Yes, you can change your Steam username whenever you want

Steam lets you change the name that appears to other players as often as you like, at no cost. This is called your profile name, and it is separate from your account login name (the one you use to sign in). You can change your profile name from your account settings on the Steam website or through the Steam client on your computer.

The process takes about two minutes. Your old name disappears when ready, and the new one shows up across all your games and your profile page right away. Friends and other players will see the new name the next time they look at your profile or encounter you in a game.

Key Takeaways

  • Your profile name (what others see) is different from your login name, and you can change the profile name as many times as you want.
  • The fastest way is through the Steam website: go to your profile, click Edit Profile, change the name field, and save.
  • You can also change it in the Steam client by opening your profile and selecting Edit Profile from the menu.
  • The change takes effect when ready across all games and your profile page.
  • Your login name (the one you use to sign in) cannot be changed.

Change your profile name on the Steam website

Open a web browser and go to steampowered.com. Sign in with your account login name and password. Once you are logged in, click your profile picture or username in the top right corner of the page, then select Profile from the dropdown menu.

On your profile page, look for the Edit Profile button. It is usually in the top right area of your profile header. Click it. You will see a form with several fields. Find the field labeled Profile Name — this is the name other players see. Delete the current name and type in the new one you want. Click the Save Changes button at the bottom of the form.

Steam will confirm the change and take you back to your profile. Your new name is now live. If you do not see it update right away on your profile page, refresh the browser page.

Change your profile name in the Steam client

If you use the Steam client on your computer, you can change your name there as well. Open Steam and click your username or profile picture in the top right corner of the window. Select Profile from the menu that appears.

Your profile page will open inside the client. Look for the Edit Profile button and click it. You will see the same form as on the website. Find the Profile Name field, clear it, type your new name, and click Save Changes. The update takes effect when ready.

What you should know about profile names

Your profile name can be almost anything — it does not have to be unique, so multiple people can use the same name. You can include spaces, numbers, and special characters. Steam does not restrict most names, but it will block names that contain hate speech or explicit content.

If you change your name frequently, other players may have trouble recognizing you, especially if you play with the same group regularly. Some players use a consistent name and add numbers or symbols to change it slightly instead of picking something completely different.

Your login name — the one you use to sign in to Steam — cannot be changed. If you want a different login name, you would need to create a new account. Your login name is private and only you see it when you sign in; other players never see it.

If your profile name is not changing

Sometimes the change does not show up right away in the client or in games. Try closing Steam completely and opening it again. If you changed the name on the website, close your browser and reopen it, then go back to your profile to confirm the change went through.

If the name still has not updated after a few minutes, check that you actually clicked the Save Changes button — it is straightforward to type a new name and forget to save. Go back to Edit Profile and verify that the new name is there. If it is not, type it again and save.

In rare cases, Steam may reject a name if it contains characters the system does not accept. If you see an error message, try removing special characters or spaces and use only letters and numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my login name on Steam?

No. Your login name is permanent and cannot be changed. You can only change your profile name, which is what other players see. If you need a different login name, you would have to create a new Steam account.

Will my friends still find me after I change my name?

Yes. Your friends list does not depend on your profile name. They will see your new name the next time they look at your profile or encounter you in a game, but you will still be in their friends list under your account.

How often can I change my profile name?

You can change it as many times as you want. There is no limit and no cooldown period. You can change it again when ready after changing it.

Do I lose my games or progress if I change my name?

No. Your games, achievements, playtime, and all progress stay with your account. Changing your profile name does not affect anything except what name appears on your profile and in games.

What if someone else is using the name I want?

That is fine. Profile names do not have to be unique on Steam, so you can use the same name as someone else. Multiple players can have identical profile names.