Add a new email to your Facebook account in three steps
You can add a second email address to your Facebook account, change your primary email, or remove an old one from your account settings. Facebook lets you keep multiple email addresses linked to the same account, which is useful if you've switched email providers or want a backup way to log in. The process takes less than five minutes and you don't need to create a new account.
You'll need access to the email address you want to add — Facebook will send a confirmation message to it before the change takes effect. If you're adding an email you no longer have access to, you can skip the confirmation step, but Facebook may ask you to verify your identity another way later.
Key Takeaways
- You can add a second email to your existing Facebook account without creating a new profile or losing any of your data, friends, or posts.
- Facebook sends a confirmation message to any new email address you add, so you need access to that inbox to complete the process.
- Your primary email is the one Facebook uses to send you notifications and password reset links, and you can change which email is primary at any time.
- If you no longer have access to an old email address, you can remove it from your account without confirming the removal.
How to add an email address on a computer
Open Facebook in your web browser and log in to your account. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner of the page — this opens a menu with your account options. Select "Settings and privacy," then click "Settings."
On the left side of the page, click "Personal information." You'll see a section labeled "Email addresses" with your current email listed. Click "Add email" and type the new email address into the box that appears. Click "Add" to confirm.
Facebook will send a confirmation message to the new email address. Open that email and click the link inside it to verify the address. Once you click the link, the new email is active on your account. If you want this new email to be your primary email — the one Facebook uses for notifications and password resets — go back to Settings, find the email address, and click "Make primary."
How to add an email address on your phone
Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap "Settings and privacy," then tap "Settings." Tap "Personal information" and look for "Email addresses."
Tap "Add email" and enter the new email address. Tap "Add" when you're done. Check the email inbox for a confirmation message from Facebook and tap the link inside it. The new email is now connected to your account.
To make this email your primary email on your phone, go back to Settings, tap Personal information, find the email address in the list, and tap "Make primary."
What to do if you can't access the confirmation email
If you added an email address but can't find the confirmation message, check your spam or junk folder first — confirmation emails sometimes end up there by mistake. Search for "facebook" or "confirm" in your email to find it faster.
If the email never arrived, go back to your Facebook settings, find the unconfirmed email address, and click or tap "Resend confirmation." Facebook will send another copy of the message. Wait a few minutes before checking your inbox again, as the message can take time to arrive.
If you still don't receive it, the email address you entered may be incorrect. Delete the unconfirmed email from your Facebook settings and try adding it again, checking carefully for typos.
How to remove an old email address
Go to Settings and Personal information, just as you would to add an email. Find the email address you want to remove in the "Email addresses" section. Click or tap the X button next to it, then confirm the removal when Facebook asks.
You cannot remove your primary email address — the one Facebook uses for notifications and password resets. If you want to remove an email that's currently set as primary, first make a different email your primary email, then remove the old one.
If you're removing an email address you no longer have access to, you don't need to confirm anything. The removal happens immediately.
How to change your primary email
Your primary email is the address Facebook uses to send you notifications, password reset links, and security alerts. You can change which email is primary at any time, as long as you have at least two email addresses on your account.
Go to Settings and Personal information. In the "Email addresses" section, find the email you want to make primary. Click or tap "Make primary" next to it. The change takes effect immediately. Facebook will now send all notifications and account recovery messages to this email instead of your old primary email.
Troubleshooting common problems
If Facebook won't let you add an email, the address may already be connected to a different Facebook account. Each email can only be linked to one account. If you've created multiple Facebook accounts over the years, try adding an email you know you haven't used before.
If you see an error message saying the email is invalid, check for typos — common mistakes include missing the dot in ".com" or adding an extra space at the beginning or end. Copy and paste the email address from your email provider if you're unsure.
If you changed your email address with your email provider but Facebook still shows the old one, you need to add the new email address to Facebook separately. Changing your email with Gmail, Outlook, or another provider doesn't automatically update it on Facebook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the same email for multiple Facebook accounts?
No. Each email address can only be connected to one Facebook account. If you try to add an email that's already linked to another account, Facebook will show an error. You'll need to remove it from the other account first, or use a different email address.
What happens if I forget my password and can't access my primary email?
If you have a second email address on your account, Facebook can send a password reset link to that email instead. During the password reset process, Facebook will show you all the email addresses on your account and let you choose which one to use.
Do I need to confirm a new email address right away?
You can add an email without confirming it immediately, but Facebook may ask you to verify your identity later for security reasons. It's faster to confirm the email when you add it, since you'll have the confirmation message in front of you.
Can I remove all email addresses from my Facebook account?
No. Facebook requires at least one confirmed email address on every account. You can remove old emails, but you must keep at least one active email connected to your account at all times.
If I add an email and then delete it from my email provider, what happens to my Facebook account?
Your Facebook account stays active and the email remains linked to it. You just won't be able to receive messages sent to that address. If it's your primary email, you should make a different email primary before deleting the old one from your email provider.