When you change your name on Facebook, it can take some time for the change to fully propagate across the platform. Facebook needs to update your name in multiple places, including your profile, posts, photos, and more. The amount of time this takes depends on several factors.
In general, here’s an overview of how long it takes Facebook to update your name:
- Profile name – Changes almost instantly
- Posts and photos – Can take up to 24 hours
- Pages and ads – Can take up to 72 hours
- Search results – Can take up to a week
So while your main profile name will update quickly, it can take up to a week for the change to be fully comprehensive across Facebook. Read on for more details on each of these factors.
Profile Name
When you change your name in the About section of your Facebook profile, this change takes effect almost instantly. As soon as you save the change, your new name will display on your profile.
This includes at the top of your profile page, in your introduction box, in your profile URL, and anywhere else your name appears.
So you can expect your new profile name to update within seconds/minutes of making the change. It’s the fastest place your new name will appear.
Posts and Photos
Updating your name on existing posts and photos can take a bit longer. Facebook needs time to reprocess all your old content and change the name displayed on it.
In general, you can expect your new name to appear on your existing posts and photos within 24 hours of making the change.
Here are some more details on how the update works:
- New posts – Any posts you make after changing your name will use the new name right away.
- Old posts – Facebook starts updating your old posts to use the new name soon after you make the change. It tries to update all old posts within 24 hours.
- Photos – Just like posts, new photos will use your new name instantly. Old photos can take up to 24 hours to change.
- Comments – For comments you made in the past, your old name will still display. But new comments will show your updated name.
So expect a transition period where some of your old content still displays your old name, while new content uses the updated name. Give it about 24 hours for most of your existing posts and photos to switch over.
Pages and Ads
If you admin any Facebook Pages or have Facebook ads running, these will also need time to switch over to your new name.
Here’s an overview:
- Pages – Facebook will automatically update your admin name on any Pages you manage. This can take up to 72 hours.
- Ads – Similarly, current ads will need to be resubmitted and approved with your new name. This process can take up to 72 hours.
Pages are especially complex because your name may be displayed in several places, like posts, images, the Page info, ads, and more. So Facebook needs more time to make sure it gets updated everywhere.
Just keep in mind that name changes for Pages and ads can lag a couple days behind your personal profile update. Plan for up to 72 hours for the switchover.
Search Results
One final place your old name may still appear is in Facebook search results. These take the longest to update.
It’s because search results on Facebook are cached and indexed based on your old name. These caches need to be cleared and rebuilt to reflect the new name.
While people who visit your profile directly will see the new name right away, people who find your profile via search may see a mix of old and new names during the transition.
Give it up to a week for search results on Facebook to fully update to your new name. During this time, some people searching for you may still come across pages with your old name.
Conclusion
In summary, here’s a quick timeline for how long each Facebook element takes to update with your new name:
| Facebook Element | Update Time |
|---|---|
| Profile name | Instant |
| New posts/photos | Instant |
| Old posts/photos | Up to 24 hours |
| Pages you manage | Up to 72 hours |
| Current ads | Up to 72 hours |
| Search results | Up to 1 week |
The key is profile updates happen quickly, while updates across the rest of Facebook can take up to a week fully complete.
So be patient as the name change rolls out. Know that your main profile will reflect the change right away, even if some parts of Facebook take longer to catch up.
Give it about a week, and your new name should be fully updated across posts, photos, Pages, ads, search results, and anywhere else it displays on Facebook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about updating your name on Facebook:
How do I change my name on Facebook?
To change your name on Facebook:
- Go to your profile and click “Edit Profile”
- Click the pencil icon next to your name
- Type your new name and click “Save Changes”
Your name on your profile will update immediately.
Can I revert back to my old name?
If you want to revert to a previous name within 14 days of changing it, you can do so from the Facebook settings page.
Just click “Names” and change it back to your old name.
After 14 days, you’ll need to change your name to something new if you want to update it again. You can’t revert back to a really old name after two weeks.
Will my Facebook URL update?
Yes, your personal Facebook profile URL will automatically update to reflect your new name.
For example, if your URL was “facebook.com/john” and you changed your name to Mary, your new URL would change to “facebook.com/mary” shortly after you update your name.
Any existing links to your old URL should redirect properly to the new URL.
Do I need to update my name on every Facebook service?
If you use other Facebook services like Messenger, Instagram, or Oculus, you’ll need to change your name separately in each of those apps.
Updating your name on Facebook itself doesn’t automatically carry over to other Facebook products and services.
Will people still be able to find me if I change my name?
Yes, people will still be able to find your profile if you change your Facebook name. Your profile remains public, you keep the same friends/followers, and your URL redirects from the old name to the new name.
During the transition time before search fully updates, friends may need to search your new name directly if your old name still appears in some cached search results. But your profile is still visible if people search your new name.
Can I display two last names on Facebook?
Unfortunately Facebook only allows you to display one last name on your profile. You’ll have to choose a single last name to display even if you have two.
You can mention your full name with multiple last names in the About section or other parts of your profile. But only one last name can appear next to your first name.
Will name changes affect my Facebook ad accounts?
If you run Facebook ads, changing your name on your personal profile will require you to submit the name change for approval in your ad accounts as well.
Your ad accounts will display your old name until the new name is officially approved, which can take up to 72 hours. Make sure to factor this in when changing your name.
The Takeaway
It takes time for a name change to fully propagate across Facebook. Here are some key takeaways on the timeline:
- Your profile itself will update instantly
- Expect up to 24 hours for posts and photos to reflect the change
- Pages and ads can take up to 72 hours to switch over
- Search results may show a mix of old and new names for up to a week
Be patient, and give it a few days for your new name to become comprehensive across all Facebook services. The initial profile update is immediate, but the rest takes more time.
Changing your name on Facebook is easy, but expect the roll out across the platform to occur gradually over several days. With some patience, your new name will be fully updated in less than a week.