You can change your birth date on Facebook, but Facebook limits how often you can do it

Facebook lets you change the birth date on your profile, but the platform restricts how frequently you can make changes. You can alter your birth date once every 60 days. If you need to change it more often than that, you will have to wait for the 60-day window to pass. The process itself takes less than a minute and happens entirely within your account settings.

The reason for this restriction is to prevent account takeovers. If someone gains unauthorized access to your account, they cannot repeatedly change your personal information to lock you out or cause confusion. This protection works in your favor if your account is ever compromised.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your birth date once every 60 days through your Facebook settings, and the change takes effect immediately.
  • Your birth date visibility depends on your privacy settings — you can hide it completely, show only the month and day, or display the full date.
  • If you have not changed your birth date in the past 60 days, you will see the option available in your personal information settings.
  • Changing your birth date does not affect your account security, login information, or any other account features.

How to change your birth date on Facebook

Step 1: Open Facebook and go to your profile. Click your profile picture in the top right corner (on desktop) or tap the menu icon at the bottom right (on mobile). Select your name to go to your profile page.

Step 2: Click or tap the "About" section. On desktop, this appears below your cover photo. On mobile, scroll down and tap "About". This section holds all your personal information.

Step 3: Find the "Basic Information" area. Scroll down until you see "Basic Information" listed on the left side (desktop) or as a section heading (mobile). Your birth date appears here.

Step 4: Click or tap next to your birth date. You will see a pencil icon or an edit button. Tap it to open the date editor. Facebook will show you the current date you have on file.

Step 5: Enter your new birth date. Use the dropdown menus to select the month, day, and year. Make sure you enter the correct information before moving forward.

Step 6: Click "Save" or tap the checkmark. Your new birth date saves immediately. You do not need to refresh the page — the change takes effect right away.

What to do if you cannot change your birth date

If you see a message saying you cannot change your birth date, you have likely already changed it within the past 60 days. Facebook enforces this waiting period strictly. Check when you last made the change by looking at your activity log or by trying again in a few weeks.

If you are certain you have not changed your birth date in 60 days but still cannot make the change, your account may have a restriction in place. This sometimes happens if Facebook detects unusual activity on your account. In this case, you can report the issue through Facebook's Help Center by going to Settings and Privacy, then Help Center, and searching for "change birth date".

How to control who sees your birth date

Changing your birth date is separate from controlling who can see it. You can have a birth date on your account but hide it from everyone, show only the month and day, or display the full date. This privacy setting is independent of the 60-day change restriction.

To adjust who sees your birth date, go to your About section and find your birth date. Click the privacy icon next to it (it looks like a globe, lock, or people icon depending on your current setting). Choose from "Public" (everyone sees it), "Friends" (only your friends see it), "Only Me" (you are the only one who sees it), or "Custom" (you pick specific people). Your choice takes effect immediately.

Why Facebook limits birth date changes

The 60-day restriction exists to protect your account from unauthorized changes. If someone gains access to your account without permission, they cannot repeatedly change your birth date to confuse you or lock you out. This is the same reason Facebook limits other major account changes, like email address or phone number updates.

The restriction also helps Facebook detect account takeovers. If your account suddenly shows multiple birth date changes in a short period, Facebook's security systems flag it as suspicious activity and may lock your account until you verify your identity.

What happens after you change your birth date

Changing your birth date does not affect your login information, password, or any other account security settings. You will not be logged out, and you will not need to re-enter your password. Your friends list, messages, photos, and all other account content remain exactly as they were.

If your birth date was visible to others before the change, your new birth date will be visible to the same people (depending on your privacy settings). If you had your birth date hidden, it will remain hidden. The change is purely informational and does not trigger any notifications to your friends or followers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my birth date more than once every 60 days?

No. Facebook enforces a strict 60-day waiting period between birth date changes. If you need to change it again, you must wait until 60 days have passed since your last change. There is no way to bypass this restriction or request an exception.

What if I entered my birth date wrong when I created my account?

You can change it the same way you would change it now — through your About section. If you have never changed it before, you can do so immediately. The 60-day restriction only applies to subsequent changes after the first one.

Does changing my birth date affect my age on Facebook Marketplace or other Facebook services?

Yes. Your birth date is tied to your entire Facebook account, so changing it updates your age across all Facebook services, including Marketplace, Instagram (if linked), and any other Meta products connected to your account. Some services may have age restrictions, so changing your birth date could affect what you can access.

Will my friends be notified if I change my birth date?

No. Changing your birth date does not send notifications to your friends or appear in their news feeds. The change is silent unless your friends happen to visit your profile and notice the difference.

Can I delete my birth date instead of changing it?

Yes. In the same privacy menu where you control who sees your birth date, you can set it to "Only Me" so that no one else can see it. You can also remove the birth date entirely by going to your About section and deleting the information, though Facebook may ask you to provide it again for account verification purposes.