Your Steam username can be changed anytime through your account settings

Steam lets you change your username — the name other players see — as many times as you want, and it takes about two minutes. You do this through your account settings on the Steam website or in the Steam desktop app. The change takes effect when ready across all your games and your profile.

Your username is different from your account name (the email address you use to log in). Changing your username does not affect your login credentials, your games, your friends list, or anything else tied to your account — only the display name people see.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your username through Account Settings on the Steam website or in the Steam app, not through individual game settings.
  • The change is when ready and applies everywhere — your profile, in-game chat, and your friends' friend lists all update right away.
  • You can change your username as often as you want with no cooldown period or limit on how many times you do it.
  • Your account name (the email you log in with) stays the same; only the display name changes.
  • If you cannot find the username field, check that you are logged into the correct account and that you have permission to edit account settings.

Change your username on the Steam website

Log into your Steam account at steampowered.com. Click your profile name in the top right corner, then select Account from the dropdown menu. You will land on your Account Settings page.

Look for the Account name section on the left side of the page. You should see a field labeled Current user name with your current username displayed. Click the Edit button next to it. Type your new username into the text box that appears, then click Save changes. The page will refresh and your new username is live.

If you do not see an Edit button, make sure you are logged in as the account owner. Some accounts with parental controls or limited permissions cannot change the username from the web version — try the Steam app instead.

Change your username in the Steam desktop app

Open the Steam app on your computer and make sure you are logged in. Click Steam in the top menu bar, then select Settings (on Windows) or Preferences (on Mac). The Settings window will open.

Click the Account tab on the left side. You will see your current username displayed. Click the Change button next to it, type your new username, and click Save. The app will update and your new name is active when ready.

If the Settings window does not show an Account tab, you may be using an older version of Steam. Update the app through your system's app store or read the latest version from steampowered.com/read.

What happens when ready after you change your username

Your new username appears on your profile page, in your friends' friend lists, and in any chat conversations within seconds. Other players will see your new name the next time they load the game or refresh their friends list. There is no waiting period or delay.

Your old username is not reserved for you — another player can take it when ready. If you think you might want to switch back later, write down your old username or take a screenshot of your profile before you change it.

Usernames Steam will not let you use

Steam blocks usernames that contain profanity, slurs, or hateful language. The system also rejects names that impersonate Valve staff, Steam moderators, or well-known public figures. If you try to save a username and it is rejected, Steam will tell you the name violates the Community Guidelines — try a different name.

You can use spaces, numbers, and most punctuation marks in your username. There is no character limit listed by Valve, but extremely long names (over 100 characters) may display oddly in some games or chat windows.

If your username change does not save

Log out of Steam completely, wait 30 seconds, and log back in. Sometimes the change does not sync right away if you try to change it again too quickly. If you still do not see your new name, clear your browser cache (if you used the website) or restart the Steam app.

If you get an error message saying the username is unavailable or invalid, the name either violates Steam's Community Guidelines or another account already has it. Choose a different username and try again. If the error persists and you believe it is a mistake, contact Steam Support through your account settings — click Help at the bottom of the Account page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username back to what it was before?

Yes. There is no cooldown between username changes, so you can switch back anytime. However, if you wait too long, another player might take your old username. If that happens, you cannot get it back unless the other player changes their name.

Will my friends still see me after I change my username?

Yes. Your friends list does not change, and your friends will still see you in their list with your new name. You stay in all the same Steam groups and friend circles.

Does changing my username affect my game saves or achievements?

No. Your game saves, achievements, playtime, and inventory are all tied to your account, not your username. Changing your display name does not touch any of that.

What if I forgot my current username?

Go to your profile page on steampowered.com while logged in — your current username is displayed at the top. You can also see it in the Steam app under Settings > Account.

Can I use special characters or emoji in my username?

Steam allows most punctuation and numbers, but emoji and some special Unicode characters are blocked. If you try to use a character and Steam rejects it, try using standard letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, or underscores instead.