You don’t actually transfer a Facebook account to a new phone. Your account, posts, photos, and friends are stored on Facebook’s servers, so you just install the Facebook app on the new phone and log in with the same email or phone number and password. The parts that need planning are two-factor authentication codes, Messenger chat history in end-to-end encrypted chats, and logging the old phone out.
Here’s what to do before you switch, how to set up Facebook and Messenger on the new phone, and how to avoid getting locked out.
Before you switch phones
- Confirm your login details. Make sure you know your password, and that the email and phone number on the account are current. Check them in Settings > Accounts Center > Personal details > Contact info.
- Check your two-factor setup. In Accounts Center > Password and security > Two-factor authentication, see which method you use. If it’s an authenticator app, move it to the new phone or save recovery codes first.
- Save recovery codes. In the two-factor settings, choose Recovery codes and store them somewhere safe. Each code works once if you lose access to your usual method.
- Know your Messenger PIN. If you use end-to-end encrypted chats, Messenger can restore your chat history on a new device using the PIN or recovery code you set for secure storage. Check it’s set up before you wipe the old phone.
Set up Facebook on the new phone
- Install Facebook from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android).
- Open it and tap Log in.
- Enter your email or phone number and password.
- Complete the two-factor step if asked: enter a code from your authenticator app, a text message, or approve the login from your old phone.
- Allow notifications if you want alerts.
Your feed, friends, photos, groups, and saved posts appear immediately because they’re stored in your account.
Set up Messenger
- Install Messenger and log in with your Facebook account.
- If prompted, enter your secure storage PIN or recovery code to restore end-to-end encrypted chat history.
- Older, non-encrypted chats load automatically.
What carries over and what doesn’t
| Item | Moves automatically? |
|---|---|
| Profile, posts, photos, friends | Yes, stored in your account |
| Saved posts, groups, Pages you manage | Yes |
| Regular Messenger chats | Yes |
| End-to-end encrypted chats | Yes, with your secure storage PIN or recovery code |
| Authenticator app codes | No; move the authenticator app or reset two-factor |
| Photos only in your phone’s gallery | No; use your phone’s own transfer or cloud backup |
| App settings like notifications | Mostly; review them after logging in |
Switching between iPhone and Android
Facebook works the same way across platforms, so moving from an iPhone to an Android phone, or the other way around, doesn’t change anything about your account. The main things to handle separately are your authenticator app (export or re-link it on the new phone), your phone’s photo library, and any text messages, which are moved with tools like Apple’s Move to iOS app or Google’s switching tool rather than through Facebook.
Log out of the old phone
If you’re selling, giving away, or recycling your old phone:
- On the new phone, open Settings > Accounts Center > Password and security > Where you’re logged in.
- Select your account, find the old device, and choose Log out.
- Factory reset the old phone so no app data remains.
If you can’t log in on the new phone
- Forgot password: Tap Forgot password? and reset it using your email or phone number.
- No access to two-factor codes: Use a recovery code, approve the login from a device that’s still logged in, or follow Facebook’s prompts to confirm your identity.
- New phone number: Log in with your email instead, then update your number in Accounts Center.
- “Suspicious login” checks: These are common on new devices. Complete the checks and wait if asked; logging in from your usual Wi-Fi network can help.
Keep a copy of your Facebook data
If you want an offline backup of your photos, posts, and messages, go to Accounts Center > Your information and permissions > Download your information. Choose the information and date range, and Facebook prepares a file you can download.
Related: How to manage multiple Facebook accounts on one iPhone.
Related: How to deactivate Facebook on iPhone 14.
Related: See birthdays on Facebook.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose my Facebook photos when I change phones?
No. Photos you posted to Facebook are stored in your account. Photos only saved on your old phone need to be moved with your phone’s transfer tool or cloud backup.
Does my Facebook password change when I get a new phone?
No. Your password stays the same unless you change it. A new phone is a good moment to update it if you’ve used it for years.
Can I use Facebook on both phones?
Yes. You can stay logged in on several devices at once.
Do I need my old phone to log in?
Not if you know your password and can complete two-factor authentication another way. Keeping the old phone until you’ve logged in on the new one makes it easier.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He started on a university help desk, spent years as the IT person for small businesses, and has been writing tech guides full time since 2020. Each guide is checked on a device he owns, and re-checked when a menu moves. More about Kermit.