I forgot my Facebook password. Now what?

I think that my former girlfriend changed my Facebook password, somehow, but correct or not, I can't log in to Facebook any more and need to recover it or otherwise figure out what my new password is or reset it. Help! How do I recover my Facebook password?

Dave's Answer:

Oh, that's a tough one, because if you can't reset your account and you don't have access to the email address associated with your Facebook account, it's possible you're out of luck.

Let me start by making an observation, because I know some readers will ask me if I can help them recover their passwords or otherwise gain access to an account where they've 'forgotten everything' about the account, including zip code, email address, etc: If you can't prove unequivocally that you are the owner of an account then no-one is going to help you gain access, because it's too likely that you aren't the owner and are trying to have someone help you hack into someone else's account. Not good.

If you are the account owner and have all sorts of proof, I still can't help you out because I don't have any secret contacts at the Facebook account management team, nor would I want to help you anyway. Why? Liability. Let's say that you had a scheme where you really could trick me into helping you out. Then the true owner of the account found out I was involved and sued me for enabling your hacking. Or, flip that around, I help someone else get into your Facebook account. Not good, eh?

Yeah, so please don't ask me to help you recover your password or otherwise hack into a specific account as I can't do it for you...

Now, all of that said, let's see what options Facebook has set up for forgotten passwords...

facebook login lost forgotten password 1

You've seen that before, and presumably when you try to log in you're finding that Facebook no longer likes your password. Not good. Instead of your news stream of updates from your friends, you get to this screen instead:

facebook login lost forgotten password 2

Try again with your password -- maybe you typed it in wrong the first time -- but if you really don't know it, you'll end up here:

facebook login lost forgotten password 3

Did you notice on the first failed login screen that it indicated you could log in with your account name and password or your cellphone number and password? If you've associated your cellphone with your Facebook account, it's an alternative path into your account, which is pretty helpful.

Then again, this might be when you realize that you haven't...

facebook login lost forgotten password 4

Time to click on "Forgot password" on the bottom of the screen, since it's clear you don't have the ability to log in to your Facebook account as is...

facebook login lost forgotten password 5

I entered my email address, since I hadn't associated my cell phone number with my Facebook account (a dumb move, one that I'll explain how to fix in another article). It doesn't email me the actual password to my account (which is bad security) but instead the ability to reset the password to something new.

Am I sure?

facebook login lost forgotten password 6

I am indeed! I click on "Reset my password" and...

facebook login lost forgotten password 8

A few minutes later the following message shows up in my Gmail mailbox:

facebook login lost forgotten password 7

To reset the password for my Facebook account, I click on the complicated URL in the middle of the email message and Facebook then asks me to enter the new password I'd like twice. Done.

If you can't get to this point then it sounds like the account is no longer associated with your email address (or you don't have access to that mailbox because, well, it isn't your account). At that point I'd suggest you email Facebook and make the best case you can. And keep your fingers crossed.

Also check out:

Categorized: Facebook Help (Article 9607, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: facebook passwords, facebook security, forgotten password, lost password
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Comments (33) · Add Comment

Im trying to reset my password but the problem is I dont know my confirmation code so I really needed help, please!

Posted by: Michelle Amante at October 1, 2010 2:17 AM

This seems to be happening more and more. I'm glad Facebook has implemented some sort of password recovery in their site.

Some people have to go to more drastic lengths to recover their passwords.

Posted by: Christie Love at October 22, 2010 1:14 PM

Well Dave,

I've done all these steps you've given and everything was going perfectly until...

I finished everything you said to do and it led me to another confirmation page (still on Step 1) which means, you didn't finish explaining everything. You only told us half of what to do.
It says to either confirm by a text message or to receive an automated phone call.

That's where my problem comes in:

My phone is unavailable at this time.

Soooo...what do I do? What can you do if you cannot use your phone to confirm your code?

Posted by: Justce at November 7, 2010 10:37 AM

I logged out of Facebook the other day and forgot my password. I requested a password change, as instructed above, and Facebook said they'd send me a confirmation code to reset my password; however, I have yet to receive a confirmation code. I have contacted Facebook but I *still* cannot get them to send me a new confirmation code to my e-mail address.

I am getting e-mail notifications about from friends on facebook, but I still am not getting a confirmation code. I have checked my spam folder (nothing there). I don't know why I am not receiving a confirmation code. Any other ideas?

Posted by: Sylvie at January 22, 2011 12:47 PM

Justce and Sylvie, this is why it's critical to set up the secondary confirmation systems, etc, before you lose access or forget your password. :-( Sylvie, you might check this article to see if it's something you can do to get online:

http://www.askdavetaylor.com/does_facebook_have_temporary_passwords.html

it requires that you've registered your mobile phone with Facebook, which you can't do if you've lost access. Otherwise, is there a possible secondary email addr you have used that's not your primary email? I am pretty sure that Facebook can use one address for notifications and a second address for password recovery type admin email.

Good luck!

Posted by: Dave Taylor at January 23, 2011 9:28 AM

i cant login my facebook why?i enter my password but i cant enter to facebook

Posted by: meriam at March 7, 2011 8:23 PM

I forgot my facebook password.

Posted by: Guerzon S.Bay-an at March 10, 2011 9:41 PM

i was trying to open a new account but it shows that there is an account associated with my email address

Posted by: swondaha mutemula at April 27, 2011 10:56 PM

please help me to back may facebook
im serious im the one who own the face of ortizkristina83@yahoo.combut i fofgot my new password

Posted by: punky lj ortiz at May 14, 2011 8:43 AM

Please help me with my Facebook password. I forgot it

Posted by: Julian saah at July 15, 2011 12:01 AM

when I opened my facebook account my email was davidjustice1313@aol.com , I've since dropped AOL, now have justice131313@hotmail.com. my hot mail add. appears , a code is sent to my hotmail add. but when I enter the code it is not accepted , I am unable to access. PLEASE HELP. SEND ANY HELP TO EMAIL(HOTAIL)add.. I have no problems verifing this is my facebook.

Posted by: david mckellip at August 31, 2011 9:54 AM

what im doing now

Posted by: anthony james at September 3, 2011 2:33 AM

i need my facebook password

Posted by: Nafor Reuben at September 19, 2011 9:36 AM

reset my facebook

Posted by: atiullah at September 27, 2011 3:08 PM

I forgot my facebook password,can I reset the password and still use my existing account,how do I reset the password

Posted by: phokoane mmetja raesibe terry at October 26, 2011 11:16 PM

Can u help me to locate my password pls .! I dont know how .!

Posted by: Ann Winsly Maliwanag at October 28, 2011 6:02 PM

i for got my facebook email login and password

Posted by: mc budgie williams at November 14, 2011 10:54 AM

please i forget my password

Posted by: sophia at December 8, 2011 12:35 PM

my sister has the same email on facebook as me but i also forgot my password

Posted by: zahraa habib at January 6, 2012 10:53 PM

I forget my password what should i do

Posted by: Kamran sheikh at January 7, 2012 5:07 AM

i have forget my password

Posted by: sadaqat at January 28, 2012 2:03 AM

i dont know my confirmation password i really need it

Posted by: simangaliso at February 18, 2012 12:47 AM

My daughter login in to facebook on my account and now I cannot go to my facebook page , could you help me please.

Posted by: Ann Laidley at February 26, 2012 3:25 PM

Don't remembermy password

Posted by: adriana at March 15, 2012 6:09 PM

sir my name is balamani i forgot my password but i lost my phone number please help me my email adress is balacute3@gmail.com

Posted by: balamani at March 16, 2012 12:43 AM

I once change my password and now i cant remember it.but i still use my facebook account pls in jesus name send me my password .thak u

Posted by: Daniel katey at March 18, 2012 3:47 PM

Hi I made a facebook thru mobile advie using my phone number to make an account.I went on and change it and made another using yahoo.they send me new pasword but can't get thru because I didn't make a yahoo account..so I'm asking you if you can please help me figur out how can I get new password without sending it to yahoo??I try phone number and it didn't work.I want get to my facebook account befor someone makes a fake page using my pictures..

Posted by: kaiboi at March 20, 2012 2:28 PM

i have my password is mokoena,i cant understand that i have lost my facebook account,because my password please help

Posted by: mokobe at March 29, 2012 8:42 AM

forgeten facebook password

Posted by: mahendra bogati at March 30, 2012 1:51 AM

i forget my facebook a/c password. i have 2 a/c closed
plese close the inactive a/c of arpit jain

Posted by: arpit jain at April 23, 2012 5:42 AM

I forgot my password please let me know how I can reset it

Posted by: Rina Bekker at April 29, 2012 9:20 AM

I forget my Facebook Password. Send mail to me.Thanking YOu.

Posted by: krgnanasundaram. at May 1, 2012 8:53 AM

i want to reset password but i dont know our confirmation code so plz help me plz

Posted by: veenagyan at May 7, 2012 3:38 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!