Quick Answer
If you don’t know your current Facebook password, here are some steps you can take to regain access to your account:
- Click the “Forgot Password” link on the Facebook login page. This will initiate a password reset.
- Enter your email address or phone number associated with your Facebook account when prompted. Facebook will send you a password reset link.
- Click the password reset link in the email or text message Facebook sends you. This will take you to a page to create a new password.
- Create and confirm your new Facebook password. Make sure it’s something you’ll remember.
- Log back in to Facebook with your new password.
If you no longer have access to the email or phone number on your Facebook account, you can try proving your identity to Facebook through other means to regain access.
What to Do If You Forget Your Facebook Password
Forgetting your Facebook password is a common problem many users face from time to time. With over 2.8 billion active monthly users, Facebook hosts a significant chunk of people’s online presence and memories. Being locked out of your account can cause frustration. Thankfully, Facebook provides several ways to recover and reset your password if you ever find yourself in this predicament.
Here are the steps to take if you forget your Facebook password:
Click “Forgot Password” on the Facebook Login Page
The easiest way to reset your password is to use the “Forgot Password” link on the Facebook login page. Here’s how to find it:
- Go to www.facebook.com and click the blue “Log In” button.
- Under the two password fields, click the “Forgot Password?” link.
This will open a popup window where you can begin the password reset process.
Enter Your Email or Phone Number
In the “Find Your Account” popup window, Facebook will ask you to enter the email address or phone number associated with your account. This allows them to verify your identity and send a password reset link only to you.
If your account is associated with both an email and phone number, you can choose either option. Enter your email address or phone number and click “Search.”
Click the Password Reset Link
Once you enter your email/phone number and click “Search,” Facebook will send a password reset link to your email inbox or as a text message.
Open the email or text message and click the password reset link inside. This is a secure, one-time-use link typed specifically for your account. Clicking it will redirect you to Facebook and allow you to create a new password.
Never share your personal password reset link with anyone else. The link will expire after a short time, usually an hour or less.
Create and Confirm a New Password
After clicking your password reset link, you will be prompted by Facebook to create and confirm a new password.
Enter a strong password you haven’t used elsewhere and can remember. Use a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Facebook will have you re-enter the new password to confirm you typed it correctly. Once confirmed, click “Save Changes.”
Log Back in with Your New Password
The final step is to return to the Facebook login page and sign in with your newly created password.
Enter your email/username and new password and click Log In. You should now have full access to your account again.
Take care not to forget your new password. Jot it down in a safe place or use a password manager to store it for you.
What to Do If You No Longer Have Access to Your Email or Phone Number
Resetting your Facebook password requires having access to the email address or phone number listed on your account. But what if you no longer have access to either?
For example, perhaps you registered your account with an old email you no longer use. Or you switched phone numbers and your old one got assigned to someone else.
In scenarios like these, you will need to prove your identity to Facebook through alternative means:
Upload an ID
Facebook allows you to send a copy of your government-issued ID (driver’s license, passport, etc.) to verify your identity. On the login page, click “Forgot Password?”, then click to upload your ID when prompted.
This isn’t immediate, as a Facebook team member will need to manually review your ID. It can take up to a day to process.
Recognize Friends
Facebook may show you photos of several friends and have you identify them by name to prove you know them. With over 2.8 billion users, random guessing is highly unlikely to work.
Answer Security Questions
If you previously set up security questions on your account, Facebook can prompt you to answer them to regain access. Questions may be about places you’ve lived, schools attended, favorite foods, or more.
Regain Access Through Trusted Contacts
If you previously set up trusted contacts on your account, Facebook can help you get back in by contacting those individuals and having them verify your identity.
Receive a Code By Physical Mail
In some cases, Facebook may offer to mail a password reset code to the address previously associated with your account. This can take several days but gives you a way back in.
Preventing a Lockout in the Future
Getting locked out of Facebook due to a forgotten password can cause disruption. Here are some tips to avoid finding yourself in this situation again down the road:
Use a Password Manager
Password manager apps like LastPass, 1Password, and Dashlane allow you to securely store passwords and log into sites and apps with a single master password. They also generate and fill strong, randomized passwords for each account.
Add an Alternate Email and Phone Number
Link both a current email address and phone number to your Facebook account. This provides multiple ways to reset your password if needed.
Set Up Trusted Contacts
Adding trusted friends and family as contacts on your account gives Facebook more people who can vouch for your identity if you’re locked out.
Save Your Password Reset Link
When you reset your password, bookmark the reset link Facebook emailed you. In a future lockout, you can reuse the same link to reset your password again without accessing your email.
Getting Further Help from Facebook
If the above options still don’t allow you to recover your Facebook password, you can reach out directly to the Facebook team through these channels:
- Submit a support request via Facebook’s Help Center.
- Use the @FacebookSupport account on Twitter.
- Chat with Facebook support if the option appears while trying to login.
Be prepared to provide previous emails, phone numbers, locations, IP addresses, and other details about your account that can help verify your identity.
Facebook wants to help reconnect you with your account while also keeping it secure. With over a billion users to safeguard, additional identity checks are sometimes necessary. The steps above should cover most cases, but the Facebook team is there if you need further assistance. Don’t hesitate to reach out.
Conclusion
Forgetting a Facebook password is an easy thing to do, but thankfully also easy to fix for most people. The key is using the “Forgot Password” link and having access to the email or phone number on your account. If you no longer have access to either, alternative identity verification methods are available.
Setting up backup contacts and recovery options while you still have account access can prevent future lockouts. A password manager also provides an extra layer of security and convenience. With over 2.8 billion users worldwide, recovering your unique access to all of Facebook’s features is well worth the effort.