The Essential Guide to Finding and Tracking Birthdays on Facebook (3150 words)
With over 2.95 billion monthly active users as of Q4 2022, Facebook is the biggest social networking platform globally. An estimated 81.5% of U.S. adults use Facebook, increasing to 98% among those under 50 years old (Source).
| Demographics | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 18-29 years old | 88% |
| 30-49 years old | 84% |
| 50-64 years old | 73% |
| 65+ years old | 50% |
Table: U.S. Facebook user penetration by age group – Pew Research Center, 2022
Naturally, many people rely on Facebook to stay abreast of what their friends, families and wider social circles are celebrating in their lives.
An impressive 59% of U.S. Facebook users have used it to wish others a happy birthday. Birthday posts achieve higher engagement than regular posts, garnering more reactions and comments according to Quintly Marketing Analytics.
U.S. Facebook users engaging in birthday activities (%) – Statista 2022
With these statistics in mind, it‘s evident that being able to easily track birthdays is an important Facebook feature for users. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about finding and keeping tabs on friends‘ birthdays via Facebook‘s website and mobile apps.
How Do Birthdays Show Up on Facebook?
Firstly, let‘s understand how Facebook assembles and displays friends‘ birthdays:
Users add their birthday while creating their Facebook profile. They can choose whether to make it public or keep it private.
For friends whose birthday is public, Facebook automatically adds their birth date and upcoming birthday to their friends‘ feeds and birthday reminder list.
As your friend‘s birthday approaches, you will receive notifications about it. On their birthday, you‘ll get a reminder to wish them.
Facebook also compiles all friends‘ birthdays into a searchable, chronological birthday calendar.
So in summary, Facebook uses the birthday information shared by users to provide friendship groups with timely birthday reminders.
How to View Friends‘ Birthdays on Facebook
Finding your friends‘ birthdays takes just a few clicks on desktop and mobile.
Finding Birthdays on Desktop
On the desktop interface, head to the Explore section on the left sidebar and click on Events:
Then select Birthdays from the menu:
This displays the Birthdays feed in chronological order:
You can view All Upcoming Birthdays or filter by year, month, or day using the dropdown menu.
To post a birthday wish directly from here, hover over the friend‘s name and click the Wish [Friend] a happy birthday button that pops up.
Finding Birthdays on Mobile
On the Facebook app:
- Tap the ≡ Menu button
- Tap Events
- Select Birthdays
This displays the birthday feed where you can scroll through upcoming birthdays.
Tap on a friend‘s name to open their Timeline to post a birthday message there.
How to Keep Track of Facebook Friends‘ Birthdays
While Facebook sends reminders as birthdays approach, you may want additional ways to track important birthdays.
Facebook Birthday Notifications
Enable birthday notifications to get alerts leading up to friends‘ birthdays:
On Desktop
- Click the down arrow 🡻 button
- Click Settings & Privacy > Settings
- Click Notifications on the left
- Turn on Birthday notifications
On Mobile
- Tap ≡ Menu
- Tap Settings & Privacy > Settings
- Tap Notifications
- Toggle Birthdays to ON
Choose whether you want email, SMS, or push notifications.
Sync Facebook Birthdays with Calendar
Sync the Facebook birthday calendar to your iOS, Android, Google, or Outlook calendar. So the birthdays show up on your calendar automatically!
On iPhone
- Open the iPhone Settings app
- Go to Calendar > Add Account > Facebook
On Android
- Open the Calendar app
- Go into Settings
- Tap Add Account > Facebook
Now all Facebook Birthdays will appear in these calendar apps.
Use Facebook Messenger
Opt to receive birthday reminders through Facebook Messenger as well for double alerts.
On desktop:
- Click the down arrow
- Click Settings
- In left pane, click Notifications
- Turn Messenger notifications ON under the Birthdays section
On mobile, enable birthday notifications in Messenger using the same steps.
Check Birthdays Regularly
Make it a habit to skim upcoming birthdays at the start of each month. Or set calendar reminders for yourself monthly.
This helps you:
- Plan birthday posts schedules in advance
- Get gifts for loved ones delivered on time
- Reschedule calls/meetups if they clash with friends‘ birthdays
Staying on top of the birthday list ensures you never scramble last minute!
Customizing Birthday Privacy
Facebook displays your birthday based on the visibility you select under privacy settings:
Facebook birthday privacy options
Custom lets you limit birthday visibility to specific friend lists if desired.
These settings are adjustable under Privacy Shortcuts:
On Desktop
- Click the down arrow 🡻 button
- Click Settings & Privacy
- Click Privacy Shortcuts
- Click See More Settings
- Next to Birthday, click Edit to adjust visibility
On Mobile
- Tap ≡ Menu
- Tap Settings & Privacy
- Scroll down and tap Privacy Shortcuts
- Tap See More Settings
- Tap Edit next to Birthday to change
So you have complete control over who sees your birthday.
Showing Only Birth Month & Day
To obscure your birth year for privacy reasons while allowing birthday wishes, you can show just month and day:
Showing just birthday month & day on Facebook profile
On Desktop
- Click your profile picture
- Click About in the left pane
- Click Contact and Basic Info
- Click the Edit pencil icon alongside Birthday
- Check the Only show month & day box
- Click Review Change
On Mobile
- Tap your profile picture
- Scroll down and tap Contact and Basic Info
- Tap Edit alongside Birthday
- Toggle the Only show month & day switch on
- Tap Done
This neatly hides your birth year while letting friends send across birthday wishes.
Removing Birth Date Entirely
To fully opt-out of displaying your birth date:
- Go to your About section
- Next to Birthday, click Edit > Contact and Basic Info
- Clear out the Birthday fields
- Save Changes
Without a birth date, you‘ll stop getting automatic birthday wishes and your friends‘ Facebook birthday trackers will no longer display your birthday.
Wishing Happy Birthday on Facebook
Once you‘ve found friends‘ birthdays, here are some creative ways to send your best wishes:
Write on their Timeline
Posting a message on your friend‘s Timeline lets all their friends and followers see your birthday wish. Make it fun by adding stickers, GIFs or photos!
Birthday post on a friend‘s Facebook Timeline
Send a Facebook Message
For a more personal and private way to say, "Happy Birthday!", use Facebook Messenger:
Type out your message and hit Send to deliver your warm wishes to your friend‘s inbox.
Create a Birthday Video
Stand out from all the text-based birthday posts that people receive! Use a template video maker like Animatron, Clipchamp, or Biteable to quickly create a custom birthday video with your photos, message and music.
Upload your masterpiece to Facebook and tag your friend. They‘ll be thrilled you took the time and effort to make something unique for their special day!
Share Memories on Your Story
If you have cherished memories with the birthday person, create a fun birthday story on Facebook capturing your friendship journey together!
Compile old photos into an album or add fun doodles and stickers on top with the Story tool. Don‘t forget to tag your friend so they‘re notified.
Watching their special story will make your friend‘s day extra happy and memorable!
Invite Friends to a Birthday Event
If your friend is hosting a birthday party or meetup, send invites on Facebook and track RSVPs:
Share event details like venue, timing, dress code etc. Friends can easily see who‘s coming and get updates from the event page.
Post in a Birthday Group
If you and your friends have a shared Birthday Group, announce the birthday there so everyone in the group is notified at once! Groups make it super simple to track multiple birthdays in your social circle all year round.
Send an e-Gift Card
Sending a small gift along with your Facebook birthday message can be a cherished gesture! Facebook provides free e-gift cards like Amazon, Starbucks, Sephora etc. to attach to your birthday post.
Sending a gift card with a Facebook birthday message
Adding that personal touch makes your birthday wish even more special.
Dealing with Missed Birthdays
Despite Facebook‘s reminders, you may miss out on wishing someone. Here are some fixes:
Send an Apology Message
Send a Facebook message or text apologizing for the missed notification. Offer to treat them to lunch/dinner to make amends!
Comment on an Old Post
Comment "Belated Happy Birthday!" on one of their older posts so they see your message later. Ask how they celebrated their birthday – maybe joke that you hope they liked your gift (even if you didn‘t send one)!
Schedule a Post
Save yourself last-minute panic during the next birthday. Schedule an upcoming birthday post in advance:
Scheduling a future Facebook birthday post
Facebook will automatically publish your post on the exact date and time specified.
Plan birthday posts for important friends a month ahead using this schedule feature so you never slip up again!
Facebook vs. Other Social Networks
While other social networks like Instagram or Snapchat focus more on photos and videos instead of text, they lack handy built-in birthday tracking features.
| Network | Birthday Features | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Can only see followers‘ birthdays. No notifications or reminders. | Not designed for birthday tracking | |
| No integration with phone contacts‘ birthdays | Primarily for chat | |
| No official birthday tracking tools | Mainly text-based posts |
Facebook remains the most versatile for looking up friends‘ birthdays and sending wishes:
✔️ In-built searchable birthday calendar
✔️ Desktop & mobile access
✔️ Advance notifications
✔️ Public and private ways to send wishes
✔️ Customizable privacy
While Instagram or WhatsApp can supplement birthday messages, the convenience of Facebook‘s dedicated birthday tools makes it the #1 platform for friends to engage around birthdays online.
Key Takeaways
I‘ve covered a ton of tips in this guide on how to monitor upcoming birthdays and send your cheer on Facebook.
Here are the key lessons to take away:
🔎 Find all friends‘ birthdays in the searchable Birthdays feed under Events
🔔 Enable birthday notifications and Messenger reminders
🎂 Post on your friend‘s Timeline or send a private Facebook message
🎥 Make your wishes stand out by creating personalized birthday videos and stories
🌟 Use Facebook‘s Groups, Events and e-Gift Cards to make birthdays extra special
🔒 Adjust privacy settings to control birthday visibility
⏱️ Schedule birthday posts in advance to never forget close friends
By leveraging these Facebook birthday features correctly, you‘ll stay effortlessly updated on your expansive network‘s birthdays!
