Change your password from Facebook settings

Open Facebook and go to the menu in the top right corner (three horizontal lines on mobile, or the downward arrow on desktop). Select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Password and security. You'll see a section labeled Change password — click Edit next to it.

Facebook will ask you to enter your current password first. Type it in, then enter your new password twice to confirm you typed it correctly. Your new password should be at least 6 characters long, but longer passwords with a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols are harder to guess. Click Save changes when you're done.

Facebook will log you out of all your devices after you change your password. You'll need to log back in on any phone, tablet, or computer where you use Facebook. This is normal and actually a security feature — it makes sure only you can access your account.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your Facebook password through Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Password and security.
  • Facebook requires your current password before letting you set a new one, so you need to remember what it is now.
  • You will be logged out everywhere after changing your password and must log back in on each device.
  • A strong password uses uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, and is at least 12 characters long.
  • If you cannot remember your current password, use the "Forgot password" link on the login page instead of trying to change it from settings.

What to do if you forgot your current password

If you don't remember your current password, you cannot change it from the settings menu — Facebook requires you to enter it first. Instead, go to the Facebook login page and click Forgot password? below the login fields. Enter your email address or phone number associated with your account.

Facebook will send you a link to reset your password. Check your email (or text message if you used a phone number) and click the link. You can then create a completely new password without needing to know the old one. This process takes a few minutes and works even if you haven't logged in for months.

Why you might want to change your password

Change your password if you think someone else knows it, if you used the same password on another website that got hacked, or if you haven't changed it in over a year. You should also change it if you shared your login with someone who no longer needs access, or if you logged into Facebook on a public computer.

If you suspect someone has already accessed your account without permission, changing your password alone may not be enough. Check your login activity by going to Settings, then Password and security, then Where you're logged in. You'll see a list of devices and locations currently using your account. If you see logins you don't recognize, click the three dots next to them and select Log out.

How to create a password that's hard to guess

Use at least 12 characters and mix uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols like ! @ # $ % or &. Avoid using your name, birth date, or common words that appear in the dictionary. A password like "BlueMountain2024!" is easier to guess than "7xK#mP2$vQw9nL4@R", even though the second one looks random.

A trick that works well is to take a sentence you'll remember and use the first letter of each word plus some numbers and symbols. For example, "I adopted my dog Max in 2019" becomes "IamdiM2019!" — something you can remember but that doesn't appear in any dictionary. Write your new password down on paper and store it somewhere safe if you're worried you'll forget it, rather than reusing an old password or writing it in a note on your phone.

Logging back in on your devices

After you change your password, Facebook automatically logs you out everywhere. On your phone or tablet, open the Facebook app and you'll see the login screen. Enter your email address or phone number and your new password. If you use Facebook Messenger as a separate app, you'll need to log in there too.

On a computer, you may stay logged in if your browser remembers your password — but if you close the browser completely and reopen it, you'll need to log in again. If you have Facebook open in multiple browser tabs, refresh the page and you'll be prompted to log in. This usually takes less than a minute per device.

What to do if you can't log back in after changing your password

If you enter your new password and Facebook says it's wrong, wait a few minutes — sometimes the change takes a moment to spread across Facebook's servers. Try again, and make sure you're not accidentally using caps lock or extra spaces. If you're still stuck, go back to the login page and click Forgot password? to reset it again.

If you're on a shared computer or phone, make sure you're not accidentally logged into someone else's account. Check the top right corner (mobile) or top left (desktop) to see whose name appears. If it's not yours, click the menu and select Log out, then log back in with your own email and password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my password on the Facebook app instead of the website?

Yes. Open the app, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right, scroll down to Settings and privacy, then Settings. Tap Password and security and then Edit next to Change password. The steps are the same as on a computer.

Will changing my password affect my Instagram or other Meta accounts?

No. Facebook and Instagram have separate passwords even if they're linked to the same email address. You must change each password separately. If you use the same password on both, change them one at a time so you don't get locked out of either account.

How often should I change my Facebook password?

There's no rule that forces you to change it on a schedule. Change it if you think it's been compromised, if you reused it on a website that was hacked, or if you haven't changed it in a year or more. If you change it too often, you're more likely to forget it or reuse old passwords.

What happens to my saved passwords in my browser after I change my Facebook password?

Your browser will ask if you want to update the saved password. Click Update so the browser remembers your new password. If you skip this, the browser will keep trying to log you in with the old password the next time you visit Facebook, and you'll have to enter the new one manually.

Can I change my password if I'm locked out of my email address?

If you can still log into Facebook with your phone number or username, you can change your password from settings without needing your email. If you're completely locked out, you'll need to recover your account through the "Forgot password" page, which may ask you to verify your identity through other methods like a phone number or security questions you set up previously.