How to Add a Bio on Facebook (Computer, Android and iPhone)

A bio is the first thing a stranger reads when they land on your profile. For a friend it's a nicety, but for a client, a collaborator or a customer checking you out before they message, it can decide whether they take you seriously. Facebook doesn't use the word bio in its menus, though, which is why so many people can't find where to put one.

It lives in the Intro section of your profile. Below are Facebook's own steps for a computer, Android and iPhone, who can see it, and how I'd approach writing one.

Adding a bio on Facebook from a computer

Facebook's help centre says the Intro section of your profile is where you can add a bio or brief description of yourself or your Page. Here's the route on a computer:

1. Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook, then click your name to go to your profile.
2. In the Intro section below your profile picture, click Edit details.
3. Change the information, or edit the privacy setting.
4. Click Save.

Adding a bio on Facebook in the Android and iPhone apps

In the app, Facebook's help pages say to start from your profile picture and then use the edit option, rather than a button labelled Intro.

• On Android: open the Facebook app, tap your profile picture at the top right, then tap Edit profile and select which profile details you want to change.
• On iPhone: open the Facebook app, tap your profile picture at the bottom right, then tap Edit Profile and select which profile details you want to change.

The labels differ a little between versions, and menus vary by app version, so if you don't see the exact words, look for the edit profile option and then the section that describes you in a few lines.

Who can see your Facebook bio

There are two statements in the help pages, and it's useful to read them together. The computer instructions say that the information in the Intro section of your profile is always public, although you can choose what information you want to include in it. They also point out that some information on your profile will always be public, for example your profile picture, cover photo and name, so others can identify you if they'd like to send a friend request.

The app instructions add a tip that you can use the audience selector in each section to choose who can see your profile details. Because those two statements sit side by side, the safest approach is to write your bio as though anyone can read it. Check any privacy control you see on screen before you save, and don't put anything in it that you'd mind a stranger reading.

Other details you can add next to your Facebook bio

Facebook's help pages list the sections of your profile you can add or edit, noting that this feature isn't yet available to everyone. They include:

Profile section	What it holds, per Facebook's help pages
Intro	A bio or brief description of yourself
Personal details	Items such as relationship status, family members, location, gender and date of birth
Work	Your past and current work experience
Education	Your secondary school and/or university
Hobbies and Interests	Things you enjoy, such as TV shows, films, games, music and sports
Travel	Places you've visited or want to visit
Links	Addresses of personal sites or things you like
Contact info	Ways to get in touch, including social media links, phone number and email address

You can also choose to share profile updates to your feed with the Share to feed option. If you'd like to add friends who share your interests once your profile is ready, my guide to adding friends on Facebook takes you through search and suggestions.

Editing the About section instead of the Intro

If what you want is a fuller picture, use About. Facebook's help centre gives these steps on a computer:

1. Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook, then click your name.
2. Click About.
3. Click Edit or Add next to the information you'd like to update.
4. Select an audience and click Save.

Writing a Facebook bio that works for creators and small business owners

Facebook doesn't give a character count in the help pages I read, so I won't quote one. My advice is to keep it short enough that nobody has to scroll to understand you. A good bio answers three questions: what you do, who you help, and what the reader should do next.

• Say what you do in plain words. "Mum of two who bakes wedding cakes" tells a stranger more than a clever tagline.
• Name the people you help. A bio for "small business owners who dread tax season" attracts exactly them.
• End on the next step. Point people to your Page or your contact details so they know where to go.
• Match your profile picture. If you're updating both, my note on the best time to change your Facebook profile picture is worth a read.

Keep personal details out of a bio you're using for work. Because the Intro is public, avoid a home address, a private phone number or anything that could help someone you don't know find you in person.

If you can't find the Facebook bio option

• Update the app. Facebook notes that some profile features aren't available to everyone yet, and newer layouts roll out gradually.
• Open the edit option from your profile. On the app that's the Edit profile button under your profile picture, not a separate Bio button.
• Try a computer. Edit details sits right under the profile picture in the Intro section.
• Check you're on the right profile. If you manage a Page, switch into the profile or Page whose bio you want to change.

I keep every related walkthrough in the Facebook Help: 80 Guides to Pages, Groups, Ads, Stories and Fixes. Check the length with my free Instagram character counter.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I add a bio on Facebook?

In the Intro section of your profile. On a computer, click Edit details under your profile picture. In the app, tap your profile picture, then Edit profile.

Can everyone see my Facebook bio?

Facebook's help page for computers says the Intro section is always public, while the app instructions mention an audience selector for profile details. Write it assuming anyone can read it.

Is there a Facebook bio character limit?

The help pages I read don't give one, so I can't quote a number.

What else can I put on my profile?

Facebook lists personal details, work, education, hobbies, interests, travel, links and contact info, though not every feature is available to everyone.

Can I add a bio to my Facebook Page?

Facebook's help page says the Intro section is for a bio or brief description of yourself or your Page. The steps I've given are for a profile, so look for the equivalent in your Page's settings.