# Facebook Date of Birth Locked or "You Must Be 18": How Do I Fix It Without Losing My Account? > Facebook won't let you change your date of birth, or says you must be 18? How age verification works and how to fix it safely. - URL: https://www.awarexone.com/research/facebook-date-of-birth-locked - Author: Md Shariar Shanaz Shuvon, Founder & CEO, AwareXone - Published: 2026-10-29 - Topics: Facebook, Age verification - Related service: Facebook account recovery: https://www.awarexone.com/social-media-recovery/facebook-account-recovery ## Short answer If Facebook locks your date of birth or says you must be 18 for a feature, it may ask for an ID or a video selfie. Follow the prompt in the app. Meta deletes the selfie image within 30 days. Changing your age repeatedly can trigger review or restrictions. ## Summary - Facebook limits birthday changes. - Age checks use ID or video selfie. - Meta says selfie videos are deleted after the check. - Repeated changes can trigger review. Here's how to fix a locked birthday. Last checked: 29 October 2026 against the sources listed at the end of this guide. ## How does age verification work? | Method | What happens | | --- | --- | | Video selfie | A vendor estimates your age; Meta deletes the image within 30 days | | ID upload | See Facebook's page on using ID to verify your age | > Warning: **One wrong step can cost you the account.** One wrong step can cost you the account, so know what you are doing before you start. If you are not sure, do not submit an appeal yet. Ask AwareXone for a free expert review first, then act. Facebook asks you to confirm your age when it has a reason to check it. That can be a change of birthday, a feature that is restricted to adults, signals that suggest the account belongs to someone younger, or a legal age requirement in your country. Facebook's guide How video selfie age verification works on Facebook explains that you record a short video of your face, which is used to estimate your age, and that Meta deletes the video after the check. Some countries now require platforms to check ages more often. Australia's eSafety Commissioner says platforms such as Facebook and Instagram must take reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from holding accounts, and that people aged 16 or over must have a way to ask for a review if they are restricted by mistake. It also says platforms cannot force you to use a government ID and must offer a reasonable alternative. Malaysia's MCMC has also brought in age verification measures under the Child Protection Code from 1 June 2026. ## Why is my birthday locked? Facebook limits how often you can change your date of birth. If you have changed it several times, or recently, the field may be greyed out. That limit exists because a birthday decides which features and protections apply to an account. If the birthday on your account is wrong, you will normally need to verify your age rather than simply type a new date. ## Does Facebook keep my ID or selfie? Facebook says the video selfie used for age estimation is deleted after the check. For IDs, Facebook explains on its accepted ID page how long it keeps the copy and how it is used to confirm details, and you can read the current wording there before you upload. Cover any numbers Facebook does not need, such as a passport number, only if the upload screen allows it, and never send ID copies through Messenger, WhatsApp or email to anyone claiming to be from Meta. Meta's own checks happen inside its app or website, not in a private chat. If you manage a Page or run ads, an age restriction on your personal profile can also block those tools, so sort out the birthday before an ad campaign or a busy sales period rather than during it. ## How do I fix it? 1. Open the prompt or Settings, Personal details. 2. Choose video selfie or ID. 3. Follow the steps in good light. 4. Wait for the result. Related guides: [Facebook Disabled for Spam or Fake Engagement: What Triggered It and Can It Be Recovered?](https://www.awarexone.com/research/facebook-disabled-spam-fake-engagement), [Can I Make a New Facebook Account After a Permanent Ban, or Will It Get Disabled Too?](https://www.awarexone.com/research/new-facebook-account-after-ban), [Why Is Facebook Blocking or Hiding My Page Posts With Links? (Meta One Link Limits)](https://www.awarexone.com/research/facebook-page-link-posts-hidden). For the video selfie, use a well-lit room, face the camera directly, remove sunglasses or heavy filters, and keep still. For an ID, use one of the documents Facebook lists on Types of IDs that Facebook accepts, take a clear photo of the whole document on a flat surface, and make sure the name and date of birth match the account. If your account name is a nickname, Facebook may still accept an ID that shows your legal name together with something else connecting you to the profile. Start the check only from inside the Facebook app or facebook.com. Do not follow links in emails, texts or messages that say your account will be deleted unless you verify your age. eSafety warns that scammers send fake age check requests that create urgency and ask for passports, licences or selfie videos. ## What happens if the result is wrong? If the video selfie estimates you as younger than you are, Facebook normally offers another method, such as uploading an ID. Use it rather than repeating the selfie many times. If you are an adult and the account is restricted, keep the screens and dates. eSafety's FAQ says platforms should provide clear instructions on how to request a review when someone is age-restricted by mistake. ## What common mistakes should I avoid? - Entering a different age repeatedly. - Uploading someone else's ID. - Recording the selfie in poor light. - Clicking fake 'age check' links. ## How do I keep the account safe while I sort this out? - Never share a login code, password or backup code with anyone, including people who say they work for Meta, the police or a recovery service. - Make sure the email address and phone number on the account are ones you still control, and remove any you do not recognise. - Turn on two-factor authentication where the platform offers it, ideally with an authenticator app, and keep your backup codes somewhere offline. - Log in only from the official app or by typing the address yourself, not from links in messages, comments or ads. - Keep screenshots of every notice, email and step you take, with dates, in case you need them for a review or a report. - Make one careful attempt at each official step rather than many rushed ones, because repeated failed attempts can trigger extra checks. ## When It Is Safer to Get Expert Help Ask for help before you appeal if the account matters to your income, your business or your memories, if you have already had one appeal rejected, or if you cannot tell whether the problem is a bug, a restriction or a hack. That is where most avoidable losses happen. AwareXone has solved 1,300+ cases and works only through official platform processes. Support is available 24 hours, every day. We never ask for your password, login codes or backup codes, and we never name our clients. [Request a free case review](https://www.awarexone.com/contact?interest=account-recovery-case) or [message us on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/601137634679). Malaysian cases are priced in MYR; other markets are quoted in USD after review. AwareXone is independent and not affiliated with Meta, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp or Threads. Recovery work is best-effort and the platform makes the final decision. - Your account is already restricted or disabled for age and the appeal screen gives one chance. - The birthday on the account was entered wrongly years ago and no longer matches your ID. - Your ID name does not match the profile name and you are unsure what to upload. - You received a message about age verification and are not sure whether it is real. ### How long does review take? Facebook says it can take up to 20 minutes to verify your age by video selfie, and you get a notification with the outcome. ### Can I appeal a wrong result? Yes. Use the option Facebook shows on the screen, usually another verification method such as uploading an ID. Keep screenshots of the result and the dates in case you need to ask for a further review. ### Will I lose my account? Not if you meet the minimum age and can confirm it. Accounts that cannot be verified, or that belong to someone under the required age in their country, can be restricted or removed. ### Can you help? Yes. AwareXone offers a free case review. We tell you which verification route fits your situation before you use up an attempt. ### Do I have to upload a government ID? Not always. Facebook offers a video selfie for many age checks, and in Australia eSafety says platforms must offer a reasonable alternative to government ID. If an ID is the only option shown, use one from Facebook's accepted ID list. ### Can AwareXone check my case before I appeal? Yes. AwareXone offers a free case review. Send us what you see on screen and what you have already tried, and an expert will tell you whether to appeal, wait or take another route. We never ask for your password or codes. ## Official sources - [Official: How video selfie age verification works on Facebook (read 29 October 2026)](https://www.facebook.com/help/1386337538619854) - [Official: Social media 'ban' or delay FAQs (eSafety Commissioner) (read 29 October 2026)](https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions/faqs) - [Official: Types of IDs that Facebook accepts (read 29 October 2026)](https://www.facebook.com/help/159096464162185) - [Official: Media Statement: Child Protection Code: Age Verification Measures Begin Today to Keep Children Safe Online (MCMC, 1 June 2026) (read 29 October 2026)](https://www.mcmc.gov.my/skmmgovmy/media/General/pdf2/MEDIA-STATEMENT_CHILD_PROTECTION_CODE_AGE_VERIFICATION_20260601_1303HRS.pdf) - [Official: My personal Facebook account is suspended or disabled (read 29 October 2026)](https://www.facebook.com/help/103873106370583) --- AwareXone is an independent Malaysia-based provider, not affiliated with any platform. The platform makes the final decision on every account. AwareXone never asks for passwords, OTP codes, backup codes or session cookies.