The fastest way: check your Steam profile page
Open Steam on your computer or go to steampowered.com in a browser. Click your account name in the top right corner, then select "Profile" from the dropdown menu. Your username appears at the top of your profile page, right under your avatar and display name. If you have set a custom URL, you will see both your username and your profile URL listed there.
Your username is the account identifier Steam created when you first signed up — it is different from your display name, which you can change anytime. The username stays the same and is what you use to log in.
Key Takeaways
- Your Steam username appears on your profile page under your avatar, separate from your display name.
- The username is what you type when logging in, while your display name is what other players see.
- You can find your username through your account settings, your profile page, or by checking your email confirmation from when you created the account.
- If you cannot remember your username, Steam's account recovery tool can help you regain access to your account.
Check your account settings
Click your account name in the top right corner of Steam and select "Account" instead of Profile. Scroll down to the "Account name" field — this is your username. You cannot change it from this page, but you can see it clearly listed here alongside your email address.
This method works whether you are on the Steam client or the website. The account name section also shows when your account was created and displays your current email address on file.
Look in your original signup email
Steam sends a confirmation email when you first create an account. Search your email inbox for messages from noreply@steampowered.com or support@steampowered.com with the subject line "Welcome to Steam" or "Confirm your Steam account." The email will include your username in the body text or in a welcome message.
If you cannot find the email, check your spam or promotions folder — confirmation emails sometimes get filtered. If you have changed email addresses since creating your Steam account, you may need to use the account recovery process instead.
Use Steam's account recovery if you are locked out
Go to steampowered.com/login and click "I forgot my username or password." Enter the email address connected to your Steam account. Steam will send you a recovery email with instructions to reset your password or confirm your username.
The recovery process takes a few minutes to a few hours depending on Steam's server load. You will receive an email with a link that lets you view your account details, including your username. This method works even if you have not logged in for years or cannot remember any details except the email address you used to sign up.
The difference between username and display name
Your username is your account identifier — the name you type into the login field. It never changes and is unique to your account. Your display name is what appears to other players in games and on your profile. You can change your display name as often as you want, and multiple accounts can have the same display name.
When someone adds you as a friend, they usually search for your display name, but Steam also lets them search by username. If you want other players to find you easily, make sure your display name is something you recognize — but remember that your username is what Steam uses internally to identify your account.
What to do if your username contains characters you do not recognize
Some older Steam accounts have usernames with numbers, underscores, or special characters added automatically during signup. This happens when your chosen username was already taken. You cannot remove or change these characters — they are part of your permanent account identifier.
If your username is hard to remember or share, change your display name instead. Set your display name to something straightforward and straightforward to type, then let friends know to search for that. Your actual username stays the same behind the scenes, but most people will interact with you using your display name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my Steam username?
No. Your username is permanent and cannot be changed. You can only change your display name, which is what other players see. If you want a different name for social purposes, update your display name in your profile settings instead.
Is my username the same as my profile URL?
Not always. If you set a custom profile URL, that URL is different from your username. Your username is your account identifier, while your custom URL is just a web address you choose. Both appear on your profile page, and you can see which is which.
What if I forgot the email address I used to create my account?
You will need to contact Steam Support directly. Go to help.steampowered.com and click "Contact Steam Support." Explain that you cannot remember your email address, and provide any account details you do remember — your username, display name, or games you own. Support can verify your identity and help you recover access.
Can other players see my username?
Yes, but they usually see your display name first. Your username is visible on your profile page and in your account details, but most players interact with you using your display name. You can keep your profile private if you want to limit who sees your account information.
Why does my username have numbers at the end?
Steam adds numbers when your chosen username was already taken by another account. This is permanent and cannot be removed. If you do not like how it looks, create a memorable display name instead — that is what most people will call you.