You can change your Scratch username once every 30 days through your account settings
Scratch, the free coding platform run by MIT, lets you change the username on your account, but only once per month. The process takes about two minutes and happens entirely on the Scratch website — you do not need to contact support or use any other tool. Your projects, followers, and comments stay attached to your account after the change.
The one-time-per-month limit exists to prevent spam and keep usernames stable for the community. If you change your username, other users will see your new name going forward, but old comments and project credits will still show your previous username.
Key Takeaways
- Log into your Scratch account, click your username in the top right, and select "Account Settings" to reach the username field.
- Your new username must be between 3 and 20 characters, use only letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, and cannot be the same as your current one.
- After you change your username, you must wait 30 days before you can change it again.
- Your projects and followers move with you to your new username, but old comments will still display your previous username.
Step-by-step: changing your username
Start by going to scratch.mit.edu and logging in with your email and password. Once you are logged in, look at the top right corner of the page where your current username appears.
Click on your username in the top right. A dropdown menu will open with several options. Select "Account Settings" from this menu. You will be taken to a page that shows your account details.
On the Account Settings page, find the field labeled "Username". This is where your current username is displayed. Click inside the field and delete your old username, then type your new one. After you enter the new username, click the "Change Username" button below the field.
Scratch will confirm that the change was successful. Your new username is now active across the entire platform. If you see an error message, it means your new username does not meet Scratch's rules — see the next section for what usernames are allowed.
Rules for your new Scratch username
Scratch usernames must follow specific rules. Your username must be between 3 and 20 characters long. You can use uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, but no spaces or special characters like @, #, or $.
Your new username cannot be the same as your current one, and it cannot already be taken by another user. If you try to use a username that someone else has, Scratch will tell you it is unavailable. You also cannot use a username that Scratch has reserved — for example, you cannot use "scratch" or "admin" as your username.
If your chosen username is rejected and you are not sure why, try a different combination. Common reasons for rejection are that the name is too short, contains spaces or symbols, or is already in use.
What happens to your projects and activity after you change your username
All of your projects move with you to your new username. Anyone who visits your profile will see your new name and all your projects listed under it. Your project history, the dates you created them, and the number of views and loves each project has received all stay the same.
Your followers and the people you follow are not affected by the username change. If someone was following your old username, they continue to follow your new one automatically. Comments you have made on other projects will still show your old username, because those comments are part of the project's history and cannot be changed retroactively.
If other users have commented on your projects, those comments will still show the usernames of the people who wrote them — your username change does not alter comments left by others.
The 30-day waiting period between changes
After you change your username, Scratch locks you out of making another change for 30 days. This timer starts the moment you successfully change your username. If you change your mind when ready after, you cannot undo it by changing back right away — you will have to wait the full 30 days.
The waiting period is the same for everyone, and there is no way to shorten it or request an exception. If you need to change your username again, mark the date on a calendar so you know when the 30 days are up.
What to do if you cannot change your username
If you click "Change Username" and nothing happens, or you see an error message, first check that your new username follows all the rules listed above. Make sure it is between 3 and 20 characters, uses only letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, and is not already taken.
If your username meets all the rules but you still cannot change it, you may have already changed your username within the last 30 days. Log out and log back in to refresh the page, then check the Account Settings page again. If the problem continues, you can contact Scratch support through the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of the Scratch website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my username back to what it was before?
Yes, but only after 30 days have passed since your last change. You can change your username to any available name, including a previous one, as long as no one else has claimed it in the meantime. If someone else has taken your old username, you cannot use it again.
What if someone else took my old username after I changed it?
Usernames on Scratch are first-come, first-served. Once you change away from a username, anyone can claim it. If you want to use an old username again, you will need to wait until it becomes available, which may never happen. Choose your new username carefully.
Do I have to change my password when I change my username?
No. Your password is separate from your username and does not change automatically. You can change your password separately in Account Settings if you want to, but it is not required when you change your username.
Will my Scratch username change affect my school or class account?
If you are part of a Scratch classroom, your teacher may see your username change. The change does not affect your access to the class or your project submissions — it only changes how your name appears to other users and in the class roster.
How long does it take for my new username to show up everywhere on Scratch?
Your new username appears when ready on your profile and in your projects. It may take a few minutes to update in search results and other places across the site, but the change is active right away.