Facebook no longer lets you create additional profiles. Profiles people already made still work, each with its own friends list and Feed, and you switch between them from your main profile using the same login. If you need a separate presence now, a Facebook Page is the usual alternative.
For a while Facebook let you run up to several profiles from one account: one for family, one for a hobby, one for a community you belonged to. If you've gone looking for the option and can't find it, you haven't missed a setting. Facebook's help page now says plainly that you're no longer able to create additional profiles.
What changed
| Before | Now | |
|---|---|---|
| Create a new additional profile | Possible from your account | Not possible |
| Existing additional profiles | Worked as normal | Not affected, still work |
| Main profile | Required | Still required |
If you already have extra profiles, nothing has been switched off. You can carry on using them.
How existing additional profiles work
- One login. You use the same login details for every profile. Facebook opens your main profile first and you switch from there.
- Separate friends and Feed. Each profile has its own friends list and Feed, and can follow different groups and Pages.
- Your main profile is fixed. It's the one you made when you signed up. It can only be deleted by deleting your whole Facebook account.
- Reportable. Anyone can report an additional profile that breaks Facebook's Community Standards, just like a main one.
Additional profile vs a second account
These aren't the same thing, and the difference matters. Facebook says only profiles created through your Facebook account count as additional profiles. If you sign up again with a different email, that's a brand-new, separate account, not an extra profile on your existing one. A second personal account isn't covered by the additional profiles feature, so treat it as a completely separate account with its own login and its own risks.
If what you want is simply to switch between two people's accounts on one phone, for example yours and a partner's, that's account switching, which I cover in how to add another account on Facebook.
What to use instead
| What you want | Better option now |
|---|---|
| A presence for your business, brand or side project | A Facebook Page, managed from your profile |
| Somewhere to talk about a hobby or community | Join or start a Facebook group from your main profile |
| Keep work and family apart | Choose the audience on each post, and use the Restricted list for people who should only see public posts |
| See less of one topic or person | Snooze, unfollow or take a break, rather than a whole new profile |
For most people a Page is the right swap. It gives you a separate name, picture and audience, and you run it from your main profile, so there's nothing extra to log in to. If you're keeping certain people at arm's length, my guide to what restricted means on Facebook explains the list most people overlook.
Planning ahead: legacy and deletion
Additional profiles are treated differently when you die. Facebook says you can only choose a legacy contact for your main profile, not additional profiles. And if you choose Delete after death, your main profile and any additional profiles are all deleted together. If an extra profile holds photos or memories your family would want, download them while you can.
Managing or deleting an additional profile
You manage additional profiles from your main profile, using the same login. Switch to the profile you want to change, then use its settings. If you no longer need one, look in that profile's own settings for the option to remove it. Your main profile always stays put, because Facebook says it can only be removed by deleting your entire account. For more on cleaning up, see my guide on unfriending on Facebook and Facebook's own Accounts Center.
Why people wanted extra profiles
It helps to know what problem extra profiles solved, because each one now has a better answer:
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- Privacy between groups of people. Choose the audience for each post instead, so work contacts never see family photos.
- A separate identity for a hobby. A Page with its own name and picture does this, and it can grow a following.
- A quieter Feed for one interest. The Feeds tab with Favorites shows only the people and Pages you pick, newest first.
- Running a community. A group from your main profile keeps conversations in one place, with admin tools a profile never had.
None of these needs a second login, and all of them stay tied to your real account, which makes recovery far simpler if you ever get locked out.
Can I still get a second profile?
Not through Facebook's profile feature. The help page is clear that new additional profiles can't be created. Workarounds you'll see online, such as creating a second account with a different email, aren't the same feature, and they can conflict with Facebook's rules for personal accounts. If you need separation for work, a Page is the safe route.
My verdict
If you already have additional profiles, keep using them, but know they're a closed door for everyone else. For a new project or community, set up a Facebook Page or a group from your main profile instead. It does the same job without the risk of a second account, and you won't lose access if Facebook changes the profile feature again.
Frequently asked questions
Can you still make multiple profiles on Facebook?
No. Facebook says you're no longer able to create additional profiles. Existing ones still work.
How do I switch between Facebook profiles?
Log in as normal. Facebook opens your main profile first, and you switch to an additional profile from there.
Is an additional profile the same as a second account?
No. Only profiles made through your existing account are additional profiles. A new sign-up is a separate account.
What should I use instead of a second Facebook profile?
A Facebook Page or a group, run from your main profile, is the usual alternative.
