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

Steam calls your username your "Profile Name," and you can change it as many times as you want with no fee. The change happens when ready across your entire account — in your friends list, on your profile page, in chat, and in any games that pull your Steam name. You do not need to contact Steam support or wait for approval. The only limit is that you cannot use a name that is already taken by another account, and Steam blocks a small list of offensive terms.

The process is the same whether you use Steam on Windows, Mac, or Linux, and whether you access it through the desktop app or the web browser. Your password stays the same, your game library stays the same, and nothing about your account security changes.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Steam, go to your account name in the top right, select "Profile," then click "Edit Profile" to find the Profile Name field.
  • Type your new name, click "Save Changes," and the new name appears everywhere on Steam within seconds.
  • You can change your name as often as you want, but you cannot use a name someone else has already claimed.
  • Changing your username does not affect your password, your games, your friends list, or your account security in any way.

Step 1: Open your Steam profile

Launch the Steam app on your computer or go to steampowered.com in your browser. If you are not logged in, enter your username and password. Once you are logged in, look at the top right corner of the screen. You will see your current username displayed there.

Click on your username in the top right. A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Select "Profile" from this menu. This takes you to your public profile page, where other Steam users can see your name, your games, your achievements, and your activity.

Step 2: Click "Edit Profile" and locate the Profile Name field

On your profile page, look for a button labeled "Edit Profile." It is usually in the upper right area of your profile, near your avatar. Click it. You will now see an editable version of your profile with several fields you can change.

Find the field labeled "Profile Name." This is where your current username appears. Click inside this field to select it, then delete your old name and type your new one. Steam does not require any special characters or formatting — your name can be letters, numbers, spaces, or a mix of all three.

Step 3: Save your changes

After you have typed your new name, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the "Save Changes" button. Steam will check whether the name you chose is available. If another account is already using that name, Steam will tell you so, and you will need to pick a different one and try again.

If the name is available, Steam saves it when ready. Your new username will appear in the top right corner of the screen, on your profile page, in your friends list, and in any chat conversations within seconds. There is no waiting period and no confirmation email — the change is live right away.

What happens to your old username

Once you change your username, no one else can use your old name. Steam reserves it for your account permanently, even if you never use it again. This means if you change your name to "NewName" and then later change it to "AnotherName," no other Steam user can ever claim "NewName" — it remains tied to your account.

Your friends will see your new name in their friends list the next time they refresh or restart Steam. If you were in the middle of a chat conversation when you changed your name, the old name may still appear in that conversation's history, but your current name will show on your profile and in new messages.

Names Steam will not let you use

Steam blocks a list of offensive and hateful terms from being used as usernames. If you try to use a blocked word, Steam will reject the name and ask you to choose something else. The exact list is not public, but it includes slurs, explicit sexual terms, and references to violence.

Steam also will not let you use a name that is already taken by another account. If you see an error message saying the name is unavailable, that means someone else has claimed it. Try a variation — add a number, a letter, or an underscore — and try again.

Changing your username does not change your login credentials

Your Steam username and your login credentials are separate things. When you change your username, you are only changing the name that appears on your profile and in games. You still log in using your original account name or email address — whichever you set up when you created your account.

If you want to change the account name you use to log in (sometimes called your "Account Name"), that is a different process and has stricter rules. Most people do not need to do this. If you are unsure whether you need to change your login credentials, you probably do not.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Steam reserves your old usernames for your account, so you can change back to any name you have used in the past. straightforward follow the same steps, enter your old name, and save. No one else can use those names, so they will always be available to you.

Will my friends still see me in their friends list after I change my name?

Yes. Changing your username does not remove you from anyone's friends list or affect your friendships in any way. Your friends will see your new name the next time they refresh their friends list or restart Steam. Your friend ID stays the same behind the scenes.

Does changing my username affect my game saves or achievements?

No. Your game saves, achievements, playtime, and entire game library are tied to your account ID, not your username. Changing your name has no effect on any of your games or progress. You will still own everything you owned before.

What if someone else is using the name I want?

You will need to choose a different name. Steam will not let you use a name that is already claimed by another account. Try adding numbers, underscores, or slight variations until you find one that is available. You can change your name again later if you want to try a different option.

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

Your new username appears on your profile and in Steam's systems within seconds. In games, it may take a few moments longer depending on how the game pulls your Steam information, but most games will show your new name the next time you restart them or rejoin a server.