How to change your Facebook email in three steps
You can change the email address on your Facebook account through your settings in about two minutes. Go to the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner of the app, or click the downward arrow in the top right on desktop. Select Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Tap or click Personal Information, then Email, and enter your new email address. Facebook will send a confirmation link to that new address — you must click it to complete the change.
The old email address stops working for Facebook login as soon as you confirm the new one. If you forget your password later, Facebook will send the reset link to your new email, so make sure it's an address you can access. You can add backup email addresses to your account if you want multiple ways to recover your account.
If you no longer have access to the email address currently on your account, the process is different — you'll need to use a phone number or trusted contact instead to regain access before you can change the email.
Key Takeaways
- The email change takes effect immediately after you click the confirmation link Facebook sends to your new address.
- Your old email address will no longer work to log in once the change is confirmed.
- You can add multiple backup email addresses to your account so you have more than one way to recover it if you forget your password.
- If you can't access your current email, you'll need to verify your identity using a phone number or trusted contact before changing it.
- The entire process happens in the Personal Information section of your account settings, whether you're on mobile or desktop.
Why you might want to change your Facebook email
People change their Facebook email for several reasons. You might have created your account with an old work email that you no longer use, or an email address you share with someone else. Switching to a personal email you check regularly makes it easier to receive notifications and password reset links when you need them.
If you're concerned about privacy, moving to a different email can help separate your Facebook activity from other accounts that use your old address. Some people also change their email when they want to use a new primary email across all their online accounts.
Step-by-step instructions for mobile and desktop
On iPhone or Android: Open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Tap Personal Information, then Email. Delete the current email and type your new one. Tap Save Changes. Facebook will send a confirmation email to your new address — open that email and click the confirmation link to finish.
On a computer: Click the downward arrow in the top right corner of Facebook. Select Settings & Privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal Information. Next to Email, click Edit. Type your new email address and click Save Changes. Check your new email inbox for the confirmation message and click the link inside it.
The confirmation link works for 24 hours. If you don't click it within that time, you'll need to start the process over. Once you confirm, your new email becomes active immediately.
What happens if you can't access your current email
If the email on your Facebook account no longer works — because you closed it, lost access to it, or it was compromised — you can't receive the confirmation link needed to change it. In this case, Facebook offers other ways to verify your identity.
Go to the login page and click Forgot Password? Facebook will ask if you want to search for your account by name or phone number. If you have a phone number on your account, select that option. Facebook will send a code to that phone, and after you enter it, you can reset your password and regain access. Once you're back in your account, you can change the email normally.
If you don't have a phone number on file, you can add a trusted contact — a friend whose account you've known for at least three months. That person can help you regain access by confirming your identity to Facebook. This process takes longer but works when other methods aren't available.
Adding backup email addresses to your account
Facebook lets you add more than one email address to your account. This gives you backup options if you forget your password or lose access to your primary email. To add a backup email, go to Settings, then Personal Information, then Email. Below your current email, you'll see an option to add another email address. Type it in and confirm it the same way — Facebook sends a confirmation link to that address.
You can have up to four email addresses on your account at once. Only one can be your primary email (the one Facebook uses to contact you), but you can use any of them to log in. If you add an email by mistake, you can remove it by going back to the same settings and clicking the X next to that address.
Troubleshooting common problems
If you don't see the confirmation email after changing your email, check your spam or junk folder first — sometimes confirmation emails get filtered there. If it's not there, wait a few minutes and refresh your inbox, as the email can take a moment to arrive. If you still don't see it after 10 minutes, go back to your Facebook settings and try entering the email address again.
If you get an error message saying the email is already in use, that email address is connected to another Facebook account. You can't use the same email for two accounts. You'll need to either use a different email or remove this email from the other account first.
If you change your email but then can't log in with the new one, make sure you clicked the confirmation link in the email Facebook sent you. The change doesn't take effect until you confirm it. Check your email again, including spam folders, and look for a message from Facebook with the subject line about confirming your email address.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my Facebook email on the mobile app and desktop differently?
No — the process is the same whether you use the app or a web browser. You go to Settings, then Personal Information, then Email, and enter your new address. The only difference is where you click to get there, since the mobile app and desktop site have different layouts. Either way, Facebook sends a confirmation link to your new email.
What if I want to change my email but keep the same password?
You can change your email without changing your password. The email and password are separate settings. Just follow the email change steps and leave your password alone. Your password stays the same, and you'll use it with your new email address to log in next time.
How long does it take for the email change to go through?
The change is instant once you click the confirmation link in the email Facebook sends you. That link works for 24 hours. If you don't confirm within 24 hours, you'll need to start over. After you confirm, you can log in with your new email right away.
Can I change my email back to the old one later?
Yes. You can change your email as many times as you want by going back to Settings and Personal Information. If you want to use an old email again, just enter it and confirm it the same way. Facebook will send a confirmation link to that address.
What if someone else has access to my Facebook account and changed the email?
If you suspect your account was hacked, go to the login page and click Forgot Password? Use your phone number or a trusted contact to regain access. Once you're back in, change your password immediately and check your Personal Information to see what email is listed. If it's not yours, change it back. You can also review your login activity in Settings to see where your account was accessed from.