Lichess username changes work differently than Chess.com

Lichess does not allow you to change your username after you create your account. Unlike Chess.com, which lets you change it once for free, Lichess treats your username as permanent. If you want a different name, you have to create a new account — there is no built-in rename function, and contacting Lichess support will not override this policy.

This matters because your username is public on every game you play, every puzzle you solve, and every profile page. If you chose a name you now dislike, your only option is starting over with a fresh account and a new username.

Key Takeaways

  • Lichess does not offer username changes under any circumstances; the name you pick at signup is permanent.
  • If you want a different username, you must create a new Lichess account from scratch.
  • Your old account and all its games, ratings, and statistics will remain under the original username.
  • Before creating a new account, decide on a username you are comfortable keeping long-term.

What happens to your old account if you create a new one

Your original Lichess account does not disappear or get deleted when you make a new one. Both accounts will exist at the same time, and both will show up in search results and game histories. Your old rating, game record, and puzzle statistics stay attached to that account forever.

This means if you played 500 games under your first username, those games are still there under that name. You cannot merge accounts, transfer your rating, or hide the old one. If you want a clean break, you can stop using the old account, but it remains public and searchable on Lichess.

How to create a new Lichess account with a different username

Go to lichess.org and click the "Sign Up" button in the top right. Enter a new username, your email address, and a password. Lichess will check whether the username is already taken — if it is, you will see a message and need to pick something else. Once you find an available name, complete the signup and verify your email.

After that, you are logged into your new account. You can start playing games, solving puzzles, and building a rating from zero. Your new username will appear on all your activity going forward. The old account remains separate and untouched.

Things to consider before you commit to a new username

Since you cannot change your username on Lichess, spend a moment thinking about what you want. Avoid usernames with numbers that might feel dated later, or inside jokes that will not make sense in a year. Keep it something you would not mind seeing on a tournament pairing sheet or in a game analysis someone shares online.

Also think about whether you want to tell people you are switching accounts. If you play in online tournaments or have friends on Lichess, they may not know to find you under a new name. You might want to update your old profile with a note pointing to your new account, or let people know directly.

Lichess username rules and what you can and cannot use

Lichess usernames can be 2 to 20 characters long and can include letters, numbers, and underscores. You cannot use spaces or special characters like hyphens, periods, or symbols. Usernames are case-insensitive, so "JohnSmith" and "johnsmith" are treated as the same name — you cannot have both.

Lichess does not allow usernames that impersonate staff, contain hate speech, or are otherwise against their terms of service. If you try to create a username that violates these rules, the signup will fail and you will be told to pick a different one.

Why Lichess does not allow username changes

Lichess keeps usernames permanent to maintain the integrity of game records and ratings. Every game you play is tied to your username, and changing it would create confusion about who played what and when. Ratings, statistics, and tournament records all depend on a stable username.

This is also a practical choice for a free, open-source platform. Lichess does not have a large support team, and allowing username changes would create extra work managing requests, handling disputes, and updating databases. By keeping the policy straightforward and consistent, they avoid those complications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I contact Lichess support to change my username?

No. Lichess support will not change usernames under any circumstances. The policy is absolute and applies to all accounts, regardless of how long you have been playing or how high your rating is. Creating a new account is your only option.

Will my rating transfer to a new account?

No. Your rating is tied to your username, and a new account starts at zero. You will have to rebuild your rating from scratch on the new account. Your old rating remains on your original account.

Can I delete my old account so the username becomes available again?

Lichess does not offer account deletion. Even if you stop using an account, it remains on the site and the username stays taken. You cannot free up the old username to use on a different account.

What if someone else took the username I want?

If the username you want is already in use, you cannot have it. Lichess does not reassign inactive usernames or make exceptions. You will need to choose a different name or wait to see if that account becomes available through other means, which is unlikely.

Can I use the same email address for both accounts?

No. Lichess requires a unique email address for each account. If you want to create a new account, you will need a different email address. You can use a secondary email, a plus-sign variation (like yourname+lichess2@gmail.com), or a completely separate email provider.