Change your username from your account settings
To change your Scratch username, log into your account, click your username in the top right corner, select "Account settings," and enter your new username in the "Username" field. Scratch allows you to change your username once every 30 days. The new name takes effect when ready after you save it.
Your new username must be between 3 and 20 characters long and can contain letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. Scratch will tell you right away if the name you want is already taken or breaks the character rules. You cannot use spaces or special characters like periods, commas, or exclamation marks.
After you change your username, your old projects stay with you under the new name. Other users who follow you will still see your projects in their feed. Any comments you left on other projects will show your new username, not the old one.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your username once every 30 days through your account settings on the Scratch website.
- Your new username must be 3 to 20 characters and can only contain letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores.
- All your projects, followers, and comments move with you to your new username automatically.
- If you change your mind, you must wait 30 days before changing your username again.
What happens to your projects and followers
When you change your username, Scratch does not move your projects to a new account or create a separate profile. Your projects, followers, and all your activity stay attached to the same account — only the name displayed changes. Anyone who bookmarked your profile or followed you will still see your projects under your new name.
Comments you made on other people's projects will display your new username. If someone searches for your old username, they will not find your profile, but if they search for your new username, they will land on the same account with all your work intact.
The 30-day waiting period between changes
Scratch enforces a 30-day cooldown between username changes. If you change your username today, you cannot change it again for 30 days. This rule applies to every account, with no exceptions. The timer resets each time you make a change.
If you change your username and realize you made a typo or want something different, you have to wait the full 30 days before you can change it again. Plan your new username carefully before you save it, because you are locked into it for a month.
Usernames you cannot use
Scratch reserves certain usernames for its own use and will not let you claim them. These include "Scratch," "ScratchCat," "Gobo," and other official Scratch accounts and mascots. If you try to use a reserved name, Scratch will show an error message saying the username is not available.
You also cannot use a username that is already taken by another user. If the name you want shows as unavailable, someone else has it. You can try a variation — adding a number, a hyphen, or an underscore — to make it unique to you.
Troubleshooting a username change that did not work
If you clicked "Save" and your username did not change, check that you are logged into the correct account. Some users have multiple Scratch accounts and accidentally log into the wrong one. Log out completely, then log back in to the account you want to change.
If you see an error message saying your new username is invalid, check the character count and the characters you used. Scratch does not accept spaces, periods, or most punctuation marks. Hyphens and underscores are allowed, but nothing else. If the message says the username is taken, that name belongs to another user and you will need to choose something different.
If you changed your username but it is not showing up everywhere on the site, wait a few minutes and refresh your browser. Sometimes the change takes a moment to appear across all pages. If it still has not updated after 10 minutes, log out and log back in.
Changing your username on mobile versus desktop
The process is the same whether you use a phone, tablet, or computer. Open the Scratch website in your browser (not the app, if you have one), log in, and go to account settings the same way you would on a desktop. Tap your username in the top right, select "Account settings," and change your username in the field provided.
If you use the Scratch app on a phone or tablet, you may not see an account settings option inside the app itself. In that case, open a web browser, go to scratch.mit.edu, log in there, and change your username through the website. The change will be reflected in the app the next time you log in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my username more than once every 30 days?
No. Scratch enforces a strict 30-day cooldown between changes for all users. You must wait the full 30 days from your last change before you can change your username again. There are no exceptions to this rule.
What if someone else takes the username I want after I change mine?
Once you change your username, you cannot claim your old username again for 30 days. If someone else takes it during that time, you would have to choose a different name. To keep your old username available, do not change it.
Will my followers see my old username anywhere after I change it?
Your old username will not appear on your profile or projects. However, if you made comments on other projects before the change, those comments may still show your old username for a short time while Scratch updates its systems. Eventually all comments will display your new username.
Can I change my username if my account is new?
Yes. There is no minimum age or account history required to change your username. You can change it as soon as you create your account, as long as you follow the 30-day rule for future changes.
What should I do if I forgot my password and cannot log in to change my username?
Go to the Scratch login page and click "I forgot my password." Scratch will send a reset link to the email address connected to your account. Once you reset your password and log in, you can change your username through account settings.