How to Change Your Facebook Handle

Changing your Facebook handle is one of the quickest ways to clean up your digital branding and make your profile or page easier to find, tag, and share. Whether you’ve outgrown an old username or are launching a new brand, this guide will walk you through the update process. We’ll cover the step-by-step instructions for both personal profiles and business pages, troubleshoot common issues you might run into, and share some best practices for picking a handle that sticks.

What Exactly Is a Facebook Handle (and Why Does It Matter)?

Before we jump into the "how," let's quickly clarify what we're talking about. Your Facebook handle - also known as your username or vanity URL - is the unique name that appears in your URL after "facebook.com/". For example, if your handle is @greatbigbrand, your URL will be facebook.com/greatbigbrand.

This is different from your display name, which is the name that appears in bold on your profile or page (e.g., "Great Big Brand"). While your display name can be changed, your handle is what creates that clean, direct link to your presence on the platform.

So, why should you care about getting it right? A good handle does three things for your brand:

• It enhances professionalism and memorability. A clean URL like facebook.com/yourbrand looks far more professional and is easier to remember than a randomly generated one filled with numbers like facebook.com/your-brand-129847192.
• It simplifies tagging. When another person or page wants to mention you in a post or comment, they can simply type "@" followed by your handle (e.g., @yourbrand). A simple, intuitive handle makes this process seamless.
• It builds brand consistency. Ideally, you want the same handle across all your social media platforms (Instagram, X, TikTok, etc.). This makes it easy for your followers to find you everywhere and reinforces a unified brand identity.

The Ground Rules: Facebook's Username Policy

Facebook has a few guidelines you need to follow when choosing or changing your handle. Keep these in mind to avoid running into errors:

• It must be unique. No two people or pages can have the same handle. If your desired name is taken, you’ll have to get creative.
• It must contain at least five characters.
• It can only contain letters (A-Z), numbers (0-9), and periods (.).
• You cannot use generic terms or extensions (e.g., .com, .net).
• Handles are not case-sensitive. facebook.com/YourBrand is the same as facebook.com/yourbrand.
• To change a handle for a Facebook Page, you must be an Admin. Other roles like Editor or Moderator won't have the necessary permissions.

How to Change Your Facebook Page Handle

For businesses, brands, and creators, your Facebook Page is your main hub. Aligning its URL with your brand name is a top priority. The process can be done from either a desktop computer or the mobile app.

Changing Your Page Handle on a Desktop Browser

Updating your Page's handle is most straightforward on a desktop, as the settings are easier to navigate.

1. Go to your Facebook Page: First, log into the Facebook account that manages your page. From your home feed, click on your profile picture in the top right corner and select the Page you want to manage. This will switch you to the Page's profile.
2. Access Settings: On your Page's main view, locate the "Settings" option in the left-hand menu. Click on it.
3. General Page Settings: You should now be on the "General Page Settings" screen. The very first option at the top will be "Name," followed by "Username."
4. Edit Your Username: Click the "Edit" link next to your current Username. A box will appear where you can type your new desired handle.
5. Check Availability and Save: As you type, Facebook will automatically check if the handle is available. If it is, you’ll see a green checkmark. If not, a red "X" will appear, and you’ll need to try something else. Once you find an available handle you’re happy with, click "Save Changes."

You may be prompted to enter your password to confirm the change. Once saved, your Page's URL and @handle will update almost immediately.

Changing Your Page Handle on Mobile (Meta Business Suite App)

If you manage your page on the go, you can also change your handle using the Meta Business Suite app.

1. Open the Meta Business Suite App: Log in and make sure you've selected the correct Facebook Page you want to edit.
2. Go to "Tools": Tap the grid icon in the bottom right corner labeled "Tools." This will open up a full menu of options.
3. Find "Settings": Scroll through the tools menu and tap on "Settings."
4. Select "Page Info": In the Settings menu, tap on "Page Info."
5. Edit the Username: You will see your current page name, username, and other details. Tap on the username field. This will take you to a screen where you can type in your new desired handle.
6. Save Your Changes: After entering the new handle, tap "Save." Just like on desktop, the app will let you know if the name is available. If it's accepted, your change will be saved.

How to Change Your Personal Facebook Profile Handle

You can also set a custom username for a personal profile, which is great for building a personal brand. The process is similar to updating a page handle but happens in a different settings area.

Changing Your Profile Handle on a Desktop Browser

1. Go to Settings: Click on your profile picture in the top-right corner of Facebook and select "Settings & Privacy," then click "Settings."
2. Open Accounts Center: In the left-hand menu, you'll see a big blue link for the "Meta Accounts Center." Click this.
3. Select Your Profile: Inside the Accounts Center, click on "Profiles" and then select the personal profile you wish to update.
4. Edit Username: You’ll see options for Name, Username, Profile Picture, and Avatar. Click on "Username."
5. Enter and Save Your New Handle: Type in your desired new username. Facebook will check its availability in real-time. If it's available, click "Done" to save the change. That's it!

Your friends can now find and tag you using your new, cleaner handle.

Stuck? Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Sometimes, Facebook won't let you make the change or throws an error message. Here are some of the most common reasons why and what you can do about them.

"This username isn't available."

This is the most common issue. If your ideal handle is taken, you’ll need to find a variation. Before you settle on a random string of numbers, try these strategies:

• Add a word: If your brand is "Saltwater," try adding a relevant modifier like "SaltwaterApp," "SaltwaterCo," or "GetSaltwater."
• Use geography: For local businesses, adding your city can work wonders. For instance, "SaltwaterNYC" or "SaltwaterLondon."
• Add "Official": Using "SaltwaterOfficial" can work, especially if your brand name is commonly used.
• Use a period: Try breaking up words with a period, like "saltwater.creative."

The goal is to find something that's still intuitive and professional.

"This Page isn't eligible to have a username."

This message typically appears for brand new pages. Sometimes Facebook imposes a waiting period or requires a certain number of likes (often around 25) before it allows a custom URL. If your page is brand new, give it some time, get your first few followers, and then try again in a few days or a week.

"Error: You are not permitted to create a username."

This is a permission issue. For Facebook Pages, only users with an Admin role can change the username. Check your Page Roles under Settings to confirm you have the proper access level. If you're an Editor or Analyst, you'll need to ask an Admin to make the change for you.

Best Practices for Choosing Your New Handle

Before you commit to a new handle, run through this quick checklist to make sure it's the right choice for the long run.

• Check for Consistency: Is your desired handle available everywhere else? Before you claim it on Facebook, check Instagram, TikTok, X, and any other platform your brand uses. Use a tool like Namechk to quickly see its availability across dozens of networks.
• Keep It Short & Simple: The more straightforward, the better. Avoid using confusing strings of numbers, underscores, or hard-to-spell words. The best handles are easy to say, type, and remember.
• Make It Identical to Your Brand Name: In a perfect world, your handle is simply your brand name. If "YourBrand" is available, take it. This creates the strongest brand connection between your identity and your social presence.

After you’ve successfully changed your handle, don't forget the last step: update it everywhere you can! This includes your website footer, email signature, business cards, other social media bios, and any other marketing materials where your old Facebook URL might be listed.

Final Thoughts

Updating your Facebook handle is a simple but powerful move to strengthen your brand’s digital presence. Following the steps in this guide will help you create a clean, memorable, and professional URL for your page or profile, making it easier for your audience to find and engage with you.

Once your handle is properly branded, the next step is establishing a consistent content rhythm. We built Postbase because managing multiple social media platforms felt unnecessarily complicated with existing tools that were built for a different era. Our modern platform - designed for today’s world of Reels, Stories, and short-form video - lets you plan your content on a beautiful visual calendar, schedule posts reliably, and manage all your engagement in one unified inbox so you can keep your brand strong without the stress.