How to Get a Custom Facebook URL

That long, clunky Facebook URL full of random numbers doesn't exactly scream professional, does it? Securing a custom URL - also known as a vanity URL or username - is one of the quickest and most effective branding moves you can make on the platform. This guide will walk you through exactly how to set up a clean, memorable link for both your personal profile and your Business Page, plus best practices for picking the right one.

What is a Custom Facebook URL (and Why Should You Care)?

By default, Facebook assigns your profile or page a URL that looks something like this:

facebook.com/profile.php?id=9876543210987

Or for pages:

facebook.com/pages/Your-Brand-Name/123456789012345

It’s long, impossible to remember, and looks messy on a business card. A custom URL replaces that string of numbers with a clean, unique "username" you choose.

facebook.com/YourName

facebook.com/YourBrand

This simple change instantly upgrades your social media presence. Here’s why it’s so important:

• It Makes You Look Professional: A clean URL signals that you've put thought into your brand presentation. It's the digital equivalent of having a custom domain name for your website versus a generic one from a free service.
• It Strengthens Your Brand Identity: Consistent handles across all social platforms create a seamless brand experience. Having facebook.com/YourBrand, X.com/YourBrand, and Instagram.com/YourBrand makes your business recognizable and easy to find everywhere.
• It's Easy to Share and Remember: Which is easier to tell someone? "Go to facebook.com/profile.php?id=..." or "Find us at facebook.com/AwesomeBakery"? Your custom URL is simple to share verbally, in print, or in email signatures.
• It Can Help Your SEO: While not a massive SEO factor, custom URLs are more likely to be user-friendly and can include keywords related to your name or brand, which can slightly help in search engine results.

Simply put, setting a custom username is a foundational step in building a polished and accessible online brand.

How to Get a Custom URL for Your Personal Facebook Profile

Claiming a username for your personal profile turns your link into something memorable, clean, and easily shareable. It transforms facebook.com/profile.php?id=... into a neat facebook.com/YourUsername. Here’s how to do it.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Log In to Facebook: Go to the website and log into your account.
2. Access Your Settings: Click on your profile picture in the top-right corner of the screen. In the dropdown menu that appears, select Settings &, Privacy, and then click on Settings.
3. Go to the Accounts Center: On the left-hand sidebar of the Settings page, you should see Meta’s Accounts Center. Click on "See more in Accounts Center".
4. Select Your Profile: You'll be taken to the Accounts Center dashboard where you can see all the Instagram and Facebook profiles connected. Under "Profiles," click the Facebook profile for which you want to set the username.
5. Edit Your Username: You'll see several options like Name, Username, Profile Picture, etc. Click on Username.
6. Choose and Save Your Username: In the text box, type your desired username. Facebook will immediately check if it's available. If it is, you'll see a green checkmark. If not, it will tell you the username is taken, and you'll need to try a different one. Once you find an available username you're happy with, click the Done button to save your change.

That's it! Your new custom URL is live immediately. You can share facebook.com/YourNewUsername with friends and add it to your email signature or personal website. Remember, Facebook usernames must be at least five characters long and can only contain alphanumeric characters (A-Z, 0-9) and periods (".").

How to Get a Custom URL for a Facebook Business Page

For businesses, having a branded URL is non-negotiable. It reinforces your brand name and makes your company much easier for customers to find and tag. The good news is that the process is straightforward and, thankfully, the old requirement of needing 25 Page Likes is long gone. Any Page admin can set a username right away.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Switch to Your Business Page: While logged into your personal Facebook account, click your profile picture in the top-right and select "See all Profiles." Then, choose the Business Page you want to manage. Your screen will refresh, and you'll now be browsing and acting as your Page.
2. Navigate to Your Page’s Settings: Click on your Page’s profile picture in the top-right and then select Settings &, Privacy. From there, click on Settings.
3. Edit Your Username: You'll be on the General Page Settings tab by default. The second option down labeled Username should be visible. Click the Edit link next to it.
4. Enter and Save Your Chosen Username: A box will pop up where you can type your desired username for the page. Just like with a personal profile, Facebook will check for its availability in real time. For businesses, this should ideally be your company name. Once you've found an available name, click the Save Changes button. Facebook may ask for your password to confirm the change.

Your business now has a professional, marketable URL like facebook.com/YourBusinessName. This link should go on all your marketing materials - business cards, flyers, website footers, and other platforms - to drive traffic directly to your Page.

Choosing the Perfect Facebook Username: 7 Proven Tips

Your username isn't just a technical detail, it’s a branding decision. A great username is intuitive, recognizable, and consistent. Here are some trusted tips for picking the right one.

1. Keep it Consistent Across Platforms

Your ideal scenario is having the exact same username on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and wherever else your brand exists. This creates a unified brand identity and removes any friction for people trying to find you from one platform on another.

2. Make it Your Brand Name

For a Business Page, this is the most straightforward option. If your brand is "Sunrise Coffee Roasters," your first choice for a username should be SunriseCoffeeRoasters. If it's taken, you can try some simple variations (see next tip).

3. Have a Plan B if Your First Choice is Taken

It's common for simple brand names to be taken already. Have a list of professional variations ready to go:

• Add a location: `/SunriseCoffeeNYC`
• Add a word for business/store/shop format: `/ShopSunriseCoffee`, `/SunriseCoffeeShop`
• Add a Call to Action or a descriptive term: `/VisitSunriseCoffee`, `/GetSunriseCoffee`
• Use an abbreviation: `/SCRoasters`
• Add "Official" or "HQ" to the end: `/SunriseCoffeeOfficial` or `/SunriseCoffeeHQ`

4. Keep it Easy to Remember and Spell

Avoid complicated spellings, internal jargon, or a long string of keywords. It must be easy for someone to type quickly and accurately. Think about how it sounds when spoken aloud.

5. Avoid Using Numbers and Periods if Possible

For example, while `/BaySide.Plumber` works, it can be a bit clunky, and people may forget the dot. `/BaysidePlumber` looks simpler and flows more smoothly with your domain name and other social media handles.

6. Use Your Legal Name if it Aligns With Your Personal Brand

If you are promoting yourself as a real estate agent, writer, or artist, using your own name is a smart move. Your branding should revolve around something like `/JoeSmithRealtor`, not `/RealEstateKing4U`.

7. Think About the Future

MiamiBakeryGifts2023 might seem fine now, but it will look dated next year. Choose a name that can scale over time and allows room for growth so you don’t paint yourself into a corner.

Changing Your Facebook URL &, Common Problems

Stuck on an error message? Don't worry, it's a common issue. Here’s what most people encounter and what to do:

Can You Change your Facebook URL?

Yes, you can, but there's a catch. For both personal profiles and pages, Facebook has restrictions in place to keep usernames stable. While you can change it, you should aim to get it right the first time.

What happens to my old Username?

When you successfully change your username, the old URL is immediately released. Anyone else could then register it for themselves. This means your former URL is not forwarded and will show an error page stating that the page does not exist.

Common Error Messages and What They Mean

• "This username isn't available." This simply means someone else has already claimed the name. Go back to your list of variations and try a different option.
• "This name isn't eligible to be a username." This can occur for several reasons. Your page might be too new (though this is rare now), or more commonly, the chosen name violates Facebook's policies. The name might contain generic words ("coffee"), be a registered trademark you don't own, or it's considered too long or abusive.

Final Thoughts

Securing a custom Facebook URL isn't a complicated task, but it has a significant impact on how professionally your brand is perceived. It transforms your link from a mess of numbers into a memorable and shareable asset.

Once you have professional URLs and handles, the next step is maintaining a consistent content schedule. We built Postbase out of our own frustration with clunky scheduling tools that felt like they were from a different era. While managing social accounts, we realized that scheduling video content, like Reels and TikToks, was often an afterthought for many platforms. That led us to create a tool designed for today’s workflows - one that prioritizes short-form video and provides a single inbox for all your community management and conversations. You can finally get your time back.