You can change your Steam username (called a "profile name") at any time through your account settings, and it costs nothing

Your Steam username is what other players see when you're in a game or on their friends list. It's separate from your account login name — the email address or account name you use to sign into Steam itself. You can change your profile name as often as you want, and the change takes effect when ready across all games and the Steam community.

The process takes about two minutes and requires only that you be logged into your Steam account. Unlike some other platforms, Steam does not charge money for name changes, does not limit how many times you can change it, and does not require you to wait between changes.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Steam profile name is what appears to other players and is different from the login name you use to access your account.
  • You change your profile name through your account settings on the Steam website or in the Steam client, not in-game.
  • The change takes effect when ready and shows up everywhere — your friends list, game lobbies, community pages, and chat.
  • You can change your profile name as many times as you want with no cooldown period or fee.
  • If you change your name and then change it back within a short time, other players may still see your old name briefly due to caching.

How to change your profile name on the Steam website

Open a web browser and go to steampowered.com. Log in with your account email and password if you are not already signed in. Click your profile picture or username in the top right corner of the page, then select Profile from the dropdown menu.

On your profile page, look for the pencil icon next to your current username near the top of the page. Click that icon to enter edit mode. The text field will become editable — delete your current name and type the new one you want. Click Save to confirm the change. Your new name will appear when ready on your profile and across Steam.

How to change your profile name in the Steam client

If you prefer to change your name through the Steam process on your computer, open Steam and log in. Click your username in the top right corner of the window and select Profile. You will see your profile page open within the client.

Look for the pencil icon next to your username and click it. Type your new name in the field that appears, then click Save. The change takes effect right away. You do not need to restart Steam or log out and back in — your new name will show up when ready in your friends list and in any games you are currently playing.

What happens when you change your name

When you change your profile name, it updates everywhere at once: your friends see the new name on their friends list, players in your game lobbies see it, and your community profile page shows it. If you are currently in a game when you make the change, other players in that game will see the name update within a few seconds.

Your account login name (the email or account name you use to sign in) does not change. Only your visible profile name changes. This means your friends can still find you by your old name in their friends list if they search for it, because Steam recognizes both your current and previous names for search purposes.

Things to know before you change your name

Steam does not prevent you from using a name that another player has used before. If someone else had a username and then changed it, you can take that name. Similarly, if you change your name and someone else takes your old name, that is allowed.

Some games have their own separate username systems that are not connected to your Steam profile name. For example, a game might ask you to create a character name or in-game username the first time you play. Changing your Steam profile name will not change those in-game names — you will need to change them within the game itself if that option exists.

If you change your name and then change it back very quickly, some players may still see your old name for a few hours. This is because Steam's servers cache (store temporary copies of) profile information, and it takes time for all the copies to update. This is temporary and resolves on its own.

If you cannot find the edit option

If you do not see the pencil icon next to your username, make sure you are logged into the account you want to change. You can only edit your own profile name — you cannot change another player's name. If you are on someone else's profile, you will not see an edit option.

If you are on your own profile and still do not see the pencil icon, try refreshing the page or clearing your browser cache. If you are using the Steam client, try closing and reopening it. If the option still does not appear, check that your account is not restricted — accounts with limited features may have some settings locked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my Steam profile name affect my login name?

No. Your login name is the email address or account name you use to sign into Steam. Your profile name is what other players see. You can change your profile name as many times as you want without touching your login credentials.

Can I change my name back to something I used before?

Yes. You can use any name you have used in the past, or any name that is not currently taken by another player. There is no restriction on reusing old names or taking names that other players have abandoned.

How long does it take for my new name to show up in games?

Your new name appears when ready on your profile and in the Steam client. In games, it usually shows up within a few seconds. If you are in a multiplayer game when you change your name, other players will see the update very quickly, though there may be a brief delay of a few seconds.

What if another player is using the name I want?

You cannot use a name that is currently active on another player's account. You will need to choose a different name. If the name you want was used by someone in the past but they have since changed it, that name becomes available and you can use it.

Do I need to change my name in individual games too?

Not necessarily. Changing your Steam profile name updates your name in most games automatically. However, some games have their own separate character or username systems. If a game has its own name system, you will need to change your name within that game separately if you want it to match your Steam profile name.