The quickest way to change your Facebook email

Go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal Information. Find the Email row and click next to it. Type your new email address, then click Change Email. Facebook will send a confirmation link to that new address — click the link within 24 hours to finish the change.

Your old email stops working for Facebook login as soon as you confirm the new one. If you don't click the confirmation link within 24 hours, the change cancels and your old email stays active. You can start the process over if that happens.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your email through Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Email, not through a separate account or security page.
  • Facebook sends a confirmation link to your new email address, and you must click it within 24 hours or the change does not go through.
  • Your old email address stops working for login immediately after you confirm the new one, so make sure you have access to the new address first.
  • If you no longer have access to your old email, you can use a phone number or recovery email to verify your identity instead.

What happens if you can't access your old email

If your old email account is closed or you no longer have access to it, Facebook can still let you change the address — but you'll need to prove you own the account. Click "Can't access this email?" on the email change screen. Facebook will ask you to verify your identity using a phone number on file, a recovery email you set up earlier, or answers to security questions you created.

This verification step can take a few minutes or a few hours depending on which method you choose. A code sent to your phone is usually fastest. Once Facebook confirms you own the account, you can change to your new email without needing the old one.

Using a phone number instead of an email

You don't have to use an email address to log into Facebook at all. In the same Personal Information section, you can add a phone number and use that for login instead. Some people do this when they're switching email providers and want to avoid the confirmation step entirely.

If you add a phone number, you can still keep an email on file for password resets and account recovery — Facebook just won't require it for everyday login. You can have both an email and a phone number active at the same time.

What to do before you change your email

Make sure you can actually receive emails at the new address before you start. Check that it's not going to spam, and send yourself a test message if you're unsure. If the confirmation link lands in spam and you don't see it, the change will time out after 24 hours.

If you use your Facebook email to log into other apps or services — like Instagram, Messenger, or games — those won't automatically update. You'll need to change the email in each app separately, or use your phone number to log in instead if the app supports it. Write down which services use your old Facebook email so you don't forget any.

If you accidentally confirmed the wrong email

You can change it again immediately. Go back to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Email and repeat the process with the correct address. There's no limit to how many times you can change your email, so don't worry about making a mistake.

If you confirmed an email that belongs to someone else by accident, change it back to your own email or a phone number right away. Someone with access to that email address could use it to reset your password and lock you out of your account.

Recovering your account if you lose access to both

If you change your email and then lose access to the new one before confirming, or if you confirm it and then lose access, you can still recover your account. Use Facebook's account recovery tool at facebook.com/login/identify. You'll be asked to identify yourself using a photo ID, and Facebook will walk you through regaining access.

This process is slower than a normal email change — it can take several days — but it works even if you have no active email or phone number on file. Keep a photo ID handy if you think you might need this step.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my email on the Facebook app instead of the website?

Yes. On the app, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right, scroll to Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Tap Personal Information and find Email. The process is the same as on the website.

What if I don't get the confirmation email?

Check your spam or promotions folder first. If it's not there, wait a few minutes and try again — sometimes the email takes a moment to arrive. If you still don't see it after 10 minutes, you can start the change process over. The old attempt will expire after 24 hours.

Do I need to change my password when I change my email?

No. Your password stays the same. You'll just use your new email address to log in instead of the old one. If you want to change your password at the same time, you can do that in the Password section of Settings, but it's not required.

Will my friends see my new email address?

No. Your email address is private and only you can see it in your settings. Your friends cannot view it on your profile or anywhere else on Facebook, even if they try to look.