You can change your birthdate on Facebook, but the process depends on how old your account is and what you changed before

Facebook lets you edit your birthdate in your profile settings, but the platform limits how often you can make the change. If your account is less than 60 days old, you can change your birthdate as many times as you want. Once your account reaches 60 days old, you can change it only once per year. If you've already used your one yearly change, you'll have to wait until the anniversary date passes before you can update it again.

The birthdate field itself is separate from your age range setting. Your actual birthdate is visible only to you and people you've given permission to see it — it doesn't appear on your public profile unless you choose to make it visible. This matters because some people change their birthdate to hide their age from others, while some need to correct an error they made when signing up.

Key Takeaways

  • New Facebook accounts can change their birthdate as many times as needed, but accounts older than 60 days are limited to one change per year.
  • Your birthdate is private by default and visible only to you unless you adjust your privacy settings to show it on your profile.
  • To change your birthdate, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, then edit the date field.
  • If you've already used your yearly change, you must wait until the same date next year to make another change.
  • Changing your birthdate does not affect your account security or login information.

How to change your birthdate step by step

Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner of your screen. Select Settings and Privacy, then click Settings. On the left side of the page, click Personal Information. You'll see a section labeled Basic Information — click the pencil icon next to your birthdate to edit it.

A box will pop up showing your current birthdate. Click on the month, day, or year field to change it. Enter the correct date and click Save Changes. Facebook will confirm the change immediately. If you're on a mobile device, the steps are the same but the menu layout may look slightly different — tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right instead of the arrow at the top.

What happens if you've already used your yearly change

If your account is older than 60 days and you've already changed your birthdate once this year, Facebook will show you a message saying you can't change it again until the same date next year. There is no way to bypass this limit or request an exception through Facebook's support system.

If you made a mistake and need to correct your birthdate urgently, your only option is to contact Facebook through their Help Center and explain the situation. Facebook rarely overrides the one-change-per-year rule, but they may make an exception if you can show that the original birthdate was entered incorrectly due to a technical error on Facebook's side, not a user mistake. Even then, approval is not may provide.

Privacy settings for your birthdate

By default, your birthdate is visible only to you. To check or change who can see it, go back to Personal Information and look for the privacy icon next to your birthdate — it usually shows a lock or a circle with lines. Click it to see options like Only Me, Friends, or Public. Choose whichever setting matches what you want.

If you set your birthdate to Public, it will appear on your profile for anyone to see, including people who aren't your friends. Some people do this so friends can see when their birthday is coming up, but it also means strangers can see your age. You can change this setting as often as you want — the one-change-per-year limit applies only to the actual date itself, not to the privacy level.

Why Facebook limits birthdate changes

Facebook restricts birthdate changes to prevent account takeovers and fraud. If someone gains access to your account, changing your birthdate is one way they might try to lock you out of account recovery options or hide evidence of unauthorized access. By limiting changes to once per year on older accounts, Facebook makes it harder for someone else to alter your account details without your knowledge.

The 60-day window for unlimited changes exists because new accounts are still being set up — people often make mistakes when first signing up and need to correct them quickly. After 60 days, Facebook assumes your account information is stable and applies the stricter rule.

What to do if you can't remember your birthdate

If you entered a birthdate when you created your account but can't remember what you put in, you can see it by going to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Personal Information. Your current birthdate will be displayed there. Write it down before you decide whether you need to change it.

If the date shown is wrong and you've already used your yearly change, you'll need to wait until next year to fix it, unless Facebook approves an exception. In the meantime, you can adjust your privacy settings so the incorrect birthdate is hidden from your profile and visible only to you.

Birthdate changes and Facebook features

Changing your birthdate may affect certain Facebook features. If you're under 18, Facebook restricts who can contact you and what ads you see. If you change your birthdate from under 18 to 18 or older, those restrictions will lift. Similarly, if you change it the other way, restrictions will apply. This happens automatically and you don't need to do anything.

Your birthdate also controls whether Facebook shows birthday reminders to your friends. If you set your birthdate to Public or Friends, people on your friends list will get a notification when your birthday arrives. Changing the date will change when those reminders go out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my birthdate more than once per year if my account is older than 60 days?

No. Once your account is 60 days old, you can change your birthdate only once every 12 months. After you make a change, you must wait until the same date next year to make another change. Facebook does not offer exceptions to this rule in most cases.

Will changing my birthdate affect my login information or password?

No. Your birthdate is separate from your login credentials. Changing it will not affect your password, email, phone number, or any security settings. You'll still log in the same way you always have.

What if I entered my birthdate wrong when I created my account?

If your account is less than 60 days old, you can change it immediately by going to Settings > Personal Information and editing the date. If your account is older than 60 days and you've already used your yearly change, you'll have to wait until next year. In the meantime, you can hide the incorrect date from your profile by changing its privacy setting to Only Me.

Can other people see my birthdate on my profile?

Only if you set it to be visible. By default, your birthdate is private and visible only to you. To let others see it, go to Personal Information, click the privacy icon next to your birthdate, and select Friends or Public. You can change this setting as often as you want.

What happens if I try to change my birthdate and get an error message?

If Facebook shows an error, try refreshing the page and attempting the change again. If the error persists, clear your browser's cache and cookies, then try again. If you still can't change it and you're certain you haven't used your yearly change yet, contact Facebook's Help Center to report the technical issue.