You can change your Steam username, but the process depends on which name you want to change
Steam has two separate names: your display name (what other players see) and your account name (what you use to log in). You can change your display name as many times as you want, for free, directly in your account settings. Your account name — the one you type into the login box — cannot be changed once you create it. If you need a different login name, you have to create a new Steam account.
This matters because people often confuse the two. You might see a friend's username in a game and think that is what they log in with. It usually is not. That is their display name, which is temporary and changeable. Their actual login name stays the same for the life of the account.
Key Takeaways
- Your display name (what shows in games and on your profile) can be changed when ready and as often as you want through Steam settings.
- Your account name (what you type to log in) cannot be changed and is permanent once created.
- If you need a different login name, you must create a new Steam account; there is no way to transfer games or progress to it.
- Changing your display name does not affect your login, password, or any of your account security.
How to change your display name in Steam
Open Steam on your computer and log in. Click your username in the top right corner and select "Profile" from the dropdown menu. On your profile page, look for the pencil icon next to your current name at the top. Click it, type your new name in the box that appears, and click "Save". The change takes effect when ready across all your games and the Steam community.
You can change this name as often as you want with no waiting period or limit. There is no cost. If you change your mind five minutes later, you can change it again. Some players use this to rotate seasonal names or joke names during events. Steam does not track how many times you have changed it.
Why your account name cannot be changed
Your account name is the permanent identifier Steam uses to store your games, friends list, trading history, and everything else tied to your account. Changing it would require Steam to rewrite your entire account record in their database. Instead of building that system, Valve decided to lock account names at creation and let players change only the display name, which is purely cosmetic.
This is the same approach used by most online services. Your email address, username on Reddit, your PlayStation Network ID — these are all permanent. What changes is the public-facing name you show to other people.
What happens if you want a completely different login name
You must create a new Steam account with a different account name. You cannot transfer your games, friends, achievements, or trading cards to the new account. You will start from zero. If you have spent money on games, that money is tied to the original account and stays there.
Before you create a new account, think about whether changing your display name solves your actual problem. If you dislike how your current name looks to other players, changing the display name is when ready and free. If you dislike typing your login name when you start Steam, that is harder to solve — you can save your password in Steam so you do not have to type it, but you cannot change the name itself.
How to save your password so you do not type your login name
When you log into Steam on your computer, a checkbox appears that says "Remember password". Check it before you click "Log In". Steam will then remember your login name and password on that computer, and you can launch Steam without typing anything. This only works on computers where you have checked that box; if you log in on a different computer, you will have to type your login name again.
If you are worried about someone else using your computer, do not check this box. You can also log out of Steam at any time by clicking your username and selecting "Log Out", which clears the saved login on that computer.
Protecting your account name from being taken
Your account name is unique — no two Steam accounts can have the same login name. Once you create an account, that name is reserved for you as long as the account exists. You do not have to worry about someone else claiming it while you are not looking.
What you should protect is your password. Use a password that is not the same as any other website you use. If someone gets your password, they can log into your account and access your games, friends, and payment methods. Your account name alone is not enough to break in; they need the password too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my account name if I forgot what it is?
Yes. Go to the Steam login page and click "Forgot your login name?" Steam will ask for the email address attached to your account and send you a message with your account name. You cannot change the name itself, but you can see what it is.
If I change my display name, will my friends still find me?
Yes. Your friends list is tied to your account name, not your display name. When you change your display name, your friends see the new name in their friends list, but they can still message you and play with you the same way. Your account does not move or reset.
What if someone else is using the account name I want?
That account name is taken and you cannot use it. You have to choose a different one. Account names are first-come, first-served and cannot be claimed by anyone else once created, even if that account has not been used in years.
Does changing my display name affect my game saves or achievements?
No. Your game saves, achievements, and all progress are stored under your account name, not your display name. Changing how your name appears to other players does not touch any of that data.