You can change your Steam username once every 30 days

Steam lets you change the display name that other players see in your profile and in-game. You can do this as often as you want, but Steam enforces a 30-day waiting period between changes — so if you changed your name yesterday, you cannot change it again for 30 days from that date.

The name you change is your profile name, not your account name. Your account name (the one you log in with) stays the same forever and cannot be changed. This matters because your friends see your profile name, but Steam's system uses your account name to track your library and achievements.

Changing your name takes about two minutes and costs nothing.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your profile name (what others see) through your Steam profile settings, not your account settings.
  • Steam enforces a 30-day cooldown between name changes, measured from the date of your last change.
  • Your account name — the one you log in with — cannot be changed and is separate from your profile name.
  • If you have not changed your name before, you can change it when ready with no waiting period.
  • Steam does not allow certain characters or strings in profile names, including some symbols and offensive terms.

How to change your name on the Steam desktop app

Open Steam on your computer and log in. Click your username in the top right corner of the window, then select "Profile" from the dropdown menu. This takes you to your public profile page.

In the upper left of your profile, you will see your current name with an "Edit Profile" button next to it. Click that button. A form appears with a text field labeled "Profile Name" — this is where you type your new name. Enter what you want to be called, then click "Save Changes" at the bottom of the form.

If you have changed your name within the last 30 days, Steam will show you a message saying when you can change it again. The date is always 30 days from your previous change, not from today.

How to change your name on the Steam website

Go to steamcommunity.com and log in. Click your username in the top right, then select "Profile" from the menu. You will see your profile page in a web browser instead of the app.

Look for the "Edit Profile" button near your name at the top of the page. Click it, find the "Profile Name" field, type your new name, and click "Save Changes". The process is identical to the desktop app — you get the same 30-day cooldown and the same character restrictions.

Using the website is useful if you are away from your computer or if the Steam app is not working properly on your machine.

What names Steam will not allow

Steam blocks profile names that contain certain characters or patterns. You cannot use most special symbols — things like asterisks, brackets, or angle brackets will be rejected. Steam also blocks names that contain slurs, hate speech, or sexually explicit terms, though the exact list is not public.

If you try to save a name and Steam rejects it, the form will show an error message. Try removing special characters first, or choose a different word if Steam flags your choice as offensive. Names with numbers and letters, spaces, and common punctuation like hyphens or underscores usually go through without trouble.

What happens to your old name after you change it

Your old profile name becomes available for other players to use when ready. Steam does not reserve old names for you, and there is no way to reclaim a name you used before. If you change from "PlayerOne" to "PlayerTwo" and then want to go back to "PlayerOne" later, you can do that — but only if no one else has claimed "PlayerOne" in the meantime.

Your friends will see your new name the next time they look at your profile or see you in-game. Old chat messages and comments on your profile will still show your old name, because Steam does not retroactively update text you wrote in the past.

The difference between profile name and account name

Your account name is what you type when you log into Steam. It was set when you created your account and cannot be changed under any circumstances. This name is private — only you and Steam support see it. Your friends never see your account name.

Your profile name is the display name everyone sees. It is what shows up in your profile, in-game, and in chat. You can change this name as often as you want (with the 30-day cooldown), but your account name stays locked.

This separation exists because Steam's backend uses your account name to track your library, achievements, and purchase history. If account names could change, Steam would have to relink everything every time someone changed their name, which would create security and data problems.

If you cannot change your name right now

If you see a message saying you cannot change your name yet, Steam is telling you the exact date you will be able to change it again. This date is always 30 days from your last name change. You cannot bypass this waiting period — there is no way to change your name sooner, and contacting Steam support will not override the cooldown.

If you have never changed your name before, you should be able to change it when ready with no waiting period. If you cannot, check whether you changed your name a long time ago and forgot about it — the 30-day window may still be active from that change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my account name instead of my profile name?

No. Your account name (the one you log in with) cannot be changed. You can only change your profile name, which is what other players see. If you want a different login name, you would have to create a new Steam account.

Will changing my name affect my games or achievements?

No. Your games, achievements, playtime, and friends list are all tied to your account name, not your profile name. Changing your profile name does not touch any of that. Your library stays exactly the same.

Can I change my name back to something I used before?

You can try, but only if no one else has claimed that name. Old names are not reserved for you. If another player took your old name after you changed it, you cannot use it again unless they change their name first.

What if Steam says my name contains invalid characters?

Remove any special symbols like asterisks, brackets, or angle brackets. Stick to letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and underscores. If Steam still rejects it, the name may contain a word or phrase Steam blocks — try a different word.

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

Your new name appears when ready in your profile and in-game. Friends will see it the next time they look at your profile or encounter you in a game. There is no delay or waiting period after you click save.