Change your email in Facebook settings in three steps

You can change the email address on your Facebook account by going to your settings, finding the email field, and entering a new address. Facebook will send a confirmation link to that new email before the change takes effect. The whole process takes about five minutes, and you can do it from a computer or phone.

You do not need to know your old password to change your email. You will need access to whichever email address you are switching to — Facebook sends a confirmation code there, and you must click the link or enter the code to finish the change.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information to find your email field on Facebook.
  • Facebook sends a confirmation link to your new email address, and you must click it within a set time for the change to stick.
  • If you no longer have access to your old email, you can still change it by using a phone number or other recovery method instead.
  • You can add multiple email addresses to your account so Facebook can use any of them to let you log in.
  • If you are locked out of your account, use the "Find Your Account" tool on the Facebook login page rather than trying to change your email first.

Steps to change your email on a computer

Open Facebook in a web browser and log in if you are not already. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner of the screen — this opens a menu with your account options.

Select Settings & Privacy, then click Settings. On the left side, you will see a menu. Click Personal Information. You should now see a section labeled Email with your current email address listed.

Click the pencil icon or the word Edit next to your email address. A box will appear where you can type a new email. Enter the email address you want to use, then click Save Changes. Facebook will send a confirmation link to that new email address.

Go to the new email account and look for a message from Facebook. Open the email and click the confirmation link. This link usually stays valid for 24 hours. Once you click it, your email address on Facebook is updated.

Steps to change your email on a phone or tablet

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

Scroll down to Personal Information and tap it. You will see your email address listed. Tap the pencil icon next to it to edit. Type your new email address in the box that appears.

Tap Save Changes or Done depending on your phone's version of the app. Facebook will send a confirmation email to your new address. Open that email on your phone or computer and click the confirmation link to complete the change.

What to do if you cannot access your old email

If your old email account no longer exists or you cannot log into it, you can still change your Facebook email. Go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information. Click Edit next to your email address.

Instead of entering a new email, look for an option that says Can't access this email? or Need help? Click this link. Facebook will ask you to verify your identity using a phone number, a photo ID, or another recovery method you set up previously. Once you verify who you are, you can change your email without needing the old one.

If you set up a phone number on your account in the past, Facebook may let you use that to confirm the change instead. This is faster than uploading an ID.

Adding multiple email addresses to your account

Facebook lets you add more than one email address to the same account. This means you can log in using any of those emails, and Facebook can contact you at any of them. To add a second email, go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information.

Next to your email field, look for a link that says Add Email or Add Another Email. Type the new email address and click Save Changes. Facebook will send a confirmation link to that address. Click the link to confirm it.

You can have up to four email addresses on one Facebook account. If you want to remove an old email later, go back to the same screen, find the email you want to delete, and click the X or Remove button next to it.

What happens after you change your email

Once you confirm your new email address, Facebook updates your account immediately. You can now log in using the new email instead of the old one. If you had the old email saved in your browser or phone, you may need to update those saved passwords so you do not get stuck on the login screen.

Facebook will not send you notifications at your old email address anymore. All future emails from Facebook — password resets, login alerts, friend requests — will go to your new address. If you are switching because your old email is compromised or you no longer use it, this is a good security step.

Troubleshooting common problems

If you do not see a confirmation email from Facebook after changing your email, check your spam or junk folder. Sometimes the confirmation message gets filtered by mistake. If it is not there, go back to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, and try entering the email again.

If you see an error message saying the email is already in use, that email address is connected to another Facebook account. You cannot use the same email for two accounts. You will need to either use a different email or remove that email from the other account first.

If you are trying to change your email but the Save Changes button does not work, try logging out and logging back in. Sometimes a browser glitch prevents the button from responding. If the problem continues, try using a different browser or the Facebook app instead of the website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my email without confirming the old one?

No. Facebook requires you to confirm your new email by clicking a link sent to that address. This is a security measure to make sure someone else is not trying to take over your account. The confirmation link usually arrives within a few minutes.

What if I change my email but then want to change it back?

You can change your email as many times as you want. Just go back to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, and repeat the process with your old email address. Facebook will send a new confirmation link to that address.

Will changing my email log me out of Facebook?

No. You will stay logged in while you change your email. The change does not affect your current session. However, if you log out and try to log back in, you will need to use your new email address instead of the old one.

Can I use a work email or school email on Facebook?

Yes. You can use any email address you have access to, including work emails and school emails. Just make sure you have permission to use that email for personal accounts, since some workplaces have policies about this.

What if I forgot my password and cannot log in to change my email?

Use the Forgot Password link on the Facebook login page. Enter your current email address or phone number, and Facebook will send you a password reset link. Once you reset your password and log back in, you can change your email normally.