You can change your birthday in Facebook settings at any time
Your birthday on Facebook lives in your profile information, and you can update it whenever you want. The process takes less than a minute and works the same way on a phone or computer. Facebook will not notify your friends when you change it, though they may see the change if they visit your profile directly.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using the Facebook app on your phone or the website on a computer, but both routes lead to the same place: your personal information settings.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your birthday through your profile settings on either the Facebook app or website.
- Your birthday can be set to show only to you, to friends, or to everyone on Facebook.
- Changing your birthday does not send a notification to your friends, though the change appears on your profile.
- If you set your birthday to private, Facebook will still use it to send you birthday reminders and show you others' birthdays.
How to change your birthday on the Facebook website
Open Facebook in your web browser and log in. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner of the page — this opens a menu with your account options. Select "Settings and privacy," then click "Settings."
On the left side of the screen, you will see a menu. Click "Personal information." You will see a section labeled "Basic information" with your current birthday listed. Click the pencil icon next to your birthday to edit it. Select the month, day, and year you want to use, then click "Save changes."
How to change your birthday on the Facebook app
Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap "Settings and privacy," then tap "Settings."
Scroll down to "Personal information" and tap it. Tap "Basic information," then tap the pencil icon next to your birthday. Change the month, day, and year as needed, and tap "Save." The app will return to your profile once the change is complete.
Who can see your birthday on your profile
When you edit your birthday, Facebook gives you the option to choose who sees it. You can set it to "Only me" (private), "Friends," or "Public" (everyone on Facebook). This setting controls who can see your birthday listed on your profile page.
Keep in mind that even if you set your birthday to "Only me," Facebook still uses it internally. The platform will still send you birthday reminders and show you your friends' birthdays in your notifications. Changing the visibility does not change how Facebook uses the date behind the scenes — it only changes what other people can see.
What happens if you change your birthday multiple times
Facebook allows you to change your birthday as many times as you want. There is no limit to how often you can edit it, and the platform does not flag accounts that change birthdays frequently. Your friends will not receive a notification about the change.
However, if you change your birthday to a date that makes you under 18 years old, Facebook may restrict some features on your account. The platform has age-based rules for certain tools and content, so changing your birthday to a younger age could affect what you can do on the site.
If you cannot find the birthday field
Some older accounts or accounts created before Facebook required a birthday may not have a birthday field in their basic information. If you do not see a birthday option in your personal information settings, you can add one by clicking "Add" next to where the birthday would normally appear.
If you are still unable to locate the birthday field after checking both the website and the app, try logging out completely and logging back in. Sometimes the interface takes a moment to load all sections. If the problem continues, try using a different browser or clearing your browser's cache and cookies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my friends know I changed my birthday?
No, Facebook does not send notifications when you change your birthday. Your friends will only see the new date if they visit your profile and you have set your birthday to be visible to them. There is no activity log entry or alert about the change.
Can I hide my birthday from specific people?
Facebook does not let you hide your birthday from individual people. You can only choose between three settings: only you, friends, or public. If you want to hide it from certain friends, you would need to set it to "Only me," which hides it from everyone except yourself.
What if I do not want to share my real birthday?
You can enter any date you want into the birthday field. Facebook does not verify that the date you enter is your actual birthday. You can set it to a fake date and change the visibility to "Only me" so no one else can see it.
Does changing my birthday affect my Facebook account security?
Changing your birthday does not affect your account security or login information. It only updates the date shown on your profile. Your password, two-factor authentication, and other security settings remain unchanged.
Can I change my birthday on Facebook if I am under 18?
Yes, you can change your birthday at any age. However, if you change it to make yourself appear older than 18, Facebook may restrict certain features that are only available to adults. The platform enforces age restrictions based on the birthday in your account.