You can change your Twitter display name and username whenever you want, and it takes less than a minute
Your Twitter display name — the one that appears above your posts — can be changed as often as you like with no restrictions. Your username (the @handle) can also be changed, but Twitter has some limits: you can change it once every 30 days, and if you change it, your old username becomes available for anyone else to claim within 30 days. Both changes happen in your account settings, not in your profile itself.
The process is the same whether you use Twitter on a phone or a computer. You do not need to log out, create a new account, or contact Twitter support. If you change your username, your old tweets stay on your account — they do not disappear — but links to your old @handle will break.
Key Takeaways
- Your display name can change as many times as you want, but your username (@handle) can only change once every 30 days.
- When you change your username, your old handle becomes available for someone else to take within 30 days.
- All your tweets, followers, and account history stay with you when you change either name.
- You make both changes in Settings and Privacy, under Account Information, not in your public profile.
How to change your display name
Your display name is what people see at the top of your profile and above each of your posts. It can include spaces, capital letters, and emoji. Open Twitter and tap or click the three dots in the top right corner (on a phone) or look for your profile icon in the top right (on a computer). Select Settings and Privacy.
Go to Account, then Account Information. You will see a field labeled Name — this is your display name. Click or tap in that field, delete the current name, type your new one, and click Save. The change takes effect when ready. You can change it again right away if you want to.
How to change your username (@handle)
Your username is the @handle that appears in your profile URL and in mentions. It cannot have spaces and is usually lowercase. Go to Settings and Privacy the same way as above, then Account, then Account Information. Look for the field labeled Username.
Click or tap in that field and type your new username. Twitter will tell you right away if the name is taken or if it breaks Twitter's rules (for example, usernames cannot be only numbers). If the name is available, click Save. Your new username is active when ready, but your old one stays reserved under your name for 30 days. After 30 days, anyone can claim it.
What happens to your old username after you change it
When you change your username, Twitter does not delete your old one — it holds it for 30 days. During that time, no one else can use it, and if you change your mind, you can change back to it without waiting. After 30 days, the old username enters a general pool and becomes available for anyone to register.
This matters because links to your old @handle will stop working once someone else claims it. If you have shared your Twitter link on a website, in an email signature, or in a resume, update those links to your new username. Your tweets do not disappear and your account does not split — only the link breaks.
Why you might want to change your username
People change their Twitter handle for many reasons: a username they chose years ago no longer fits who they are, they want something shorter or easier to spell, or they are concerned about privacy and want to use something less identifiable. You might also change it if you are starting a business or a project and want a handle that reflects that.
The 30-day waiting period between changes exists to prevent people from rapidly cycling through usernames to confuse followers or to claim and abandon handles. If you are thinking about a change, take a day to sit with the new name — you cannot change again for a month.
Protecting your account while you change your name
Changing your name or handle does not affect your password, two-factor authentication, or any other security setting. However, if you are changing your username because you are concerned about privacy or because someone is harassing you, consider also reviewing who can message you and who can see your tweets. You can make your account private so only approved followers see your posts, or you can block specific people.
If someone has been impersonating you or using a username similar to yours, report it to Twitter through the report option on their profile. Twitter takes impersonation seriously, especially if the account is misleading people about who they are talking to.
What does not change when you update your name or handle
Your follower count, your tweets, your direct messages, your likes, and your lists all stay exactly as they are. Your account history does not reset. People who follow you will still follow you — they will not be unfollowed because you changed your name. The only thing that changes is what people see and what URL they use to find you.
If you have verified your account (the blue checkmark), that verification stays with you. If you have a custom profile picture or banner, those stay too. The change is purely cosmetic to your name and handle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my username more than once a month?
No. Twitter enforces a 30-day waiting period between username changes. If you change your handle today, you cannot change it again for 30 days. Your display name has no such limit — you can change that as many times as you want.
If I change my username, will my followers know?
Your followers will not receive a notification about the change, but they will see your new handle the next time they visit your profile or see one of your tweets. If they have bookmarked your old profile URL, that link will not work after 30 days.
What if someone takes my old username after I change it?
Once someone else claims your old username, you cannot get it back unless they change it or Twitter removes the account. This is why it matters to update any links to your profile on websites or documents you control. If the new account is impersonating you, report it to Twitter.
Can I change my username on the Twitter app and the website, or does it matter?
It does not matter. Whether you change your username through the Twitter app, the website, or Twitter's mobile site, the change syncs across all of them when ready. You only need to do it once.
Will changing my name or handle affect my direct messages?
No. Your direct messages stay in your inbox, and people can still message you at your new username. Conversations do not disappear or get lost when you change your name or handle.