You can change your Steam username directly in your account settings

Steam lets you change the name that appears on your profile and in games whenever you want, at no cost. The process takes about two minutes and happens when ready — you do not need to wait for approval or restart your computer. The name you change is your profile name, which is separate from your account login name (the email address or username you use to sign in). Your profile name is what other players see.

You make the change through the Steam client on your computer or through the Steam website. Both methods work the same way and take you to the same settings page. If you have not used Steam in a while or are on a different computer, the website method is often faster because you do not have to read or update the client first.

Key Takeaways

  • Your profile name (what other players see) is different from your login name (your email or account username), and you can only change the profile name through these steps.
  • You can change your profile name as many times as you want, and the change takes effect when ready across all games and your profile page.
  • The Steam client method requires you to be logged in and takes you through Settings > Account > Profile Name.
  • The website method works from any browser and is faster if you do not have the Steam client installed.

Changing your username through the Steam client

Open the Steam client on your computer and log in if you are not already. In the top-left corner, click your account name (the profile name currently shown), then select Account from the dropdown menu. This opens your account details page inside the client.

Look for the line that says Profile Name — this is the name other players see. Click the text field next to it and type your new name. Steam allows up to 32 characters, including spaces and most punctuation. After you type the new name, click the Save button below the field. The change takes effect when ready, and you will see your new name the next time you open your profile or join a game.

If the Save button is greyed out or does not respond, make sure you have typed something different from your current name. Steam will not let you save a name that is identical to what you already have.

Changing your username through the Steam website

Go to steampowered.com in your web browser and click the Login button in the top-right corner. Enter your email address or account username and your password, then complete any two-factor authentication if your account has it enabled. Once you are logged in, click your profile name in the top-right corner and select Profile from the menu.

On your profile page, look for the Edit Profile button (usually in the top-right area of your profile card). Click it to enter edit mode. You will see a field labeled Profile Name — click in that field and type your new name. Click the Save Changes button at the bottom of the page. Your new name appears on your profile and in games when ready.

What happens to your old username

When you change your profile name, your old name disappears completely from your profile and game lobbies. Other players will see only your new name going forward. If you had friends or other players who knew you by your old name, they will see the new name the next time they view your profile or play with you.

Your account URL (the link to your profile) does not change when you change your name. If someone has bookmarked your profile or saved a link to it, that link still works and shows your new name. Your Steam ID number, which is what the system uses to track your account behind the scenes, never changes no matter how many times you change your profile name.

Restrictions and things to know

Steam does not restrict how often you can change your profile name — you can change it as many times as you want, even multiple times per day. There is no cooldown period and no cost. However, Steam does have content rules: your profile name cannot contain hate speech, slurs, or content that violates Steam's community guidelines. If your name breaks these rules, Steam may reset it to a default name and restrict you from changing it again for a period of time.

If you are trying to change your login name (the email address or username you use to sign in), that is a different process and requires contacting Steam Support. You cannot change your login name through settings — you can only change your profile name, which is what this article covers.

Troubleshooting if the change does not work

If you click Save or Save Changes and nothing happens, first check that your new name is actually different from your current name. Steam will not save a duplicate. If it is different, log out completely and log back in — sometimes the page needs a fresh login to process the change.

If you are using the Steam client and the Save button stays greyed out, try restarting the client. Close it completely (right-click the Steam icon in your system tray and select Exit), wait a few seconds, then open it again and navigate back to Account settings. If the website method is not working, try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser entirely.

If you see an error message saying your name violates community guidelines, Steam is flagging your chosen name as inappropriate. Try a different name that does not include slurs, hate speech, or content that mimics official Steam or game developer names.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my login name or email address?

No, you cannot change the email address or username you use to sign in through settings. Only your profile name (what other players see) can be changed through these steps. To change your login credentials, you must contact Steam Support directly through their help website.

Will my friends see my old name in chat history?

No. Old messages in Steam chat will show your new profile name, not your old one. The system updates your name retroactively across all chat logs and friend lists.

What if someone else takes the name I want?

Profile names on Steam are not unique — multiple players can have the exact same profile name at the same time. You can use any name you want as long as it does not violate community guidelines, even if another player already has it.

Does changing my profile name affect my game saves or achievements?

No. Your game saves, achievements, playtime, and all game progress are tied to your Steam account ID, not your profile name. Changing your name has no effect on any of your games or their data.

How long does it take for the new name to show up in games?

The change is when ready in your profile and most games. In some games with their own friend lists or lobbies, it may take a few minutes to update, but this is rare. If a game still shows your old name after 10 minutes, try restarting that game.