Change your password from Facebook's settings menu

To change your Facebook password, go to the Settings & Privacy menu, select Settings, then find the Password section under Security and Login. Click Edit next to your current password, enter your existing password to verify your identity, then type your new password twice and save the change. The whole process takes about two minutes.

Facebook will log you out of all active sessions on other devices after you change your password, so you may need to log back in on your phone, tablet, or computer. This is intentional — it protects your account if someone else had access to it.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your password anytime from Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login > Password.
  • Facebook requires you to enter your current password before setting a new one, so you must remember it to make the change yourself.
  • After you change your password, you will be logged out everywhere and must sign back in on each device.
  • If you forget your password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the login screen to reset it using your email or phone number instead.

Step-by-step instructions for desktop

Open Facebook in your web browser and click the downward arrow in the top right corner. Select Settings & Privacy, then click Settings. On the left side, click Security and Login. Scroll down to find the Password section, which shows when you last changed it.

Click Edit next to Password. Facebook will ask you to enter your current password — type it in and click Continue. Now type your new password in both fields (Facebook requires you to type it twice so you do not make a typo). Click Save Changes. You will see a confirmation message, and Facebook will log you out of all other sessions.

Step-by-step instructions for mobile app

Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings. Tap Security and Login. Scroll to the Password section and tap Edit.

Enter your current password and tap Continue. Type your new password in both fields, then tap Save Changes. Like the desktop version, you will be logged out of all active sessions after the change takes effect.

What to do if you forgot your current password

If you cannot remember your current password, you cannot use the Settings menu to change it — Facebook requires the old password as proof you own the account. Instead, go to the Facebook login page and click Forgot Password. Enter your email address or phone number associated with your account.

Facebook will send you a link to reset your password. Click the link in your email or text message, then create a new password. This process works even if you have not logged in for months. After you reset your password, you can log back in and change it again using the Settings menu if you want a different one.

How to create a strong new password

A strong password is at least 12 characters long and includes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using your name, birthday, or common words that appear in the dictionary. Do not reuse a password from another account — if one site gets hacked, attackers will try that same password on Facebook.

Consider using a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or the password manager built into your phone's operating system. These tools generate random passwords and remember them for you, so you only need to remember one master password. Facebook will accept any combination of characters as long as it is at least 6 characters, but longer and more random is safer.

Signing back in after you change your password

After you change your password, Facebook automatically logs you out of every device where you were signed in. This includes your phone, tablet, computer, and any other place you use Facebook. You will need to sign back in on each device using your new password.

If you have Facebook Messenger installed separately from the main app, you will need to sign back into Messenger as well. The same new password works for both. If you use Facebook to log into other apps or websites (the "Log in with Facebook" button), those apps will not automatically log you out — you can keep using them without re-entering your password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my password without knowing my current one?

No, the Settings menu requires your current password. If you forgot it, use the Forgot Password link on the login screen instead. That process sends a reset link to your email or phone, and you can create a new password without entering the old one.

Will changing my password log me out of Messenger?

Yes, you will be logged out of Messenger on all devices. Sign back in using your new password. If you use Messenger on your phone and computer, you will need to log in on both.

What if I change my password and then forget the new one?

Use the Forgot Password link on the login screen. Facebook will send a reset link to your email or phone number. You can create another new password without needing to remember the previous one.

Does changing my password affect my Facebook login on other websites?

No. If you use "Log in with Facebook" on other apps or websites, those logins will continue to work. You only need to change your password on those sites if you want to use a different login method.

How often should I change my Facebook password?

Change it if you think someone else might know it, if you used the same password on another site that got hacked, or if you have not changed it in over a year. You do not need to change it every month — a strong, unique password that you keep private is more important than how often you change it.