You can change your date of birth in Facebook settings, but Facebook limits how often you can do it

To change your date of birth on Facebook, go to your profile, click the three-line menu icon, select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." Under "Personal information," click "Date of birth" and enter the new date. Facebook will ask you to confirm the change. The process takes about two minutes.

Facebook restricts how many times you can change your date of birth — you can do it once every 60 days. If you try to change it more frequently, you'll see a message saying you must wait until a specific date. This limit exists because Facebook uses your date of birth to verify your identity and prevent fraud.

Your date of birth on Facebook controls what age-restricted content you can see and whether your birthday appears on your friends' calendars. If you set it to a date that makes you under 18, Facebook will restrict your access to certain features like ad targeting options and some third-party apps.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your date of birth through Settings and privacy > Settings > Personal information > Date of birth on any device.
  • Facebook limits date of birth changes to once every 60 days to prevent fraud and account takeovers.
  • If you set your age to under 18, Facebook automatically restricts features like ad targeting and some app integrations.
  • If you cannot remember your current date of birth on file, you may need to use your government ID to verify your identity before changing it.

Step-by-step instructions for desktop and mobile

On desktop: Log into Facebook and click the three-line menu icon in the top right corner. Select "Settings and privacy," then click "Settings." On the left sidebar, click "Personal information." Find "Date of birth" and click it. Enter your new date using the dropdown menus for month, day, and year. Click "Save changes." Facebook will send you a confirmation message.

On mobile (iPhone or Android): Open the Facebook app and tap the three-line menu icon at the bottom right. Scroll down and tap "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." Tap "Personal information." Tap "Date of birth." Use the date picker to select your new date. Tap "Save" or "Done" depending on your device. You'll receive a confirmation that the change went through.

If you see an error message saying you cannot change your date of birth yet, you have hit the 60-day limit. Facebook will tell you the exact date when you can change it again. You cannot bypass this restriction.

What happens if you enter the wrong date of birth

If you entered an incorrect date of birth when you created your account and want to fix it, you can change it using the same steps above — as long as you have not changed it in the past 60 days. If you have already changed it recently, you will need to wait for the 60-day window to pass.

If Facebook suspects you are lying about your age to access age-restricted features, the platform may ask you to verify your identity with a government ID. This happens most often when someone sets their age to under 18 after previously claiming to be an adult. Facebook uses this verification to prevent minors from accessing adult content and to comply with laws like COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) in the United States.

Why Facebook limits date of birth changes

The 60-day restriction exists because your date of birth is one of the pieces of information Facebook uses to confirm you are who you say you are. If someone gains access to your account, one of the first things they might do is change your date of birth to lock you out or hide their activity. By limiting changes, Facebook makes it harder for a hacker to take over your account without you noticing.

Your date of birth also connects to your payment methods and ad account settings. If you run ads on Facebook or use Facebook Pay, changing your date of birth too frequently can trigger security reviews that temporarily lock those features.

If you cannot access your date of birth setting

Some older Facebook accounts do not have a date of birth on file at all, especially if you created your account before Facebook made the field mandatory. If you cannot find the date of birth option in your Personal information section, you may need to add one for the first time. Click "Add" instead of "Edit," and Facebook will let you enter a date without the 60-day restriction.

If you see a message saying "You cannot change this information," your account may have been flagged for suspicious activity. This usually happens if Facebook detected multiple rapid changes to your profile or if you recently recovered your account after a security breach. In this case, you may need to wait 24 to 48 hours before trying again, or contact Facebook through the Help Center to explain the situation.

How your date of birth affects your privacy and ad targeting

Facebook uses your date of birth to determine which ads you see and which features are available to you. If you are under 18, Facebook automatically turns off certain targeting options that advertisers can use — for example, advertisers cannot target you based on your relationship status or purchase history. This is required by law in many countries.

Your birthday also appears on your friends' calendars unless you hide it. To control who sees your birthday, go to your profile, click "About," find "Birthday," and use the privacy dropdown to choose "Only me," "Friends," or "Public." Changing your date of birth does not automatically change these privacy settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my date of birth if I do not remember what I put when I signed up?

Yes. Go to Settings > Personal information > Date of birth and enter the correct date. If Facebook asks you to verify your identity with a government ID, it means the system flagged the change as suspicious. Upload a photo of your ID and Facebook will review it within a few days.

What if I set my age to under 18 by mistake?

Change it back using the same steps. If you change it back to over 18 within a few days, Facebook usually does not require ID verification. If you wait longer, Facebook may ask you to prove your age with a government ID before restoring your full account access.

Does changing my date of birth affect my friends list or messages?

No. Changing your date of birth does not delete or hide any of your messages, photos, or friends. It only affects which features and ads are available to you going forward.

Why does Facebook say I have to wait 60 days?

Facebook limits date of birth changes to prevent account takeovers. If someone hacks your account, they cannot quickly change your age to hide their activity or lock you out. The 60-day window gives you time to notice and report suspicious changes.

Can I hide my birthday from appearing on Facebook?

Yes. Go to your profile, click "About," find "Birthday," and click the privacy icon next to it. Choose "Only me" to hide it from everyone, or "Friends" to show it only to people on your friends list.