How to Change a Facebook Group Name (Admins, Phone and Computer)

A group name does a lot of quiet work. It's what shows up when someone searches, what members see in their notifications and what you'd put on a business card. So when your community grows, your focus shifts or you spot a typo three months in, you'll want to change it.

The good news is that it takes under a minute. The catch is a limit on how often you can do it, and that's the point people miss. Here's what Facebook's help centre says, step by step, for a computer and for Android.

Who can change the name of a Facebook group

Facebook's help centre is short and clear on this one: only group admins can change the group name. If you're a moderator, a member or the person who first suggested the group, you won't see the option unless you hold the admin role.

If you can't find the setting, check your role first. Open the group, look at the members list and see whether your name is listed under admins. If you want to know when a group was set up, my piece on finding out when a Facebook group was created explains how to check.

Changing a Facebook group name on a computer

These are Facebook's steps for a browser:

1. Go to facebook.com/groups and select your group.
2. Click Group settings in the left menu.
3. Click Edit next to Name and description.
4. Enter a name and click Save.

That's the full routine. The same screen holds the group description, so it's a good moment to check the rest of your wording as well.

Changing a Facebook group name on an Android phone

On the Facebook app for Android, the help centre gives these steps:

1. Tap Menu in the top left of Facebook and tap Groups, then Your groups, then select your group. If you can't see Groups, tap See more.
2. Tap Manage group, then tap Group settings.
3. Tap Name and description.
4. Change the group name, then tap Save in the top right.

I haven't read an iPhone-specific version of this article, so if you're on an iPhone, expect very similar menus but check the wording on your screen. The route is through your group, then Manage group and Group settings.

The 28 day limit on Facebook group name changes

This is the rule that should shape how you pick your new name. Facebook says you can't change the group's name more than once every 28 days. If you rename the group today and spot a mistake tomorrow, you'll be stuck with it for most of a month.

So read the new name aloud, check the spelling and make sure it says what you want before you press Save. I'd also paste it into a notes app first, since that's the easiest place to catch a typo.

What members see when you rename a Facebook group

Facebook says that once you've changed the name of your group, all members receive a notification that you've changed it. That matters for two reasons.

• Everyone gets a ping, so a name change is a small announcement to the whole group. Don't change it casually.
• Members will notice. If the new name looks very different, add a short post explaining why so nobody thinks they've been moved to the wrong group.

Facebook's help article doesn't say what happens to old links or to people who search for the old name, so I won't promise anything about that. If your group has a shared link in an email footer or on a website, check it still lands where you expect after the change.

Choosing a better Facebook group name

Since you only get one change in 28 days, choose carefully. These are my habits for community names, and they're my own advice rather than Facebook's:

• Say who it's for. A name like Small Business Owners Marketing Chat tells people straight away whether to join.
• Keep it short enough to read in a notification without being cut off.
• Avoid stuffing keywords. A name that reads like a search phrase puts people off.
• Use the name your members use for themselves, not your internal project name.
• Check the spelling of any brand name, including capitals.

If you run a group to attract customers, look at what others in your space call theirs. My list of Facebook groups for marketers gives you a feel for naming patterns that work.

Changing the name of a Facebook Page or event instead

People often search for this when they mean something else. Facebook's help centre lists related articles for changing the name of a Facebook Page, changing the name of a Facebook event, changing the colour of a group and adding or editing tags for a group. They're all separate settings with separate steps, so if the Group settings screen doesn't match what you're trying to do, you're probably in the wrong place.

A group is not the same thing as a Page. A group is a community space, while a Page is a public presence for a business, brand or public personality.

If you can't change your Facebook group name

• Check you're an admin. Only admins can change the name.
• Check the date of your last change. If you changed it within the last 28 days, you'll need to wait.
• Update the Facebook app, close it and open it again, then go back through Manage group and Group settings.
• Try the same job on a computer, where the Group settings menu sits on the left.

If the option still isn't there, Facebook says you can report a problem from the app. On a phone, you can shake the device and follow the on-screen steps.

For the rest of the series, see the Facebook Help: 80 Guides to Pages, Groups, Ads, Stories and Fixes.

Frequently asked questions

Who can change a Facebook group name?

Only group admins can change the group name, according to Facebook's help centre.

How often can I change my Facebook group name?

Facebook says you can't change the group's name more than once every 28 days.

Do members get told when I rename the group?

Yes. Facebook says all members receive a notification that you've changed the name.

Where is the group name setting on a computer?

Go to facebook.com/groups, select your group, click Group settings, click Edit next to Name and description, enter a name and click Save.

Where is the group name setting on Android?

Tap Menu, then Groups, then Your groups, select the group, tap Manage group, then Group settings, then Name and description. Change the name and tap Save.