How to Add Another Account on Facebook (and What's Allowed)

This question hides two very different jobs, and mixing them up is how people get into trouble. One is simply adding a second login to your browser so you can switch between, say, your own account and a family member's on a shared computer. The other is creating a second personal Facebook account for yourself, which Facebook doesn't allow.

I'll cover both, using Facebook's Help Centre. If you run a business, there's a route that suits you better than a second profile, and I'll explain that too.

What "add another account on Facebook" can mean

Before you click anything, decide which of these you want:

• Switching between logins that already exist, on one computer.
• Logging into a different account on your phone.
• Creating a new profile for a different purpose, like work.

Facebook supports the first two in the ways described below. The third is where its rules matter most.

Adding another Facebook account on a computer

Facebook's help page says you can switch between Facebook accounts on a computer without logging out, but only if multiple people have logged in from the same browser. These are its steps:

1. Go to facebook.com on a computer.
2. Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook.
3. Click See all profiles.
4. Click Switch accounts.
5. Click the account you want to switch to, or click Log into another account if you'd like to log in as someone new.

Use Log into another account to add a second login. After that, it appears in the switcher, so you can move between them quickly.

Adding another Facebook account on a phone or tablet

This is where people expect more than Facebook gives. Its help page says that switching between accounts without logging anyone out is only available when you're logged in on a desktop browser. To switch accounts on an app or mobile device, you log out of one account and then log in with a different account.

So on your phone, the process is: log out, then log in with the other email, number or username. It isn't as slick as the computer version, but it's what Facebook documents. Menu names vary a bit between app versions, so follow your screen.

How many Facebook accounts can one computer remember?

Facebook's page says you can store information for up to 10 Facebook accounts on a computer, but it's best to only keep the accounts of people who regularly use that computer. I'd go further and say don't leave accounts saved on any computer that isn't yours, such as a library machine or a shared office desktop.

Removing an added Facebook account from the switcher

If you used a shared computer, tidy up when you finish. Facebook says you can remove an account by clicking the X next to your name after you log out of your account. It also warns that you need to remove the account each time you log out, otherwise it'll appear in the account switcher the next time.

Facebook's help also links to a way to remove saved login information from your account for added security, which is worth a look if other people use your device.

Why a second personal Facebook account isn't allowed

Here's the rule most people miss. Facebook's help page on multiple accounts says it's a community where people use their authentic identities, and it's against its Community Standards to maintain more than one personal account. I'd take that seriously, because a duplicate profile can end up flagged, and that can put your main account at risk too.

Facebook offers some sensible alternatives:

• To represent a business, organisation, brand or product, use your personal account to create and manage a Page. A personal profile is for non-commercial use and represents an individual.
• If you're well known and people want to follow you, Facebook has a way to allow followers.
• If you've ended up with 2 or more accounts, Facebook has a way to move your information into a single account, and you can add another name, such as a maiden name or nickname, to the account you keep.

What happened to additional Facebook profiles

You might have read that Facebook lets you create extra profiles under one login. Its current help page says you're no longer able to create additional Facebook profiles, though existing ones haven't been affected. If you already have one, you log in with your usual details, land on your main profile first, and then switch to the profile you want.

The page also draws a line worth remembering. Only profiles created through your Facebook account count as additional profiles. A brand new Facebook account is separate from your primary account, which brings us straight back to the rule above.

Using a Facebook Page instead of another account for work

If your reason for a second account is business, a Page is the answer Facebook points to. It keeps your private profile private, it's the right place for customers to follow and message you, and more than one person can help manage it. A handy extra, if you print flyers or put a card on your counter, is that you can find out where a Facebook Page's QR code lives.

Once your Page is set up, you'll want people to find it. A gentle start is adding friends on Facebook from your personal account, so the people who know you can find and follow the Page.

Keeping your added Facebook accounts safe

Whatever you set up, a few habits help. Log out when you finish on a shared computer, and remove the saved account. Don't share passwords or codes with anyone, and keep the email and phone number on each account up to date so you can recover it if needed. If you spot a login you don't recognise, deal with it straight away through Facebook's security pages.

This guide is part of my Facebook Help: 80 Guides to Pages, Groups, Ads, Stories and Fixes.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add another account on Facebook on my computer?

Go to facebook.com, click your profile picture, click See all profiles, then Switch accounts, then Log into another account.

How do I add another account on the Facebook app?

Facebook says switching without logging out only works in a desktop browser. On an app or mobile device, log out of one account and log in with the other.

Is it allowed to have two Facebook accounts?

Facebook's help says it's against its Community Standards to maintain more than one personal account. Use a Page for a business, brand or product.

How many accounts can I save on one computer?

Facebook says you can store information for up to 10 accounts, but recommends keeping only the accounts of people who regularly use that computer.

How do I remove an account from the Facebook switcher?

After you log out, click the X next to the name. You need to remove it each time you log out, otherwise it appears again.

Can I still create additional Facebook profiles?

No. Facebook's help page says you're no longer able to create additional profiles, though existing ones weren't affected.