Creating a Facebook Event: The Basic Process
To create a Facebook event, open Facebook on your computer or phone, click the "Events" icon in the left menu, then click "Create Event" and fill in the event name, date, time, and location. Facebook will walk you through adding a description, photo, and guest list. The whole process takes about five minutes, and your event goes live as soon as you finish — you can edit it anytime before or after the event happens.
The steps differ slightly between desktop and mobile, but the information you need to provide is the same. This guide covers both, so you can create your event wherever you are right now.
Key Takeaways
- Facebook events live in the Events section of the left menu on desktop, or under the menu icon on mobile — this is where you start every time.
- You must enter an event name, date, time, and location before Facebook will let you save, but description and photo are optional and can be added later.
- Choosing "Public" means anyone on Facebook can see and join your event; "Private" means only people you invite can see it.
- You can invite specific people by name, or share the event link so anyone interested can join without waiting for an invitation.
- After you create the event, you can change the date, time, location, or guest list at any point — changes notify people who have already joined.
Creating an Event on Desktop
Start by logging into Facebook on your computer. Look at the left side of the screen where you see your name, Friends, Groups, and other options. Scroll down until you find "Events" — it looks like a calendar icon. Click on it.
Once you are in the Events section, look for a button that says "Create Event" — it is usually at the top right of the page. Click it. A form will appear asking for the event name. Type in what you want to call your event: "Sarah's Birthday Party", "Book Club Meeting", "Community Cleanup Day", whatever it is. This field is required and Facebook will not let you move forward without it.
Next, you will see fields for date and time. Click on the date field and a calendar will pop up — select the day your event happens. Then click on the time field and enter what time it starts. Both are required. Below that is the location field: type in the street address, neighborhood, venue name, or city where the event takes place. If it is online only, you can type "Online" or leave it blank and add a link in the description later.
After you fill in those four fields, click "Next" or "Create Event" (the button name varies by which version of Facebook you are using). Facebook will then ask whether the event is "Public" or "Private". Public means anyone on Facebook can find it and join. Private means only people you specifically invite can see it. Choose whichever matches what you want, then click through to finish.
Creating an Event on Mobile
Open the Facebook app on your phone. At the bottom of the screen, you will see a menu with icons — one of them is three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu). Tap it. Scroll down until you see "Events" and tap it.
At the top of the Events page, look for a button that says "Create Event" or shows a plus sign (+). Tap it. The same form appears as on desktop: event name, date, time, and location. Fill in each field the same way you would on a computer. The keyboard will pop up automatically when you tap each field.
After you enter the basic information, tap "Next" to choose whether the event is Public or Private. Then tap "Create" to save it. Your event is now live and visible to whoever you set it to be visible to.
Adding a Description and Photo
Once your event is created, you can add more details. Go back to your event page (click on it from the Events list) and look for an "Edit" button or pencil icon. Click or tap it. You will now see additional fields beyond the basic four.
The description field is where you explain what the event is about, what people should bring, what to expect, or any other details. Type as much or as little as you want — this is optional, but helpful for guests. You can also add a photo by clicking "Add Photo" and uploading an image from your computer or phone. The photo appears at the top of your event page and makes it more visually interesting.
Other optional fields include a category (Birthday, Concert, Fundraiser, etc.), a ticket URL if you are selling tickets elsewhere, and a link to a website. Fill in whatever applies to your event, then click "Save Changes" at the bottom.
Inviting People to Your Event
There are two ways to invite people: by name, or by sharing a link. To invite by name, go to your event page and look for an "Invite" button or section. Click it. A search box will appear where you can type the names of people you want to invite. As you type, Facebook will suggest friends and contacts. Click on each person you want to invite, and they will receive an invitation notification.
To invite by link, click "Share" on your event page and copy the link that appears. You can then paste this link into a text message, email, group chat, or post it on your own timeline. Anyone who clicks the link can see the event and join without needing a personal invitation from you. This is useful if you want to invite a large group or people who are not yet your Facebook friends.
People who join your event will see it on their calendar and receive reminders as the date approaches. If you change the date, time, or location after people have joined, Facebook sends them a notification about the change.
Editing or Canceling Your Event
You can change almost anything about your event at any time. Go to your event page, click "Edit", and modify the name, date, time, location, description, photo, or privacy setting. When you save changes, everyone who has joined the event gets a notification that something has changed.
If you need to cancel the event entirely, click "Edit", then look for a "Cancel Event" or "Delete Event" option near the bottom of the form. Facebook will ask you to confirm, then the event disappears from everyone's calendar. You can also simply delete the event without sending a cancellation notice — the choice is yours.
If the event already happened, you can leave it on your page as a record, or delete it. There is no penalty for keeping past events visible — some people like to look back at photos and memories from old events.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
If you cannot find the Events section, make sure you are logged into Facebook. On desktop, scroll down the left menu — Events is usually near the bottom. On mobile, tap the three-line menu icon at the bottom right. If you still do not see it, try logging out and back in, or updating the Facebook app.
If the "Create Event" button is not showing up, you may not have permission to create events on that particular account. This is rare, but if it happens, try creating the event from a different device or browser. If the problem persists, contact Facebook support through the Help Center (look for the question mark icon in the top right of Facebook).
If you invited someone but they did not receive the notification, they may have notification settings turned off, or the invitation went to their "Other" folder. You can always share the event link directly with them instead, or invite them again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the event date or time after people have joined?
Yes. Go to your event page, click "Edit", change the date or time, and save. Everyone who has joined will get a notification that the event details have changed. They will still be marked as joined unless they choose to leave.
What is the difference between Public and Private events?
Public events show up in Facebook search and in the Events section for anyone to find and join. Private events only appear for people you specifically invite. You can change this setting anytime by editing the event.
Can I see who is coming to my event?
Yes. On your event page, look for a section that shows "Going", "Interested", or "Invited". Click on any of these to see the list of people in that category. You can also see who has declined or not responded yet.
What happens if I delete an event after people have joined?
The event disappears from everyone's calendar. They will not receive a notification unless you send a separate message. If you want people to know the event is canceled, use the "Cancel Event" option instead, which sends a cancellation notice.
Can I create an event for someone else?
You can create an event and invite someone as a co-host, but you cannot create an event directly on another person's page. You create it on your own page and then add them as a co-host by editing the event and looking for a "Co-hosts" or "Hosts" field.