You pick your username when you create your account, and you can change it once for free

When you sign up for Roblox, you choose a username at that moment — it becomes your display name across the platform. Roblox gives you one free username change after account creation. After that, changing your username costs 1,000 Robux (Roblox's in-game currency, which you buy with real money). You cannot reserve a username before creating an account, and you cannot hold a username for someone else.

The username you pick during signup is permanent unless you change it. If you want a different name later, you go to your account settings and pay the Robux fee. Some players create an account, use the free change when ready to get their preferred name, then keep that name long-term to avoid paying again.

Key Takeaways

  • You choose your username during account creation, and it appears when ready on your profile and in games.
  • Your first username change is free; every change after that costs 1,000 Robux.
  • Roblox usernames can be 3 to 20 characters long and cannot contain spaces or most special characters.
  • If a username is already taken, you must pick a different one — you cannot wait for it to become available.
  • You can search for other players by username to find friends or check if a name is in use.

What characters and length are allowed in a Roblox username

Roblox usernames must be between 3 and 20 characters long. You can use letters (A–Z, both uppercase and lowercase), numbers (0–9), and underscores (_). You cannot use spaces, hyphens, periods, or most other symbols. Roblox filters out usernames that contain profanity or impersonate official accounts.

The underscore is the only punctuation mark allowed, which is why many players use it to separate words — for example, "blue_dragon" instead of "bluedragon". Uppercase and lowercase letters are treated the same, so "BlueDragon" and "bluedragon" are considered the same username and cannot both exist.

How to change your username after account creation

To change your username, log into your Roblox account on a computer or mobile device, go to Settings (the gear icon), and select Account. Look for the "Username" section and click the button to change it. Roblox will show you whether you have a free change remaining or whether the change will cost 1,000 Robux.

If you have Robux in your account, Roblox will deduct the cost when ready when you confirm the new username. If you do not have enough Robux, you will need to buy some before you can complete the change. The new username takes effect right away — your old name becomes available for someone else to claim after a short delay.

What happens if your desired username is already taken

If the username you want is already in use, Roblox will not let you create or change to it. You will see a message saying the name is unavailable. At that point, you have to pick a different name — there is no waiting list or reservation system. Even if an account has been inactive for years, the username remains tied to that account and cannot be claimed by someone else.

Many players add numbers or underscores to their preferred name to make it unique. For example, if "dragon" is taken, you might try "dragon123" or "dragon_". You can search for a username on Roblox to see if it is in use before you try to claim it.

How to search for a username and check if it is taken

To see if a username exists, use the search bar at the top of the Roblox website or app. Type the username you are looking for and press Enter. If the account exists, the player's profile will appear in the results. If nothing comes up, the username is not in use — though that does not mean you can reserve it. You can only claim a username by creating a new account or changing your existing one.

Searching is also how you find friends or check what someone's username is if you only know their display name. Keep in mind that display names (which players can change anytime for free) are different from usernames. A player's username is permanent unless they pay to change it, while their display name can be anything and changes often.

The difference between username and display name

Your username is your account identifier — it is what you use to log in and what appears in your profile URL. Your display name is what other players see in games and on your profile. You can change your display name for free as often as you want, but your username is permanent unless you pay 1,000 Robux to change it.

This matters because a friend might tell you their display name, but you will need their username to find them through search. If you see someone in a game with a name that looks different from what you remember, they may have changed their display name while keeping the same username. You can see both on their profile page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my old username back if I changed it?

No. Once you change your username, the old one becomes available for someone else to claim. If you want to use it again, you would have to wait for that person to change their name or delete their account, which may never happen. Think carefully before using your free change.

What if someone else has the username I want?

You cannot take it from them. You will need to choose a different name or add numbers and underscores to create a variation. Roblox does not transfer usernames between accounts or hold them for future use.

Do I have to use my real name as my username?

No. Your username can be anything that follows Roblox's character rules and does not contain profanity. Many players use creative or fantasy names instead of their real names.

Can I change my username on mobile?

Yes. Open the Roblox app, tap the menu icon, go to Settings, select Account, and find the Username section. The process is the same as on a computer.

What if my username contains a typo and I want to fix it?

You can use your free change to fix it, or pay 1,000 Robux if you have already used your free change. There is no way to edit a username — you have to change it entirely to a new one.