How to Change a Facebook Account

Your Facebook account isn't set in stone. Whether you've gotten married, rebranded your business, or just need to update outdated contact info, changing your account details is straightforward once you know where to look. This guide walks you through how to change your name, contact information, password, and other core settings on both desktop and mobile.

How to Change Your Name on Facebook

Changing your name on Facebook is one of the most common updates people make. Before you start, remember that Facebook has a Name Policy. They want your name to be the one you regularly use in everyday life. You also can't use symbols, numbers, unusual capitalization, or titles of any kind. Lastly, you can only change your name once every 60 days, so make sure you're happy with your choice before confirming it.

On a Desktop Computer:

1. Click on your profile picture in the top-right corner of the screen.
2. Select Settings &, Privacy from the dropdown menu, then click Settings.
3. This will take you to the Meta Accounts Center. Click on your profile at the top of the left-hand menu.
4. Select your Facebook profile again on the next screen.
5. Click on Name.
6. Enter your new first, middle (optional), and last name.
7. Click Review Change. You’ll be asked to pick how your name will appear on your profile.
8. Enter your password to confirm, and click Save Changes.

On the Facebook Mobile App (iOS and Android):

1. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom-right corner (iOS) or top-right corner (Android).
2. Scroll down and tap Settings &, Privacy, then tap Settings.
3. Tap on the blue text tile at the top that says See more in Accounts Center.
4. Under Profile settings, tap your profile.
5. Select your Facebook profile again.
6. Tap Name.
7. Update your name fields and tap Review Change.
8. Choose your preferred name display format, enter your password if prompted, and tap Save Changes.

Updating Your Primary Email and Phone Number

Keeping your contact information current is incredibly important for your account’s security. It’s what you’ll use to recover your account if you forget your password and where you'll receive important security alerts. You can add multiple emails and phone numbers, but only one of each can be your primary contact.

On a Desktop Computer:

1. Follow the steps above to navigate to the Meta Accounts Center (Settings &, Privacy >, Settings).
2. In the left menu, click Personal details.
3. Click on Contact info.
4. You'll see your current email addresses and phone numbers. To add new information, click Add new contact and choose either "Add mobile number" or "Add email."
5. Follow the on-screen instructions and verify your new contact with the code sent to you.
6. Once added, you can click on an email address or phone number from the list to manage it, including deleting it or setting it as primary. Remember, you can't delete an old email or number until a new one is added.

On the Facebook Mobile App:

1. Go to Settings &, Privacy >, Settings >, See more in Accounts Center.
2. Under Account Settings, tap Personal details.
3. Tap Contact info.
4. To add a new detail, tap Add new contact. Choose to add an email or a phone number and follow the prompts.
5. After verifying, you can manage your contacts from this screen. Tap on any entry to make changes, such as designating a new primary email address.

How to Change Your Facebook Password

Regularly updating your password is a fundamental part of online security. A strong password should be a unique combination of letters (both upper and lower case), numbers, and symbols that is not used for any of your other online accounts. Avoid using obvious information like your birthday or your pet's name.

On a Desktop Computer:

1. Navigate to the Accounts Center (Settings &, Privacy >, Settings).
2. In the left menu, click on Password and security.
3. Click Change password.
4. Select the Facebook account you want to update.
5. Enter your current password, then type your new password twice.
6. Click Change password to finish.

On the Facebook Mobile App:

1. Go to Settings &, Privacy >, Settings >, See more in Accounts Center.
2. Under Account Settings, find and tap Password and security.
3. Tap Change password.
4. Choose the account you wish to update.
5. Type your current password and your new password, then confirm the new password.
6. Tap Change password.

Upgrading Your Personal Profile to Professional Mode

If you're a content creator, public figure, or small business owner, you might outgrow your personal profile. In the past, this meant a complicated migration to a Facebook Page. Today, the best option is turning on Professional Mode. This lets you keep your existing profile and your friends, but it unlocks Page-like features such as professional tools, post insights, and monetization opportunities. Turning on Professional Mode makes your profile 'Public,' allowing an unlimited number of people to follow you.

How to Turn on Professional Mode:

1. Go to your main Facebook profile on the mobile app or desktop.
2. Click or tap the three-dot menu (...) to the right of the "Edit Profile" button.
3. From the options menu, select Turn on professional mode.
4. Follow the prompts to confirm. Your friends will become followers, and you'll immediately get access to a professional dashboard to track your audience growth and post reach.

This is a fantastic way to build a personal brand without losing the connections and history associated with your existing profile. It essentially gives you the best of both worlds.

Managing Your Privacy and Visibility Settings

Your Facebook account contains a lot of personal information, and you have complete control over who gets to see it. Taking a few minutes to review your settings can give you peace of mind. Instead of hunting down individual settings, the best way to do this is with Facebook’s built-in Privacy Checkup tool.

Using the Privacy Checkup Tool

1. Go to Settings &, Privacy >, Settings.
2. In the main settings menu, look for Privacy Checkup. It has a blue question mark icon.
3. Click it, and you'll see several modules:
   • Who can see what you share: This walks you through who can see your profile information, posts, and stories.
   • How to keep your account secure: This helps you strengthen your password and set up login alerts.
   • How people can find you on Facebook: This controls whether people can look you up using your email or phone number and who can send you friend requests.
   • Your data settings on Facebook: This reviews third-party apps and websites connected to your account.

Go through each module one by one. The tool does a great job of explaining what each setting does, making it easy to create a privacy setup that you’re comfortable with.

Deactivating or Deleting Your Facebook Account

Sometimes you just need a break, or you're ready to leave the platform for good. Facebook gives you two options: deactivation and deletion. It's important to understand the difference.

• Deactivating is temporary. Your profile, photos, posts, and comments will be hidden, but you can reactivate your account at any time just by logging back in. You will still appear on your friends' friend lists, but your profile will not be visible. Messenger will remain active unless deactivated separately.
• Deleting is permanent. Thirty days after you request deletion, your account and all of its associated information will be gone forever, and you will not be able to retrieve it. You won’t be able to get back photos or conversations during this time. Before choosing to delete your account, we recommend using Facebook’s tool that allows you to download a copy of all information and photos you do not wish to lose.

How to Deactivate or Delete Your Account:

1. Navigate to the Accounts Center (Settings &, Privacy >, Settings).
2. In the left menu, select Personal details.
3. Click on Account ownership and control.
4. Choose Deactivation or deletion.
5. Select the Facebook profile you want to manage.
6. Choose either "Deactivate account" or "Delete account" and follow the on-screen instructions. You will be asked to enter your password to confirm your decision.

Whether you choose to deactivate for a short break or delete permanently, make sure you've thought it through and backed up any information you want to keep.

Final Thoughts

Modifying your Facebook account, from updating your name to adjusting your privacy, is all about knowing where to find the right settings in the Accounts Center. Following these steps helps you keep your profile accurate, secure, and aligned with your personal or professional brand. Taking a few minutes every so often to review your settings is a great habit for managing your online presence.

Keeping a single Facebook account current is one thing, but brand builders and marketers are often juggling multiple profiles and Pages across several platforms. This is where we built Postbase to simplify the chaos. Instead of jumping between accounts and native apps, we let you see your whole content plan on one visual calendar, schedule posts for all your platforms at once, and manage all your comments and DMs from a single inbox. It’s designed to give you back your time so you can focus on creating great content rather than fighting with your tools.