Change your username in Clash of Clans through the in-game settings menu
To change your Clash of Clans username, open the game and tap the settings icon (a gear symbol) in the bottom right corner of the main village screen. From there, tap your profile name at the top of the settings menu, then select the pencil icon next to your current name. Type your new username — it can be up to 20 characters — and tap the checkmark to save. The change takes effect when ready in your village and in chat.
You get one free username change when you first create your account. After that, each change costs 500 gems, which is Supercell's in-game currency. If you do not have gems available, you can purchase them through the shop, or you can wait until Supercell runs a promotion that includes free gems or a free name change.
Your username is different from your player tag, which is a unique code that never changes. Other players can find you by either your username or your tag, but only your tag remains constant if you change your name multiple times.
Key Takeaways
- Open settings, tap your profile name, and use the pencil icon to edit your username directly in the game.
- The first username change is free; all changes after that cost 500 gems.
- Your player tag stays the same no matter how many times you change your username.
- Usernames can be up to 20 characters and take effect when ready across the game.
- You cannot reserve a username or change it back to a previous name if someone else has claimed it.
Where to find the settings menu
The settings icon appears as a small gear in the bottom right corner of your main village screen, next to the shop and army icons. Tap it once to open the full settings panel. You will see your profile information at the very top, including your current username, level, and trophy count.
If you are on a device where the icons are hard to see, look for the gear symbol in the lower right area of the screen. It is the same location on both Android and iOS versions of the game.
The username editing process step by step
Once you have opened settings and can see your profile section at the top, tap directly on your current username. A small pencil icon will appear next to it. Tap that pencil icon to enter edit mode.
A text box will open with your current name highlighted. Delete the old name and type your new one. Clash of Clans allows letters, numbers, and spaces, but not special characters like @, #, or &. Keep your username under 20 characters or the game will not let you save it.
After you have typed your new name, tap the checkmark button to confirm. The game will process the change in a few seconds, and your new username will appear everywhere in the game — in your village, in chat, and on your profile card when other players visit your base.
Understanding the gem cost for name changes
Your first username change is free as part of the account setup process. Every change after that costs 500 gems. This is a fixed price that does not change based on how many times you have already changed your name.
Gems are Supercell's premium currency. You can earn a small number of gems by completing achievements and clearing obstacles in your village, but the amounts are small — usually 1 to 10 gems per task. Most players who want to change their name multiple times purchase gems through the in-game shop using real money, or they wait for seasonal events and promotions that sometimes include free gems or special offers.
If you change your mind about a name change before you confirm it, straightforward close the text box without tapping the checkmark and your old name will remain. You will not be charged gems for an incomplete change.
What happens to your player tag when you change your name
Your player tag is a unique identifier assigned to your account when you create it, and it never changes no matter how many times you rename yourself. It looks like a string of letters and numbers — for example, #ABC123DEF — and appears on your profile card below your username.
Other players can search for you by either your username or your player tag. If you change your username but someone else claims your old name, players who knew your old name will not be able to find you by that name anymore. However, they can always find you using your player tag, which remains the same forever.
This is why many players share their player tag in clan chat or on forums rather than their username — the tag is permanent and unambiguous, whereas usernames can change and be reused.
Restrictions and things to know before you change
Once you confirm a username change, you cannot when ready change it back to your previous name if someone else has claimed it in the meantime. Usernames are first-come, first-served. If you want to reclaim an old name, you would have to wait for that player to change their name or for their account to become inactive.
Clash of Clans does not allow you to reserve a username or put a name on hold. The moment you change away from a name, it becomes available for any other player to use. There is no way to lock it or prevent others from taking it.
Usernames are also case-insensitive in search, meaning "MyName" and "myname" are treated as the same name in the game's search function. However, the game will display your username exactly as you typed it, with capitals in the places you put them.
Troubleshooting common problems with name changes
If the pencil icon does not appear next to your username in settings, make sure you have tapped directly on the username text itself, not on another part of the profile section. The icon only shows when you tap the name.
If you see an error message saying you do not have enough gems, you have already used your free change and need to purchase gems to change your name again. Check the gem count in the top right corner of the main screen — it shows how many gems you currently have.
If your new username does not appear after you tap the checkmark, wait a few seconds for the game to process the change. If it still shows your old name after 10 seconds, close the settings menu and reopen it. The change should then be visible.
If the game will not let you save a particular name, it may contain a character that is not allowed, or the name may already be in use by another player. Try removing special characters or spaces, or choose a different name entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my username back to what it was before?
Only if no one else has claimed that name. Usernames are available to any player once you change away from them. If your old name is still unclaimed, you can change back to it by paying 500 gems. If someone else has taken it, you cannot use it unless they change their name first.
Do I lose my troops, buildings, or progress if I change my username?
No. Changing your username affects only the name displayed in the game. Your village, troops, buildings, gems, gold, elixir, trophies, and all other progress remain exactly the same. Your player tag also stays the same.
What if I change my username and then want to change it again the next day?
You can change your username as many times as you want, but each change after the first costs 500 gems. There is no waiting period between changes — you can change your name again when ready if you have the gems available.
Will my clan members still be able to find me after I change my name?
Yes. Your clan members can find you by your player tag, which never changes. They can also search for you by your new username. If they only remember your old username, they can look up your player tag in the clan roster and use that to find you.
Can I use special characters or emojis in my username?
No. Clash of Clans only allows letters, numbers, and spaces in usernames. Special characters like @, #, $, &, and emojis will cause an error when you try to save. Stick to standard letters and numbers for a name that will save without problems.