How do I get a new Facebook profile page?

I keep seeing that my Facebook friends have upgraded to the newer Facebook profile page layout but I'm still stuck on the old one as far as I can tell. How do I upgrade / update my profile page, or do I have to wait until the invite shows up or, more typically, it just happens?

Dave's Answer:

You sound like someone who has been on Facebook for quite a while with your "just happens" comment. You're spot on that the general approach of Facebook to rolling out changes is to follow the Nike slogan of "just do it", though sometimes they do offer you the opportunity to opt in or not. And, surprise, with the latest Facebook update -- as Mark Zuckerberg talked about on his recent 60 Minutes appearance! -- it does give you the chance to opt in or not.

The key, of course, is to know how to get to that opt-in question...

I had been waiting around too, and even had a conversation with someone this morning about how you get the upgraded Facebook profile. We were both mystified, having learned that Facebook has a logic all its own.

Then I stumbled into the secret: Check out someone whose profile has upgraded and you'll be invited to upgrade your own Facebook profile too:

You can get there by checking out my profile, as you'll see, I just upgraded. Go to: facebook.com/d1taylor to find me (or just click on Dave Taylor on Facebook).

When you get the prompt, click on "Get the New Profile" and you'll be taken to a slightly modified version of your profile that more emphasizes photos, etc:

As usual, you'll want to tweak things since you've probably never realized that the information in your Profile would become so visible. And for me, well, there's that dog picture to worry about...

Looking more closely at the new profile display on the top, you'll see that they have convenient links to those elements you haven't filled in, which are most of them for me:

I'll click on "Add your current work information" and conveniently be taken to the portion of the Facebook profile information that details not just work history but educational history too:

I'll add "Intuitive Systems, LLC" as my current employer as it's the parent company of AskDaveTaylor.com, etc., and add information on my academic background: BA Computer Science from UCSD, MS Education from Purdue University and MBA from Merrick School of Business at the University of Baltimore. Facebook then makes its own decision about what to display, as you can see...

Now let's tweak those displayed photos, as I really don't want the ones its selected as my key photos in the profile. To demonstrate, look closely at the 'x' that shows up on the top right of the middle photo once I put the cursor in that area:

Click on the "x" to remove the photo and Facebook asks if that's what I really want to do. It is, no kiddin'!

A click on "Hide Photo" and I'll zip through some of its choices until I find a set I like. See the results by checking out my Facebook profile.

My friends see the updates to my profile information too, as is typical on Facebook:

Should I click "like" because I like my profile updates? :-) A Facebook dilemma!

Oh, and here's what you should see for that area of my new Facebook profile:

So I guess you don't have to check out my profile -- or even Like Ask Dave Taylor on Facebook (hint, hint) -- to find out what photos I settled on!

Now go, update your profile and good luck to you!

Also check out:

Categorized: Facebook Help (Article 9698, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: facebook account management, facebook privacy, facebook profile, facebook updates, privacy
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Comments (8) · Add Comment

Thanks Dave for the great info on the growing evil empire called FACEBOOK. I have considered the change, but not knowing how to quickly modify it, I held back on the update. Now we know how do it right! You are wise beyond your years to take the time to educate us all.
PS your Facebook page looks awesome..

Posted by: Jeff Meier at December 7, 2010 12:08 PM

Dave, I was referred to your blog by a friend because I'm having trouble with the new profile. I can't seem to post links to any of my pages. It allows me to attach the link, but when I click the submit button, nothing happens. Have you run into this problem?

Which leads me to this question: FB seems to totally C*$ck-block you from switching back to the old one. I'm probably stuck with it now, eh?

Thank you for any advice.

Posted by: Colleen at December 7, 2010 2:05 PM

Hi Colleen. Seems very odd, what you're seeing. Can you download a new browser like Firefox or Google Chrome and try again? Wondering if it's an issue with your browser, not Facebook...

Posted by: Dave Taylor at December 7, 2010 3:28 PM

Or, you can just visit: http://www.facebook.com/about/profile/ :)

Posted by: Michael Sitarzewski at December 7, 2010 3:47 PM

Ah… I c. That’s very interesting as there were a few drop outs from Facebook working on a Q&A service… perhaps that is Zuckerbergs response haha…

Regarding Christian – yes. I sent a friend request and he hasn’t replied, but I do get his status updates and changes although I cannot see his wall when I go to his page haha..

Posted by: Sarkari Naukri at December 10, 2010 8:59 AM

Dear sir,
Hopefully you can guide me through the problem I have in Facebook.
I did not fill in the education and employer info, so those are still blank.
However those two are the first space consuming notes/items that are on my Facebook profile
(Add Your Work Information AND Add Your School Information -and BTW also my philosophy- ).
I cannot change the lay-out of my page, there is no 'x' to find.
Also when I am at "edit profile" they #the education and employers section# are nowhere to find, so there is no editing possible!
Please someone tell me how to edit my own profile and let me delete the education and employers info.
Sincerely, Deanna

Posted by: Deanna at August 11, 2011 5:25 AM

I don't wanna join more groups,but my friends add me automatically,what should i do ???

Posted by: Harmful Acid at August 26, 2011 11:47 PM

Good work with this article, glad to get the latest details on the new facebook

Posted by: sarkari naukri at March 31, 2012 3:52 AM

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!