What you need before you start

Creating a Facebook account takes about five minutes and requires only a few pieces of information. You will need a working email address or phone number, your real name, your birth date, and a password you have not used elsewhere. Facebook will send a confirmation message to whichever email or phone number you provide, so make sure it is one you can access right now.

You do not need a credit card, a Facebook friend, or any existing social media account. Facebook is free to join. If you already have an account and want a second one, you will need a different email address or phone number for each account — Facebook does not allow one person to have multiple accounts under the same contact information.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to facebook.com on any web browser or open the Facebook app, then click "Create New Facebook Account" to start the signup form.
  • Enter your name, email or phone number, birth date, and gender, then create a password and click "Sign Up".
  • Facebook will send a confirmation code to your email or phone — enter that code on the next screen to verify your account.
  • After verification, you can add a profile picture and search for friends, but your account is active and usable immediately after you confirm the code.
  • If you do not receive the confirmation code within a few minutes, check your spam or junk folder, or ask Facebook to send it again.

Step-by-step signup on a computer or phone browser

Open facebook.com in any web browser. In the top right corner, you will see a blue button labeled "Create New Facebook Account". Click it. A window will pop up with fields for your first name, last name, email address or phone number, birth date, and gender.

Fill in each field with accurate information. Use the email address or phone number you can access right now, because Facebook will send a confirmation code to it within seconds. For your birth date, use your actual date of birth — Facebook uses this to enforce age rules and to show your birthday to friends later. Choose your gender from the dropdown menu, then click "Sign Up".

Facebook will ask you to enter a password. Make it something you have not used on any other website. Use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols if you can — longer passwords are harder to guess. Write it down somewhere safe, or use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password to store it. Then click "Sign Up" again.

Confirming your email or phone number

Within a minute or two, you will receive a confirmation code. If you signed up with an email address, check your inbox — look in the spam or promotions folder if you do not see it in your main inbox. If you signed up with a phone number, you will receive a text message with a six-digit code.

Go back to Facebook and enter that code in the box that appears. Click "Confirm" or "Verify". Your account is now active and ready to use. You do not have to add a profile picture or search for friends right away — you can do those things later.

Signing up through the Facebook mobile app

If you are using a phone or tablet, you can download the Facebook app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, then open it. Tap "Create New Facebook Account" at the bottom of the login screen. The form that appears is the same as the web version — enter your name, email or phone number, birth date, and gender.

Create a password and tap "Sign Up". You will then receive a confirmation code by email or text, just as you would on a computer. Enter that code in the app to verify your account. The app will then ask if you want to add a profile picture — you can skip this step and do it later.

What to do if you do not receive the confirmation code

If more than five minutes have passed and you have not received a confirmation code, first check your email spam folder or text message junk folder. Confirmation codes sometimes get filtered by mistake. If it is not there, go back to Facebook and look for a button that says "Did not get a code?" or "Resend code". Click it and Facebook will send another one.

If you still do not receive it after a second attempt, try a different email address or phone number if you have one. If the problem continues, Facebook may be having a temporary issue — wait 30 minutes and try again. If you have already confirmed your account but cannot log in, see the Facebook help center at facebook.com/help for password recovery options.

Setting up your profile after signup

After you confirm your account, Facebook will suggest that you add a profile picture. You can upload a photo from your computer or phone, or skip this step. You can add a picture anytime later by clicking your profile icon in the top right corner and selecting "Edit Profile".

Facebook will also suggest that you search for friends. You can type in the names of people you know, or let Facebook scan your email contacts to find people already on the platform. Again, you do not have to do this right away. Your account works fully whether or not you have friends yet.

Privacy settings to check right after signup

Before you start using Facebook, spend a minute checking who can see your information. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner, then select "Settings and Privacy" and then "Settings". On the left side, click "Privacy".

You will see options for who can see your posts, who can contact you, and who can look up your profile. Facebook sets these to fairly open defaults. If you want to limit who sees your activity, change "Who can see your posts?" to "Friends" instead of "Public". You can adjust these settings anytime, and different posts can have different privacy levels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a fake name on Facebook?

Facebook requires you to use the name you go by in everyday life. If you use a nickname or stage name that people actually call you, you can use that. But Facebook can disable accounts that use obviously fake names, and you may be asked to provide ID to prove your name matches what you entered. Use your real name to avoid problems.

What if I do not have an email address?

You can sign up with a phone number instead. Facebook will text you a confirmation code. If you do not have a phone number either, you can create a free email address at Gmail.com or Outlook.com in about two minutes, then use that to sign up for Facebook.

Can I delete my account right after creating it?

Yes. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then scroll down and click "Deactivation and Deletion". Choose "Delete Account" and follow the steps. Facebook will permanently delete your account and all its data after 30 days, though it may take longer for information to disappear from backups.

Do I have to use my real birth date?

Yes. Facebook uses your birth date to enforce its rule that users must be at least 13 years old. If you enter a false birth date, Facebook may lock your account or ask you to verify your age with ID. Use your actual birth date.

What if someone else already has my email address on Facebook?

Each email address can only be connected to one Facebook account. If you see an error saying your email is already in use, that email is attached to an existing account. Use a different email address, or recover the old account if it is yours by clicking "Forgot Password" on the login screen.