Your username on Facebook is separate from the name on your profile. But unlike your profile name, your username is much more easily changed. If you’re curious, this guide shows how to find your Facebook username and change it if you are unhappy with it.
Good to know: learn how to make sure your latest post is shareable on Facebook.
Content
- What Is a Facebook Username?
- How Can I Find My Facebook Username?
- Can I Change My Facebook Username?
- How to Change Your Facebook Profile Username
- How to Change Your Facebook Page Username
What Is a Facebook Username?
Your Facebook username is a custom web address for your profile or page. It appears after “facebook.com” in the URL and is customizable.
When you signed up for the first time, Facebook probably generated a random username for you (consisting of numbers). If you were unaware of it, you’ve probably been using it, unaware that it could be changed.
Each Facebook username is unique, so you won’t find two distinct profiles with the same username. Think of usernames as identification for your profile, differentiating your profile from other profiles on Facebook. In contrast, the same name can appear on various Facebook profiles, as multiple people can have the same name. For instance, there can be multiple profiles with the name “Alice Brown” on Facebook, but their usernames will be different.
Tip: want to take a break from social media? Learn how to deactivate your Facebook account or delete it for good.
How Can I Find My Facebook Username?
You can find your Facebook username while browsing the social network on your browser or via the mobile app. You can also view someone else’s username by following the same steps.
PC
Log in to your Facebook account in your browser.
This action will automatically take you to your feed. Click your name in the upper-left corner to go to your profile.
The browser’s address bar will show the facebook.com/profile.php?id= URL, followed by some numbers. That’s your current username, the one that was generated automatically when you created your Facebook account.
You can easily copy the link at the top of the page and share it with someone so that they can access your profile directly.
Use the same method to view a Facebook page username.
Mobile
On a mobile device, open the Facebook app.
Tap on your profile picture at the top to open your profile page.
Tap on the three-dot button next to Edit profile.
Swipe all the way to the Your profile link section at the bottom. Hit the Copy link button to share the link with someone.
Follow the same steps outlined above if you’re looking to change the username for a Facebook page.
Tip: quickly find your drafts, saved Reels, and more on Facebook.
Can I Change My Facebook Username?
The answer is yes. You can customize your username to reflect your unique personality and make it easier for others to find you on Facebook. Before we show you how, we are highlighting a few considerations.
Facebook Username Guidelines
- You can only have one username for your profile or page on Facebook. The most important thing to remember is that this username is unique, so if someone on the social network is already using this particular username, you won’t be able to choose it.
- When creating a username, you can only use alphanumeric characters (A-Z, 0-9), and periods (“.”). The latter can be used to differentiate usernames. For instance, Facebook considers “dani.smith” different from “DaniSmith.” Underlines or other special symbols, such as asterisks (“*”) can’t be part of your username. Also, please avoid country extensions (such as .eu, .aus, .ca, etc.) or domain names (such as .org, .com, .net, etc.).
- A Facebook username needs to be at least five characters long.
- Your Facebook username should adhere to Meta’s Terms and Conditions.
- You should be able to change your username multiple times without a problem, which is distinct from Facebook’s policy regarding name changes, which can be requested every 60 days. If you’re unable to change your username for some reason, make sure you check the terms carefully and opt for alternatives.
How to Change Your Facebook Profile Username
If you’ve decided to change your Facebook username, follow these steps.
PC
Open Facebook in your browser. Click on your profile picture in the upper-right corner of the display, and select Settings & privacy.
Click Settings.
On the left side of the display, click See more in Accounts Center in the Accounts Center section at the top.
Click on your Facebook profile. Select the Username option in the pop-up.
Type in your username according to the guidelines above, and click Done. You’ll be notified if the username is already taken.
When you refresh your Facebook profile, you will see your new username in the URL at the top.
Tip: don’t want others to know when you’re online? Learn how to deactivate your active status on Facebook.
Mobile
You can also change your Facebook username from the mobile app.
Tap on your profile picture in the upper-right corner if you’re on Android. On iPhone, look for it in the lower-right corner.
Tap on Settings & privacy -> Settings. Select See more in Accounts Center.
Tap Profiles.
Next, select your Facebook account. Tap on Username, and change it as explained above.
How to Change Your Facebook Page Username
If you are the owner of a Facebook page, you can personalize it by setting a custom page username.
Switch to your Facebook page, and click its profile image to go to the main page view.
On the left side of the display, click on Settings in the Manage Page dashboard.
On the next page, click on Edit next to Username.
Type in the new username, then click Save Changes.
The option to change your page username is not currently available in the Facebook app. The customized page username will be visible on mobile, though.
Good to know: learn how to change your username and nickname on Discord.
Now that you know how to change your Facebook username, you can also change your Facebook email address. Check out this guide for the full details.
Image credit: Freepik. All screenshots by Alexandra Arici.
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Alexandra Arici –
Staff Writer
Alexandra is passionate about mobile tech and can be often found fiddling with a smartphone from some obscure company. She kick-started her career in tech journalism in 2013, after working a few years as a middle-school teacher. Constantly driven by curiosity, Alexandra likes to know how things work and to share that knowledge with everyone.
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