification to your friends when you change your birth date. However, if your birthday is set to display on your profile and you change the month or day, the birthday reminder your friends receive will reflect the new date going forward.

Can I hide my birth date completely after changing it?

Yes. After you update your birth date, go to Personal Information and click the privacy icon next to Date of Birth. Select Only Me to hide it from everyone, including your friends. You can change this setting back at any time without waiting 60 days.

What if I forgot my birth date and cannot remember what I entered?

Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information and look at the Date of Birth field. Facebook will show you the birth date currently on your account. If that is not correct, you can update it using the pencil icon, as long as you are not within the 60-day waiting period from your last change.

Can I change my age if my account was created when I was under 13?

Facebook requires all users to be at least 13 years old. If your account was created with a birth date that would make you younger than 13 today, you cannot change your birth date to a date that keeps you below that age threshold. You can only change it to a date that makes you 13 or older.