Facebook allows you to change your name and number associated with your account. Your name on Facebook appears on your profile, in posts, comments and more places. Your phone number is used for security purposes like two-factor authentication.
Changing your name or number is easy to do right from your Facebook account settings. Here’s what you need to know about changing your Facebook name and number.
Changing Your Name on Facebook
Your Facebook name is the name that appears on your profile and with any posts or comments you make. Here’s how to change it:
From a Computer
1. Go to Facebook.com and log into your account.
2. Click on the arrow in the top right corner and select “Settings”.
3. On the left sidebar, click “Name”.
4. Enter your new name in the First Name and Last Name fields.
5. Click “Review Change”.
6. Confirm the change by clicking “Save Changes”.
From the Facebook Mobile App
1. Open the Facebook app on your phone.
2. Tap on the three horizontal lines menu icon in the top right.
3. Scroll down and tap “Settings & Privacy”.
4. Tap “Settings”.
5. Tap “Name” and enter your new first and last name.
6. Tap “Review Change” and confirm it.
Once you save the changes, your new name should update across Facebook. It may take some time for the change to fully propagate everywhere.
Keep in mind you can only change your name to a real name that follows Facebook’s name policies. You cannot enter fake or misleading names.
Changing Your Phone Number on Facebook
Your phone number is used by Facebook for security purposes like two-factor authentication and alerts. Here is how to change the number linked to your Facebook account:
From a Computer
1. Go to Facebook.com and login.
2. Click the arrow in the top right and select “Settings”.
3. In the left sidebar, click “Mobile”.
4. Click “Edit” beside your current phone number.
5. Enter your new phone number and click “Save Changes”.
6. Facebook will send a confirmation code to your new phone number. Enter it to verify the change.
From Mobile App
1. Open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon.
2. Scroll down and tap “Settings & Privacy”.
3. Tap “Settings”.
4. Tap “Mobile” and then “Edit” next to your phone number.
5. Enter the new number and tap “Save Changes”.
6. Enter the confirmation code sent to your new number.
Once you make this change, your new phone number will be linked to your account for security features. You may need to re-enable two-factor authentication.
Name and Number Change Limits
Facebook limits how often you can change your name or number. This is to prevent abuse.
You can only change your name around once every 60 days. There is no hard limit on changing your number, but excessive changes may trigger additional security checks.
Reverting Back to a Previous Name or Number
If you change your name or number and then want to revert back to what it was before, you can do so through your Facebook settings.
For your name, just follow the steps to change it again and enter your old name.
For your phone number, you will need to enter the previous number again and confirm the change.
As long as you have access to your old number, you can switch back and forth. But keep in mind the 60 day limit on name changes.
Troubleshooting Name and Number Changes
Here are some common problems and fixes for changing your Facebook name and number:
Name Change Not Updating
It may take up to 24 hours for your new name to fully propagate across Facebook. Check your profile and posts and if the old name is still showing up after a day, try changing it again.
Unable to Change Name Due to Limit
If you hit the 60 day limit on name changes, you will have to wait until it resets. There is no way around this limit unless you get special permission from Facebook support.
Wrong Number Showing
Make sure you accurately entered your new phone number. If it’s still showing the wrong number, go through the steps to change it again.
Not Receiving Confirmation Code
Be sure you can receive texts or calls at the new number. The confirmation code will come shortly after submitting the change. If it doesn’t come within a few minutes, double check the number and try again.
Two-Factor Authentication Not Working
When you change your number, two-factor authentication gets disabled. Log into Facebook, go to settings and re-enable two-factor with your new number.
If you run into any other issues changing your Facebook name or number, you may need to contact Facebook support for assistance resolving it.
Conclusion
Changing your name and number is easy right from the Facebook settings menu. Just enter the new details, confirm the changes and wait for them to fully update across your account. Be aware of the limits on name changes and keep your old number if you need to revert back. With these simple steps, you can update your Facebook profile details.