How to Change Your Facebook URL Name

Your Facebook URL is more than just a link, it's a digital business card that can either look generic and clumsy or clean and professional. A custom URL elevates your brand, makes your profile or page instantly shareable, and solidifies your online identity. This guide walks you through exactly how to change your Facebook URL for both personal profiles and business pages, plus best practices to follow when picking the perfect name.

What is a Facebook URL (or Username) and Why Does It Matter?

When you first create a Facebook profile or page, Facebook assigns you a generic URL that typically includes your name followed by a long string of random numbers. It looks something like this: facebook.com/jane-doe-100087654321.

A custom URL, which Facebook calls a "username" or "vanity URL," replaces that messy string of numbers with a clean, memorable name you choose. For example, that URL can become facebook.com/janedoedesign.

So, why should you care? A custom URL offers several key advantages for personal brands, influencers, businesses, and content creators:

• Professionalism and Branding: A clean URL like facebook.com/YourBrandName looks far more professional and credible than one with random numbers. It reinforces your brand identity and makes your page look established.
• Easy to Share and Remember: Which is easier to tell someone? "Find me on Facebook, my URL is facebook dot com slash your-name-dash-a-bunch-of-numbers," or "Find me at facebook dot com slash your name"? A vanity URL is simple to say, easy to type, and memorable enough to print on business cards, mention in podcasts, or add to your email signature.
• Improved Discoverability: While not a massive SEO ranking factor on its own, a clear and relevant URL can help users identify your official page in search results, both on and off Facebook. It signals authenticity and helps you stand out from fan pages or unofficial accounts.

Before You Change Your URL: 4 Key Rules to Follow

Before you jump in, there are some important guidelines and limitations set by Meta that you need to be aware of. Getting this wrong can lead to frustration or, in the worst case, losing the username you want.

1. Your Username Must Be Unique

No two Facebook profiles or pages can have the same username. If you want <2>facebook.com/chicagopizza, but someone else already has it, you're out of luck. You'll need to find a variation that is still available. This is one of the biggest reasons to claim your username quickly, especially if you have a common name or brand.

2. Follow the Naming Conventions

Facebook has specific rules about what your username can and cannot contain:

• They can only contain alphanumeric characters (A-Z, 0-9) and periods (.).
• They cannot contain generic terms or extensions (e.g., .com, .net).
• Usernames must be at least five characters long.
• Periods (.) and capitalization don't count as part of the username for uniqueness. For example, facebook.com/johnsmith is the same as facebook.com/john.smith and facebook.com/JohnSmith. Once you claim one, no one else can claim the others.
• You cannot impersonate someone else with your username.

3. Be Mindful of Change Limits

For both personal profiles and business pages, Facebook limits how often you can change your username. While there's no publicly stated hard rule like "once every 60 days," making frequent changes can get your account flagged. Think of this as a semi-permanent decision. Choose a name you can stick with for the long term.

4. The Old URL Is Gone Forever

This is extremely important. Once you change your username, your old URL is released. Someone else can claim it, and all existing links pointing to your old URL will break. If you've printed your old URL on marketing materials or have it linked from your website, you'll need to update everything immediately after making the change.

How to Change Your Personal Facebook Profile URL (Username)

Changing your personal profile's URL is handled through Meta's new Accounts Center, which syncs settings across Facebook and Instagram. Here's the step-by-step process on a desktop computer:

Step 1: Go to Settings

Log in to your Facebook profile. Click on your profile picture in the top right corner and select Settings &, Privacy, then click on Settings.

Step 2: Open the Accounts Center

On the left-hand menu, you should see a blue box for the Accounts Center. Click on it. This is Meta's new hub for managing your personal information across its platforms.

Step 3: Select Your Profile

In the Accounts Center, click on Profiles. You'll see a list of the profiles associated with your account (e.g., your Facebook profile and your Instagram profile). Click on your Facebook profile.

Step 4: Navigate to Username

You'll see a few options like Name, Username, Profile Picture, and Avatar. Click on Username.

Step 5: Choose Your New Username

You'll see your current username displayed (e.g., facebook.com/john.doe.12345). Delete the old one and type your desired new username into the box. As you type, Facebook will automatically check if the name is available. If it's taken, you will see a red X and a message telling you to choose another one.

Step 6: Save Your Changes

Once you've found an available username you're happy with, a green checkmark will appear. Click the Done button to save it. Your new Facebook URL is now active!

How to Change Your Facebook Business Page URL (Username)

The process for a business page is slightly different and requires you to be an admin of the page. Here's how to do it from your desktop:

First, a quick note: If your page is brand new or has very few followers (typically under 25, though this varies), Facebook might not allow you to set a username right away. This is a measure to prevent spam and squatting on usernames. If you don't see the option, focus on building your page with a few posts and followers first, then try again.

Step 1: Go to Your Facebook Page

Switch from your personal profile to the Facebook page you want to manage.

Step 2: Access Your Page Settings

On the left-hand menu under "Manage Page," click on Settings.

Step 3: Edit Your General Page Settings

You'll land on the General Page Settings tab. The first two options are "Name" and "Username." Your page's name is its official title, while the username dictates its URL.

Step 4: Change the Username

Click Edit next to the Username field. A pop-up box will appear. Enter your desired new username. Just like with personal profiles, Facebook will check for availability in real-time.

Step 5: Save Changes

If the username is available, click Save Changes. You might be asked to enter your password to confirm the change. Once confirmed, your page's URL will be updated instantly.

Troubleshooting: What to Do If It Doesn't Work

Sometimes things don't go as planned. Here are solutions for a few common problems:

• "Username isn't available": This is the most common issue. Your desired name is already taken. Try adding a modifier that still fits your brand. For instance, if "Gourmet Burgers" is taken, try "GourmetBurgersNYC" or "GourmetBurgersCo."
• "This Page isn't eligible to have a username": As mentioned, new pages often have this restriction. Stay patient, publish some unique content, invite some friends to like the page, and the option should appear once your page seems "lived in" to Facebook's algorithm.
• The name has an error or is "not allowed": Double-check that you're only using letters, numbers, and periods. Also, ensure your username isn't a generic term (like "pizza") which Facebook might block. Usernames cannot contain terms like "Official" if the page is not the official representation for that brand.

5 Best Practices for Choosing the Perfect Facebook URL

Choosing a name isn't just about finding one that's available. A great username is a mini-marketing tool.

1. Keep It Consistent: If your brand's handle is @AwesomeBrand on Instagram, X, and TikTok, try to get the same username on Facebook. This cross-platform consistency makes it incredibly easy for your followers to find you everywhere.
2. Make It Easy to Say and Spell: Avoid complicated spellings, long strings of numbers, and hyphens or underscores (since Facebook usernames don't allow them anyway). Your URL should be easy to remember after hearing it once.
3. Reflect Your Brand or Name: Your username should be instantly recognizable. For a business, this is your company name. For a public figure or creator, it's your name or the name you're known by online.
4. Think Long-Term: Avoid trends or overly specific names that might not represent your brand in the future. "JensBaking2024" will feel dated next year. Stick to something timeless.
5. Shorter is Usually Better: A concise username is easier to type and looks cleaner on marketing materials. If your brand name is very long, consider using a well-known acronym or a shortened version if it's recognizable to your audience.

Final Thoughts

Changing your Facebook URL is a quick but powerful step to building a more professional, recognizable, and shareable brand presence online. By following the steps and best practices outlined above, you can secure a vanity URL that strengthens your digital identity and makes it easier for your audience to connect with you.

Creating that strong, cohesive brand identity is exactly why we built Postbase. We saw how much friction managing social media creates - wrestling with outdated tools, paying for basic features, and getting frustrated by unreliable scheduling. We made Postbase to be a clean, modern hub for handling everything from visual planning and reliable scheduling across every major platform (especially short-form video), to managing all your DMs and comments in one place. It's about making your workflow feel simple and coherent so you can focus on building the brand you envision.