You can change your Facebook username once every 60 days through your settings

Facebook lets you pick a custom username — the short web address people use to find your profile, like facebook.com/yourname. You can change it whenever you want, but Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between changes. The process takes about two minutes and happens entirely in your account settings.

Your username is different from your display name. Your display name is what appears on your posts and comments, and you can change that as often as you like. Your username is the permanent-ish web address, and that's what has the 60-day rule.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your username once every 60 days, and the change takes effect immediately.
  • Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then scroll to Personal Information and select Username.
  • Your new username must be between 5 and 50 characters and can include letters, numbers, periods, and underscores.
  • If someone else has already claimed the username you want, you will need to pick a different one.
  • Changing your username does not affect your display name, profile picture, or any of your posts or messages.

Step-by-step: changing your username on desktop

Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner. Select Settings and Privacy, then click Settings. On the left side, you will see a menu — scroll down until you find Personal Information and click it.

Look for the Username field. Click the pencil icon next to it to edit. Type your new username in the box that appears. Facebook will tell you right away if the username is taken or if it breaks their rules (for example, usernames cannot contain certain words or be impersonations of public figures). If your choice is available, click the checkmark to save it.

The change is live immediately. Your old username stops working, and anyone who tries to visit your old profile link will be redirected to your new one — but only for a limited time. After a while, the old link may not redirect anymore, so update your profile link anywhere you have shared it publicly.

Changing your username on the Facebook app

Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll to Personal Information and tap Username.

Tap the pencil icon next to your current username. Type your new username and tap Save. The same rules apply: it must be available, between 5 and 50 characters, and follow Facebook's naming guidelines. Once you confirm, the change takes effect immediately.

Rules for choosing a new username

Your username must be between 5 and 50 characters long. You can use letters (a–z, A–Z), numbers (0–9), periods, and underscores. You cannot use spaces, special characters like @ or #, or most punctuation marks. Facebook will reject usernames that look like impersonations of celebrities, politicians, or public figures, even if you add numbers or underscores to them.

Usernames cannot contain certain words that Facebook flags as offensive or misleading. If you try a username and Facebook says it is not available, either someone else has claimed it or it violates their naming policy. Try a variation — adding a number, a period, or an underscore usually works.

What happens to your old username

When you change your username, your old one becomes available for someone else to claim after a short period. Facebook does not hold it for you. If you think you might want to go back to an old username later, you will have to wait until it is released and then claim it again before someone else does.

Any links you shared that pointed to your old username will redirect to your new one for a while, but this redirect is temporary. If you have your Facebook profile linked on a website, in an email signature, or in social media bios, update those links to your new username so they do not break later.

Troubleshooting: username not available or rejected

If Facebook says your chosen username is not available, someone else has already claimed it. Try adding a number at the end, using an underscore or period in the middle, or picking a different name altogether. Usernames are first-come, first-served, and Facebook does not have a waitlist or reservation system.

If Facebook rejects your username without saying it is taken, it likely violates their naming policy. This usually means it looks like an impersonation, contains flagged words, or does not meet the character requirements. Read Facebook's message carefully — it often tells you what the problem is. Try a different variation and submit again.

The 60-day waiting period between changes

After you change your username, you cannot change it again for 60 days. This rule applies even if you want to change it back to your old username or to something completely different. The timer starts the moment you confirm your new username, not when you first try to change it.

If you make a mistake and pick a username you do not like, you are stuck with it for two months. Think through your choice before you confirm. Once you hit that checkmark or Save button, the change is locked in until the 60-day window closes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my username affect my display name?

No. Your username and display name are separate. Your display name is what people see on your posts and comments, and you can change it as often as you want. Changing your username does not touch your display name at all.

Will my messages or posts disappear if I change my username?

No. All your messages, posts, photos, and comments stay exactly where they are. Changing your username is purely cosmetic — it only changes the web address people use to find your profile.

Can I change my username back to what it was before?

Only if no one else has claimed it in the meantime. Usernames are first-come, first-served. If someone else took your old username, you cannot use it again unless they change theirs. You can always try to claim it again after your 60-day waiting period ends.

What if I see someone impersonating me with a similar username?

Report the account to Facebook. Go to their profile, click the three dots in the top right, and select Report. Choose Impersonation and follow the prompts. Facebook reviews impersonation reports and may remove the account or force the person to change their username.

Can I have spaces or special characters in my username?

No. Facebook only allows letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. Spaces, hyphens, @ symbols, and most other punctuation are not permitted. If you want to separate words, use a period or underscore instead.