Creating a Facebook account takes about five minutes and requires only an email address or phone number

To make a new Facebook account, go to facebook.com on any web browser or open the Facebook app on your phone. Click the "Create New Facebook Account" button on the login page. Facebook will ask for your name, email or phone number, password, birth date, and gender. After you fill in these fields and click "Sign Up", Facebook sends a confirmation code to your email or phone — enter that code to finish.

The whole process is free. You do not need a credit card, and Facebook will not charge you to use the basic account. Once your account is set up, you can add a profile picture, write a bio, and start connecting with people you know.

Key Takeaways

  • You need only an email address or phone number, a password, and your birth date to create an account.
  • Facebook will send a confirmation code to verify your email or phone number before your account becomes active.
  • Your name on Facebook does not have to match your legal name exactly, but Facebook does ask you to use the name you go by in everyday life.
  • You can set your privacy settings after you sign up to control who sees your posts and profile information.

Step-by-step: Creating your account on a computer

Open any web browser and go to facebook.com. On the login page, you will see a blue button that says "Create New Facebook Account" — click it. A small window will pop up with fields to fill in.

Enter your first and last name in the top two boxes. Use the name you go by in real life; Facebook asks for this so your friends can find you. Next, enter your email address or phone number in the "Email or phone number" field. If you use a phone number, include the country code (for the United States, that is +1).

Create a password in the "New password" field. Make it something you can remember but that is not easy to guess — avoid birthdays, pet names, or simple sequences like "123456". Click the dropdown menus to enter your birth date (month, day, year) and select your gender. Then click "Sign Up".

Facebook will send a confirmation code to the email address or phone number you entered. Check your email inbox or text messages for a message from Facebook. Copy the code and paste it into the box Facebook shows you. Your account is now active.

Step-by-step: Creating your account on a phone

Open the Facebook app (if you do not have it, download it from the App Store on iPhone or Google Play on Android). On the login screen, tap "Create New Facebook Account". The same form will appear on your phone screen.

Fill in your name, email or phone number, password, birth date, and gender the same way you would on a computer. Tap "Sign Up" when you are done. Facebook will text or email you a confirmation code — find it and enter it into the app to finish.

If you do not receive the code within a few minutes, check your spam or junk folder. If it is not there, go back and try entering your email or phone number again, making sure there are no typos.

What to do after your account is created

Once you log in for the first time, Facebook will ask you to add a profile picture and find friends. You can skip these steps and do them later — there is no rush. If you want to add a picture right away, click your profile icon (usually in the top right corner) and select "Profile". Click the camera icon over the blank profile picture space and upload a photo from your phone or computer.

Before you start posting, spend a few minutes on your privacy settings. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner, then select "Settings and privacy" and "Settings". Go to "Privacy" on the left side. Here you can choose who sees your posts (friends only, public, or custom), who can message you, and who can look up your account using your email or phone number. These settings are important if you want to control who can contact you or see what you share.

Common problems when creating an account

If Facebook says your email address is already in use, you may have created an account before and forgotten about it. Try clicking "Forgot password?" on the login page and enter that email address. Facebook will send you a link to reset your password, and you can log back into your old account instead of making a new one.

If you do not receive the confirmation code, check that you typed your email or phone number correctly. Wait a few minutes — the code sometimes takes time to arrive. If you still do not see it, check your spam folder. If the code never arrives, go back to the sign-up page and try again with a different email address or phone number.

If Facebook says your name violates their rules, it may contain numbers, symbols, or words Facebook does not allow. Use only letters and spaces. If you have a name with an apostrophe or hyphen (like O'Brien or Mary-Jane), Facebook usually accepts it, but if it does not, try removing the punctuation temporarily to finish sign-up, then change it back in your profile settings later.

Protecting your new account

After you create your account, take a moment to set up security features. Go to "Settings and privacy" and then "Settings". Click "Security and login" on the left. Turn on "Two-factor authentication" — this means Facebook will ask for a code from your phone whenever someone tries to log in from a new device, even if they have your password.

Write down your password somewhere safe, or use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password to store it. Do not share your password with anyone, and do not use the same password on other websites. If you ever think someone else has accessed your account, change your password immediately by going to "Settings and privacy", "Settings", "Security and login", and "Change password".

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use my real name on Facebook?

Facebook asks you to use the name you go by in everyday life, but it does not have to match your legal name exactly. You can use a nickname, a middle name, or a shortened version of your name. However, Facebook does review names and may ask you to change it if it looks like a fake account or contains numbers or symbols.

Can I create a Facebook account without an email address?

You can use a phone number instead of an email address to sign up. Facebook will text you a confirmation code rather than emailing one. You can add an email address to your account later in your settings if you want to.

What if I want to delete my account after creating it?

You can deactivate your account (which hides it temporarily) or delete it permanently. Go to "Settings and privacy", "Settings", and scroll down to find "Deactivation and deletion". Choose which option you want. Deactivation takes effect right away, but deletion takes up to 30 days to complete.

Is it safe to create a Facebook account with my phone number?

Using a phone number is safe for sign-up, but be aware that Facebook may use it to show your account to people who have your number in their contacts. You can turn this off in your privacy settings by going to "Settings and privacy", "Settings", "Privacy", and unchecking "Who can look you up using the phone number you provided".

Can I create multiple Facebook accounts?

Facebook allows you to create more than one account, but each account needs a different email address or phone number. You can switch between accounts by clicking your profile icon and selecting "Switch account" at the bottom of the menu. Keep in mind that Facebook monitors for fake accounts, so if you create many accounts in a short time, Facebook may ask you to verify your identity.