You can change your Steam username directly through your account settings, and it takes about two minutes

Steam calls your username your "Profile Name," and you can change it whenever you want without losing your games, friends list, or account history. The process happens entirely within the Steam client or on the Steam website. You do not need to contact Steam support or wait for approval — the change takes effect when ready.

The one thing to know before you start: your Steam ID number (a long string of digits) stays the same forever. Your profile name is what people see and what you can change. This matters because some games use your ID, not your name, to track progress and achievements.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your profile name through Account Settings on the Steam website or in the Steam client, not through your community profile.
  • The change takes effect when ready and does not affect your games, friends, or account security.
  • You can change your profile name as often as you want, with no waiting period between changes.
  • Your Steam ID number never changes, so games that track progress by ID will not be affected by a name change.
  • If you cannot find the Profile Name field, make sure you are in Account Settings, not Community Settings.

Changing your name through the Steam website

Go to steampowered.com and log into your account. Click your username in the top right corner, then select "Account" from the dropdown menu. You will land on your Account Settings page.

Look for the field labeled "Profile Name" near the top of the page. Click in that field, delete your current name, type your new one, and click "Save Changes." The page will refresh and your new name appears when ready. If you are logged into the Steam client on your computer, you may need to restart it to see the change reflected there.

Changing your name in the Steam client on your computer

Open the Steam client and click "Steam" in the top left menu (on Mac) or the menu bar at the very top (on Windows). Select "Settings" or "Preferences." On the left side, click "Account."

You will see your current profile name displayed prominently. Click "Change" or the pencil icon next to it, type your new name, and confirm. The change saves when ready, though you may see your old name in some places until you fully restart the client.

What happens to your old username

Your old profile name disappears from your public profile and from your friends' friend lists. If someone searches for your old name, they will not find your account. Your new name becomes searchable right away.

Games and communities that mention your old name in chat history or posts will still show that old name in those messages — Steam does not retroactively update text you wrote before the change. But your current profile, your friends list, and your game library all show your new name.

If you cannot find the Profile Name field

The most common mistake is clicking "Community" instead of "Account" in the settings menu. Community Settings control your profile picture, background, and bio — not your username. Make sure you are in Account Settings specifically.

If you are still not seeing a Profile Name field, log out completely and log back in. Sometimes the page needs a fresh load to display all the fields. If the field is still missing after that, your account may have a restriction (very rare), and you would need to contact Steam Support through the Help menu.

Changing your name on mobile

The Steam mobile app does not have a settings menu for changing your profile name. You must use either the Steam website or the desktop client. Log into steampowered.com on your phone's browser and follow the website steps above, or use a computer with the Steam client installed.

This limitation exists because the mobile app is designed for playing games and managing your library, not for account administration. The website and desktop client both give you full access to all account settings, so either one will work for a name change.

What does not change when you update your username

Your Steam ID number, your games, your achievements, your playtime, your friends list, and your account security all stay exactly the same. Changing your name is purely cosmetic — it does not reset anything or affect how games track your progress. You will not be logged out, and you will not lose access to any content.

If you are worried about account safety, changing your profile name does not make your account more or less find. Your password and two-factor authentication (if you have it set up) are what protect your account, not your visible username.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. You can change your profile name as many times as you want, with no waiting period between changes. If you want to go back to an old name, just follow the same steps and type the old name in again.

Will my friends still be able to find me after I change my name?

Your friends will see your new name in their friend list when ready. If someone searches for your new name, they will find you. If they search for your old name, they will not — but they can still find you by looking at their friend list or by your Steam ID number if they have it.

Does changing my username affect my game saves or progress?

No. Games track your progress using your Steam ID number, which never changes. Your saves, achievements, playtime, and unlocked content are all tied to that ID, not to your profile name. Changing your name has no effect on any of it.

What if someone else takes my old username?

Once you change your name, your old name becomes available for anyone else to use. If you think you might want it back, change to something temporary first, then change back to your original name before logging out. That way, no one else can claim it in the meantime.

Why does my old name still show in some games?

Games display your name at the moment you join a server or match. If you change your name mid-game, some games will not update it until you restart the game or rejoin a server. This is a game-side issue, not a Steam issue. Restarting the game usually fixes it.