Your username is different from your name, and Facebook hides it by default

Your Facebook username is not the same as your display name. Your display name is what appears on your profile and in comments — you can change it whenever you want. Your username is a permanent identifier that Facebook assigns or lets you create once, and it appears in your profile URL. For example, if your profile URL is facebook.com/john.smith.12345, your username is john.smith.12345.

Most people never need their username because Facebook lets you log in with your email or phone number instead. But if you're setting up a business page, sharing your profile link, or troubleshooting a login problem, you'll need to know what it is. The fastest way to find it is to look at your profile URL directly.

Key Takeaways

  • Your username appears in your profile URL and is different from your display name.
  • You can find your username by visiting your profile and checking the web address in your browser's address bar.
  • If your URL shows only numbers, you never created a custom username and can create one now in your settings.
  • Once you create a custom username, you can change it once per year if you want a different one.

Check your profile URL on a computer

Open Facebook in a web browser on your computer and click your profile picture in the top right corner. Select "Profile" from the menu that appears. Look at the address bar at the very top of your browser window — it will show something like facebook.com/yourname or facebook.com/john.smith.12345. Everything after the last forward slash is your username.

If the URL shows only numbers with no letters (like facebook.com/100012345678), you have not created a custom username yet. Facebook assigned you a numeric ID instead. You can create a custom username in your settings if you want one that's easier to share and remember.

Check your profile URL on a phone

Open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner on Android, or the bottom center on iPhone. Tap your name to go to your profile. Once you're on your profile, tap the three dots in the top right corner and select "Copy link to profile." Paste this link into a text editor or notes app — the text after the last forward slash is your username.

If you're using a mobile browser instead of the app, tap the address bar at the top to see the full URL. The username appears after facebook.com/ in the same way as on a computer.

Create a custom username if you only have a numeric ID

If your profile URL contains only numbers, you can create a custom username once. On a computer, click your profile picture and select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." Click "Personal information" on the left side, then find the "Username" section. Click "Create a username" and type the username you want. Facebook will tell you if it's already taken — if it is, try a variation with numbers or periods.

Once you create a custom username, you can change it once every 60 days. If you change it and want to change it again, you'll have to wait two months. Your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after you change it, so choose carefully.

What to do if you can't remember your password

If you're trying to find your username because you forgot your password, you don't actually need it. Go to facebook.com and click "Forgotten password?" Enter the email address or phone number you used to create your account. Facebook will send you a link to reset your password. You can then log in and find your username the way described above.

If you no longer have access to the email or phone number on your account, Facebook has a recovery process. Click "Can't access your account?" on the login page and follow the steps to verify your identity using a trusted contact or a photo ID.

Why Facebook shows your username in the URL

Facebook uses your username in the profile URL to make links shorter and easier to share. Before custom usernames existed, Facebook only used numeric IDs, which are still assigned to every account. The numeric ID never changes, but your custom username can be changed once every 60 days. Both the numeric ID and the custom username work in a profile URL — facebook.com/john.smith.12345 and facebook.com/100012345678 both lead to the same profile if they belong to the same person.

Your username is public information. Anyone can see it by visiting your profile or looking at the URL when you share a link. It's not a security risk to share your username because it doesn't let anyone access your account — they would still need your password to log in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username whenever I want?

No. You can change your custom username once every 60 days. If you create a username for the first time, you can change it after 60 days have passed. If you change it and want a different one, you have to wait another 60 days. Your display name (the name that shows on your profile) can be changed anytime.

What if someone else took the username I want?

Usernames are first-come, first-served. If the username you want is taken, try adding numbers or a period to make it unique, like john.smith.2024 or johnsmith99. You can also check if the person using it is active — if their account has been inactive for a long time, you might be able to report it to Facebook, though they rarely release old usernames.

Is my username the same as my email address?

No. Your email address is what you use to log in, but your username is what appears in your profile URL. You can log in with your email, your phone number, or your username — Facebook accepts all three at the login screen.

Do I need a username to use Facebook?

No. You can use Facebook with just your display name and numeric ID. A custom username is optional and only useful if you want a shorter, easier-to-remember profile link to share with others.