Your username is on your Steam profile page, visible to anyone who visits it

Your Steam username is the display name you chose when you created your account. It appears next to your avatar in games, on your profile, and in chat. If you have forgotten it, the fastest way to find it is to log into Steam on your computer or phone and look at your profile — your username displays at the top of the page.

Steam also calls this your "persona name" in some places. It is different from your account name (the email or login you use to sign in) and different from your Steam ID, which is a long number Steam assigns to you automatically. You only need to remember your username for other people to find you or add you as a friend.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Steam username appears at the top of your profile page when you log in on the Steam website or app.
  • You can change your username as often as you want by going to Account Settings and selecting "Change Persona Name".
  • If you cannot remember your account login, use the password reset tool on the Steam sign-in page to regain access.
  • Other players can search for you by your username, so your username is how friends find and add you in Steam.

Finding your username on the Steam website

Go to steampowered.com and log in with your account email and password. Once you are signed in, look at the top right corner of the page. You will see your username next to a small avatar image. Click on your username or avatar to open your profile — your full username displays at the top of that page as well.

If you see only a number instead of a name, you have not yet set a persona name. Steam allows you to create one for free. Go to your Account Settings (click your username in the top right, then select "Account Details"), scroll down to "Change Persona Name", and type in the name you want other players to see.

Finding your username in the Steam app

Open the Steam desktop app or mobile app and log in. At the top of the window or screen, you will see your username next to your profile picture. On the desktop app, click your username to open your profile page, where your full username appears at the top. On mobile, tap your profile icon and your username displays on your profile card.

The mobile app shows your username more prominently than the desktop version, so if you are having trouble finding it on your computer, checking the phone app is often faster.

What to do if you cannot log in

If you have forgotten your account email or password, you cannot see your username until you regain access. Go to steampowered.com/login and click "I forgot my password" or "I forgot my account name". Steam will ask you to enter the email address associated with your account or the phone number you registered with. You will receive a link to reset your password or recover your account details.

Once you have reset your password and logged back in, your username will be visible on your profile. If you still cannot remember it after logging in, contact Steam Support through the Help section of your account. They can confirm your username for you, though response times vary.

Changing your username if you want a different one

Steam lets you change your persona name (username) as often as you want at no cost. Log into your account, click your username in the top right, select "Account Details", scroll to "Change Persona Name", and type your new name. The change takes effect when ready, and your old username becomes available for someone else to use.

Your Steam ID number never changes, even if you change your username multiple times. Friends who have added you by your Steam ID will still see you in their friends list, but if they search for you by your old username, they will not find you.

Understanding your Steam ID versus your username

Steam assigns you a unique ID number when your account is created. This number never changes and is different from your username. Your Steam ID looks like a long string of numbers (for example, 76561198012345678). You do not need to remember this number for everyday use — your username is what matters for adding friends and being found in searches.

Some games or third-party tools ask for your Steam ID instead of your username. If you need to find your ID, go to your profile page on steampowered.com, right-click anywhere on the page, select "View Page Source", and search for "steamid" — you will see your ID listed in the page code. Alternatively, websites like steamidfinder.com let you enter your username and when ready see your Steam ID.

Why you might not see a username on your profile

If your profile shows only a number and no name, you have not yet created a persona name. This happens with very old accounts or accounts created through a third-party service. Creating one is free and takes 30 seconds: go to Account Details, find "Change Persona Name", and type the name you want.

If your profile is set to private, other people cannot see your username when they visit your profile page, but you can still see it when you log in. To make your username visible to others, go to your Privacy Settings and change "Profile Visibility" to "Public".

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my Steam username the same as my login email?

No. Your login email is what you use to sign into Steam. Your username (persona name) is the display name other players see. You can change your username anytime, but your login email stays the same unless you update it in Account Settings.

Can someone else use my old username after I change it?

Yes. Once you change your persona name, your old username becomes available for another player to claim. If you want to keep a username reserved, do not change it. Steam does not hold old usernames for you.

What if I see a different name on my profile than what I remember setting?

Someone with access to your account may have changed it. Check your Account Security settings to see if there have been recent logins from unfamiliar locations. If you suspect unauthorized access, change your password when ready and enable Steam Guard two-factor authentication.

Do I need my Steam ID to add friends?

No. You can add friends by searching for their username. You only need their Steam ID if you are using a third-party tool or if their profile is private and their username is not searchable.

Can I see what my username was before I changed it?

Steam does not keep a public history of your old usernames. Only you can see your current username in your account settings. If you need to know what name you used previously, check your email for old Steam messages or friend requests that might show your old name.