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    How to Use Facebook to See and Wish Friends Happy Birthday

    Facebook shows you upcoming birthdays so you never miss a friend's special day. Learn how to find the birthday list, post a greeting, and manage your own birthday privacy.

    3 min read 5 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026
    1

    Find Today's Birthdays

    ~15s
    Open the Facebook app or website. Look for a birthday cake icon (🎂) at the top of your News Feed or in your notifications. Facebook also sends a notification on your phone when a friend's birthday arrives. Tap the notification to see who has a birthday.
    2

    See Upcoming Birthdays

    ~19s
    On the Facebook app, tap the Menu button (three horizontal lines, bottom right on iPhone or top right on Android). Scroll down and tap "Birthdays." You will see today's birthdays and upcoming birthdays for the next several days.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: On Facebook's website, look in the right sidebar for "Birthdays" or use the Events section to find "Birthdays."

    3

    Post a Birthday Greeting

    ~16s
    Tap a friend's name from the birthday list. This takes you to their Facebook profile. Tap "Write on [Name's] timeline" or look for the text box on their profile page. Type your birthday message and tap "Post." Your friend will be notified and can see your message.
    4

    Send a Private Birthday Message

    ~15s
    If you prefer a private message instead of a public post, tap the "Message" button on their profile. Type your birthday wish and send it through Facebook Messenger. This is a warmer option for close family members.
    5

    Control Who Sees Your Own Birthday

    ~24s
    To manage your own birthday visibility: tap your profile photo, then "Edit profile." Tap on your birthday. You can choose who can see your birth year (Friends, Only Me, etc.) and who can see your birthday month and day. Most people show the month/day but hide the year for privacy.

    Warning

    Hiding your birth year is a good privacy habit — it reduces information that scammers could use to verify your identity.

    You Did It!

    You've completed: How to Use Facebook to See and Wish Friends Happy Birthday

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    Facebook has a built-in birthday reminder feature that shows you which friends have birthdays today, this week, or coming up soon. It is one of the most popular reasons people check Facebook daily — a quick way to stay connected with family and friends on their special day.

    When a friend's birthday arrives, Facebook places a small notification at the top of your home feed (and sometimes sends you a notification on your phone). You can tap it to go directly to their profile and post a birthday message on their timeline.

    A birthday message on Facebook can be as simple as "Happy Birthday! Hope you have a wonderful day!" — it takes about 10 seconds and means a lot to the person receiving it.

    You can also find upcoming birthdays before they arrive so you have time to plan. The Birthday calendar on Facebook lists everyone's upcoming birthdays in one place.

    Keep in mind that Facebook only shows birthdays for friends who have chosen to share their birthday publicly or with friends. Some people hide the year of birth for privacy while still showing the month and day.

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    Official Resources

    Facebook Help CenterAARP Social Media GuideFTC — Social Media Safety

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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    How to Use Facebook to See and Wish Friends Happy Birthday — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure