Where to find your Steam username right now

Your Steam username appears in the top-left corner of the Steam client when you are logged in. Open Steam, look at the account name displayed next to your profile picture, and that is your username. If you are on the Steam website instead of the desktop app, click your profile picture in the top-right corner — your username shows in the dropdown menu under your avatar.

The username you see is the one you created when you set up your account, not your display name. These are two different things. Your username is permanent and cannot be changed; your display name (also called your profile name) can be anything and changes as often as you want. Most people use their username to log in, but Steam also accepts your email address at the login screen.

If you cannot remember your username and do not have Steam open, you can recover it through the Steam website by entering your email address or phone number associated with your account.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Steam username is the account name you created during setup and appears in the top-left of the Steam client next to your profile picture.
  • Your username is permanent and different from your display name, which you can change anytime.
  • You can log in using either your username or the email address linked to your account.
  • If you forgot your username, the Steam account recovery page will show it when you enter your email or phone number.

Finding your username in the Steam client

Launch the Steam process on your computer. Once you are logged in, look at the top-left corner of the window. You will see a small profile picture followed by a name — that name is your username. It appears in the same location whether you are on Windows, Mac, or Linux.

If you see a different name displayed on your profile page (the one that shows your game library and friends list), that is your display name, not your username. Your display name can be changed anytime by clicking your profile picture, selecting "Profile", and then clicking "Edit Profile". Your username, by contrast, never changes and is what you use to log in.

Finding your username on the Steam website

Go to steampowered.com and log in with your account. In the top-right corner, you will see your profile picture. Click it to open a dropdown menu. Your username appears in this menu, usually at the top or labeled as "Account name".

From this same menu, you can also click "View my profile" to see your public profile page. Your username will be visible in the URL of that page — it appears after steamcommunity.com/id/ or steamcommunity.com/profiles/ depending on whether you have set a custom URL.

Recovering your username if you forgot it

Go to the Steam account recovery page at steampowered.com/login/home and click "I forgot my username". Enter the email address or phone number associated with your Steam account. Steam will send you a recovery email with your username and a link to reset your password if needed.

If you do not remember which email address you used, try the ones you commonly use for accounts. If none of them work, you may need to contact Steam Support directly. Go to help.steampowered.com, click "Contact Steam Support", and describe your situation. Steam Support can verify your identity through security questions or other methods and help you regain access to your account.

Why you might need your username

Your Steam username is required when you want to add friends, share your profile with others, or log into the Steam client on a new device. Some games and communities also ask for your Steam username to verify your account or set up cross-platform features.

When sharing your profile with someone, you can give them your username, your profile URL, or your friend code — all three work. Your username is the simplest to remember and type, especially if you chose something short when you created your account.

The difference between username and display name

Your username is permanent, set when you created your account, and used to log in. Your display name is what appears on your profile page and can be changed as often as you want. You can have a username like "john_smith_1987" but a display name like "JSmith" or anything else.

When someone searches for you on Steam, they can search by either your username or your display name. However, if you have set a custom profile URL, that URL is based on your username and cannot be changed. This is why some people choose a straightforward, memorable username even if they plan to use a different display name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Steam username?

No, your Steam username is permanent and cannot be changed. You can only change your display name, which is what shows on your profile. If you want a different username, you would need to create a new Steam account.

Is my username the same as my profile name?

No. Your username is what you log in with and cannot change. Your profile name (display name) is what appears on your profile page and can be changed anytime. Many people confuse these two because they often look similar.

What do I do if someone else is using my username on Steam?

Each Steam account has a unique username, so no one else can have your exact username. If you think someone is impersonating you, report their profile to Steam Support by visiting their profile, clicking the menu icon, and selecting "Report violation".

Can I log in with my email instead of my username?

Yes. Steam accepts both your username and your email address at the login screen. You can use whichever one you remember more easily.

Where is my username if I cannot see it in the Steam client?

Make sure you are logged in. If you are logged in and still cannot find it, try logging out and logging back in. If the problem continues, restart the Steam process. Your username always appears in the top-left corner next to your profile picture when you are logged in.