How to change your facebook url name


All You Need to Know

Did you know that as you make a new account on Facebook you are typically given a numbered ID?

Ever wondered what this ID is for?

Well, this ID is for your homepage and helps redirect people directly to your homepage as they use it.

But sharing a numbered ID everytime you wish for someone to see your homepage is not favourable.

So, what is the next best thing?

Facebook gives you the option to replace this numbered ID with a custom-made URL. Are you confused about how to change Facebook URL?

Well, let us guide you through the process.

What is Facebook URL?

Before we begin to answer the “How” part of Facebook URL, let us first find out more about what Facebook URL is.

Your Facebook URL is simply the name of your page placed right after the web address of Facebook. This means that if your page is named – xyz then your Facebook URL would look like – https://www.facebook.com/xyz.

While the URL is applicable to personal accounts and Facebook pages, it can be a useful and convenient way to reach a Facebook page. Some also call Facebook URLs vanity URLs.

Each URL is based on the username of your account or page. It directly takes the name of your account. This is why we call it customized, as each URL is unique.

Facebook URL Rules

The key to making your URL is to be mindful of the username you set for your account or page. Since each URL is required to be unique, it is obvious that the username should be unique as well.

This is why Facebook has a few specifications that must be followed while creating a typical username. We have listed them below for you:

  • Only a single username is allowed for a particular page or personal account.
  • Since usernames should be unique, you cannot obtain the username of any other account on Facebook.
  • Usernames should only have alphabets from A to Z, numeric characters from 0 to 9, or a period.
  • You cannot use terms like .com or .net in your username.
  • The capitalization of letters and periods is not considered in the same username.
  • There must be at least 5 characters in a username.
  • The username of your page or personal account must comply with Facebook terms.
  • Only an admin can create and change the username.

These are the basic rules for constructing username and, in turn, URL. You will have to follow these, and in case you do not, Facebook would show an error and not accept the username until it complies with all the rules.

Change Your URL through Desktop

So, now that you have a general idea of what Facebook URL is, we can go ahead and find out how to change it when you want to.

While you can change your Facebook URL via phone and desktop, let us first understand how to do this via desktop.

Step 1 – Head Over to Facebook

The first step to changing your page or account URL is to head over to the official website of Facebook. For this, you can type the word “Facebook” in your browser or use the link https://www.facebook.com/ in your browser address bar.

Once the Facebook page opens up, you will come across the screen asking you for a login or a sign-up by creating a new account.

If you already have a Facebook account, you can simply write your e-mail address or phone number and type in your password to Log in.

If you do not have an account, click on “Create New Account” to make a new one.

Step 2 – Go to Settings

Once you open your account, you have to navigate the settings tab. For this, go to the top right corner of the page and click on the downward-facing arrow.

A dropdown box will open; from within this box, you can see the option of “Settings & Privacy” click on this option.

The above tab will open; from within this tab, select “Settings.”

Step 3 – Go to Edit in Username

As you click on “Settings” a new window will open. Here, you will find your username, name, contact, etc. listed under the “General Account Settings.”

From here, you can edit your username by clicking on edit in front of Username. Once you click on edit, a box will open. Within this, you can change the username, and Facebook would notify you if your typed username is available or not.

You can only set the username that is available.

Change Your URL through Phone

You can also use your phone to change the Facebook URL of your page or personal account. For this, follow the below-given steps:

Step 1 – Download and Open Facebook Messenger App

As the first step, you need to have the Facebook Messenger App on your phone. If you do not have it, simply download it from your play store.

But, if you do, then open your app. While Facebook also has the Facebook Mobile App, you cannot use it to change your URL. Only Facebook Messenger App can be used.

Once you open the app, Login or Sign-up with your Facebook page or personal account. For the same, type in your e-mail address or phone number used to create the account and type your password.

In case you cannot find the Messenger App, you can tap on the lightning bubble on the Facebook Mobile App in the top right corner.

Step 2 – Go to Your Profile Icon

Once you have opened the messenger, tap on the profile icon. If your app opens in a different window, press the “back” button to head back to see the profile icon.

The profile icon would typically have your profile photo on it. Once you click on it, a window will open.

Over here, you can see the tab with the word “Username” written on it. This tab is under the “Profile” section.

Step 3 – Click on Username and Edit it

As you will click on the tab “Username”, a pop-up will open below. Here you will have the option to either edit your username or copy the link.

Press on edit to change your username.

Changing your username and, through that, your URL is a very easy task.

Facebook Page URL Best Practices

While Facebook has rules and guidelines laid out for account URL, some best practices can help you select the best URL.

  • We urge you to select a username that you would be satisfied with. This is because you might not be able to change it for a long time, as finding a username that is available is a challenge.
  • The shorter your username is, the better it would be. Short usernames are easy to memorize. In case someone is trying to reach your page and cannot remember your URL-based username because it is too long, you may lose a potential follower.
  • Make sure your username is similar to your actual page name. This also ensures easy discoverability and better representation of your page and brand.
  • Since capitalization and periods do not add up to any change in the username, trying to claim someone’s username by just adding or removing some periods and capitalizing alphabets would not help the cause.
  • Yet, using periods in your username might make it more SEO-friendly.
  • If you do not use your page or profile for a prolonged period of time, your username will become available to others for use.

Choose your username wisely. At times, unpublished page usernames are also claimed already, and you cannot use them.

What to Know Before You Change Your URL?

If your Facebook URL is too long and you have decided to change it for good. While you are free to change it, the URL you previously had would be of no use anymore.

Once you change your Facebook URL, your username will not change, nor the title that appears on your page. But since the prior link will not work, your discoverability can be hampered in the initial phase after the change.

If someone tries to search for your page using the old URL, a message saying “Sorry, this page isn’t available” will show up. This message might make your followers think that the page has shut down.

There might be a possibility that Facebook only allows you to change this URL once. This used to happen before, but you never know when this would be implemented again. So, why take a chance?

If your page has been around for quite some time and has been actively promoting it, your URL must be actively posted in multiple places. Remember that once your URL is changed, those links will become obsolete right away. Not just that, but if someone searches your page using the page name alone, there might be various pages that may show up in the search results.

It is strongly suggested that you change your URL to what you want at the very inception of your page.

But if you end up changing your URL when your page URL is in multiple places, simply try to figure out the places where your URL might be located. For this, check the places where your URL link is attached so that you can replace it from there once the change is made.

After all, you do not want to send your visitor to a dead page. Let us try to understand this using a timeline:

  1. If you have printed materials hosting your page URL, change them.
  2. Tell people on your page before changing the Facebook URL, and give them a reason for the change.
  3. Go to the places where you have guest-posted and request a URL change.
  4. Post something engaging right after the URL change.
  5. Change your page name to match the new URL.

Following all these steps before you finally change your username might be a good means to ensure your discoverability does not suffer.

Ready for the Change?

If the username you wanted is already taken, do not be sad. Take the next best thing. If you ever notice a change in your facebook URL and you have not made that change, beware as your account might be hacked.

The next step is to secure your account by resetting your password, and once your account is secure try to re-change your username to what it was before or something new altogether!

Make sure you stay fresh with your content as a changed URL might require you to attract a new audience while staying good enough for the ones already there. For this, post content regularly with the help of SocialPilot’s Social Media Calendar.

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Prerequisites

Before you start thinking of the URL you would use for your Facebook page, you might want to look at the guidelines below before to make sure that your URL would be accepted:

  • You can choose only one URL for your Facebook Page or Profile.
  • The URL shouldn’t already been claimed.
  • URLs can only contain alphanumeric characters or a period, be at least 5 characters long and do not contain generic terms or extensions such as .com or .net.
  • Periods and capitalizations do not count as part of a URL. This means that johnsmith55 and john.smith.55 are considered the same.
  • If you’re looking to change the URL of a business’ Facebook Page, you’ll need to be the admin of that page.
Creating your Facebook page URL

Now that you know the limitations of the system, here’s how you can change the URL of your Facebook Profile.

  1. Go to Settings menu on Facebook
  2. On General Account Settings page, click on the “Edit” button found next to the “Username” option
  3. Input your preferred username into the provided field. If a check mark with the description “username is available” appears, click on the “Save Changes” button to confirm the change.
  4. Facebook will prompt you for your password. Once you’ve entered it, your profile will be updated with the new URL.
Replacing current Facebook Page URL

In the event that you’re unhappy with your current custom URL, or maybe you think it’s time for a change, all you have to do is access the General Account Settings page and edit the “Username” option once again.

While there are no limits as to how many times you’re allowed to change your URL, do keep in mind that every time you update your profile or page’s URL, it would cause any old links to be invalid.

If someone were to try and access your older links, they would be greeted with the “Page Not Found” error. As such, it is highly inadvisable to change the URL frequently, lest it invites confusion.

Read Also:  Facebook Makes its Privacy Settings Easier to Grasp With “Privacy Basics”

How do I add or change the address of my Facebook Page?

This article is about the physical address shown on the Page. To change the web address (URL) of a Page, change its username.

You can manage the classic or new version of Pages. The new version is not yet available for all Pages.

Classic Pages

Only admins of a Page can update its address.

To add or edit an address:

Classic version for mobile browser

Click the icon in the upper right corner of the Facebook window.

Click Pages.

Go to your Page and click More at the top of the screen. You may need to swipe left or right to see this option.

In the Page Management section, select Edit Page Information.

In the Location section, enter your company address.

Click Save Changes at the bottom of the screen.

New version for mobile browser

Click the icon in the upper right corner of the Facebook window.

Click Pages.

Go to your Page and click Edit Page.

In the Location section, enter your company address.

Click Save Changes at the bottom of the screen.

Note. You can add only one address. If you're having trouble adding an address to your Page, make sure you're assigned the admin role, or change the Page's category.

Note. If you link your Page to your Instagram profile and add or update your Page address, the location will be added to the map on Instagram.

New version of Pages

If you only have access to perform certain tasks, you will not be able to update the address of the Page. If you have access to a Page on Facebook, you can go to it and add or edit the address of the Page.

To add an address to a Page:

Log in to Facebook from a computer.

Go to your Page.

Click Info under your Page's profile photo.

Select Contact and Basic Information on the left side of the screen.

In the Contact Information section, select Add an address and enter the required information. You can drag the map to change the company's location.

Click Save.

To edit an address on a Page:

Log in to Facebook from a computer.

Go to your Page.

Click Info under your Page's profile photo.

Select Contact and Basic Information on the left side of the screen.

Click the icon next to the address, and then enter the new information. You can drag the map to change the company's location.

Note. You can add only one address. If you're having trouble adding an address to your Page, check your Page role or change the Page's category.

Note. If you link your Page to your Instagram profile and add or update your Page address, the location will be added to the map on Instagram.

Change the URL of the Facebook page: detailed instructions

March 30 Social media instructions

Contents:

How to change the address of a page on Facebook

The usual address of a page on a social network is not remembered at all, and besides, it is very long and takes a long time to type. But you can change the page address to a new, short and interesting one.

It is very useful to have a short and memorable name of a page in a social network. With the help of a short name, you can quickly leave a link to your page, add an address to a business card. In addition, your friends or other people will be able to enter the address of your page in the search bar and quickly get to it.

And your own short page address will give you uniqueness. You can make a beautiful combination of your first and last name, nickname, business or brand name. You can also use keywords of your subject.

On a computer

To change the short address of your Facebook page from a computer, you need to follow just a few simple steps.

Go to the Facebook website in a computer browser and log in by entering your data (login and password).


You will see the main page of Facebook (the button with the designation of the house). In the upper right corner, click on the inverted triangle icon. Next, select "Settings and Privacy" from the drop-down list. In the next list, select "Settings".

After you have completed the previous steps, you will get the general account settings. On this page, you can change the name, contact information, and settings for memorable status. We need to change the Facebook username on this page. Enter a username. If it is not busy and meets all the requirements of the site, then the username will be saved.

If you want to change the short address for your Facebook group, then you need to follow these steps: go to your public, in the "Settings" category, select "enter the web address on Facebook". Next, click "Generate a web address for this page". You will have a window in which you need to enter a new username.

On the phone

Changing the name of the Facebook page on the phone is just as quick and easy. On iPhone, iPad and Android, the method is similar.

On iPhone, iPad

To change the url of your Facebook page, you need to log into your account. To do this, go to the Facebook website in the browser of your mobile phone and log in by entering your username and password from your account.

Next, in the browser search, enter Facebook.com/username. Type in a new name for your page. If it meets the requirements for choosing a short page name, then the name will be saved.


On Android

Log in to your account from your mobile browser.

Next, type Facebook.com/username in the search bar. In the window that opens, enter a new name for your page.

What are the requirements for the short address of the Facebook page

The most important criterion for the short address of the Facebook page is that the address must not be busy. The site will indicate to you the availability of the selected address.

The short address of a Facebook page can only contain letters of the Latin alphabet (a-z), numbers (0-9) and a dot (.), you can combine them as you like. In total, the short address can be no longer than 50 characters.


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