You can change your display name and username separately, and they work differently

Twitter lets you change two things: your display name (what appears above your posts) and your username (the @handle people use to mention you). The display name changes when ready and you can do it as often as you want. Your username has a waiting period after each change — you must wait 30 days before changing it again — and the old username becomes available for someone else to claim.

Both changes happen in your account settings, not in a separate verification process. You do not need to contact Twitter support unless your account is locked or you cannot access your email.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name changes take effect when ready and can be changed as often as you want with no waiting period.
  • Your username (@handle) has a 30-day waiting period between changes, and your old username becomes available for others to use.
  • To change either one, go to Settings and Privacy, then Account, then Your Account Information.
  • If you change your username, update it anywhere else you have listed it — your website, email signature, or other social media profiles.

How to change your display name

Open Twitter on web or the mobile app and tap the three-line menu icon in the top left corner. Select Settings and Privacy, then Account, then Your Account Information. You will see your current display name in the first field. Click or tap on it, delete the text, and type your new name. Twitter saves the change automatically — you do not need to click a save button.

Your new display name appears on your profile and above all your posts within seconds. People who follow you will see the change the next time they refresh their feed. You can change it back or to something else when ready if you want.

How to change your username (@handle)

In the same Account Information section where you changed your display name, scroll down to find the username field. It will show your current @handle. Click or tap on it and type your new username without the @ symbol. Twitter will check whether that username is available and show you a message if it is not.

Once you confirm the change, your new username takes effect when ready. However, you cannot change it again for 30 days. During that waiting period, if you try to change your username, Twitter will show you a message saying when you can change it next. Your old username becomes available for anyone else to register, so if you change your mind later, someone else may have already claimed it.

What happens to links and mentions when you change your username

Old links to your profile using your previous username will not work. If you posted your Twitter handle on your website, in your email signature, or on other social media, those links will break. You should update them to your new username as soon as you change it.

People who mentioned you using your old username in past tweets — those mentions stay in the tweets but no longer link to your profile. New mentions using your new username will work normally. If someone tries to mention you using your old username after you change it, the mention will not reach you unless someone else has claimed that username and the mention reaches them instead.

Reasons to change your display name versus your username

Change your display name if you want to update how you are known without disrupting your account identity. For example, you might change from "Sarah Johnson" to "Sarah J." or add a title like "Sarah Johnson, Editor." This does not affect your @handle or any links to your profile.

Change your username if you want a fresh start or a completely different identity. This is a bigger change because links break and the old username becomes available to others. Only change your username if you are certain about it, because you will have to wait 30 days before you can change it again.

If you cannot find the username field or the change will not save

Make sure you are logged into the correct account. If you manage multiple Twitter accounts, you may be looking at settings for a different account than you intended. Check the profile picture in the top left corner to confirm which account you are in.

If the username field is grayed out or will not let you type, you may have changed your username recently and still be in the 30-day waiting period. Twitter will show you the date when you can change it again. If you see an error message saying the username is unavailable, try a different one — usernames must be between 4 and 15 characters and can include letters, numbers, and underscores.

Protecting your account when you change your name

Changing your name does not affect your password or security settings. However, if you are changing your username because you are concerned about your account security — for example, if someone has been impersonating you — you should also change your password and review your login activity. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Security and Account Access, then Sessions to see where your account has been logged in recently.

If you see logins from places you do not recognize, click the three dots next to that session and select Log out. You can also enable two-factor authentication in the same Security and Account Access section to make your account harder to break into.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone else take my old username after I change it?

Yes. Once you change your username, the old one becomes available when ready for anyone to register. If you think you might want it back, wait to change your username. If you have already changed it and want to reclaim the old one, you would need to wait for someone else to stop using it, which you cannot control.

Will my followers disappear if I change my username?

No. Your followers stay with your account no matter what username you use. They will see your new username on your profile, and they will continue to see your posts in their feed.

How long does it take for my new username to show up everywhere?

Your new username takes effect when ready on Twitter itself. However, search engines like Google may take days or weeks to update their index, so old links might still appear in search results for a while before they stop working.

Can I change my username more than once?

Yes, but you must wait 30 days between changes. If you change your username and then when ready try to change it again, Twitter will tell you the exact date and time when you can make another change.

What if my desired username has special characters or spaces?

Twitter usernames can only contain letters (a-z), numbers (0-9), and underscores (_). You cannot use spaces, hyphens, periods, or other special characters. If the username you want is taken, try adding a number or underscore to make it unique.