You can change your Twitter handle whenever you want, and it takes about two minutes

Your Twitter handle — the @username that appears in your profile — can be changed at any time from your account settings. Twitter does not charge you to change it, does not limit how many times you can change it, and does not require you to wait between changes. The old handle becomes available for someone else to claim after you switch, so if you want to keep using it, you should not change it.

When you change your handle, your old tweets stay attached to your new one. Your followers stay with you. Direct messages stay in your inbox. The only thing that changes is the @name people use to mention you or find your profile.

Key Takeaways

  • Change your handle from Settings and Privacy > Account > Username, then type your new @name and save.
  • Your old handle becomes available for anyone else to claim within minutes, so choose carefully if you want to keep it.
  • All your tweets, followers, and messages stay with your account when you change your handle.
  • If someone takes your old handle before you can reclaim it, you cannot force them to give it back.
  • Changing your handle does not affect your email address, phone number, or password.

How to change your handle on desktop

Open Twitter in a web browser and click the three-dot menu in the top left corner of your screen. Select "Settings and Privacy" from the dropdown menu. Click "Account" in the left sidebar. Find the line that says "Username" and click the pencil icon next to it.

Type your new handle in the box that appears. Twitter will show you whether the name is available — if it is taken, you will see a red X and a message saying "This username is not available." If it is available, you will see a green checkmark. Click "Save" to confirm the change. Your new handle takes effect when ready.

How to change your handle on the Twitter app

Open the Twitter app and tap the three-line menu icon in the top left corner (sometimes called a hamburger menu). Tap "Settings and Privacy." Tap "Account." Tap "Username." Type your new handle and tap "Save."

The process is the same on both iPhone and Android. If you are using an older version of the Twitter app, the menu locations might be slightly different, but the Settings and Privacy section will still contain your Account settings.

What happens to your old handle

Once you change your handle, your old one becomes available for anyone else to claim. This usually happens within a few minutes. If you change your mind and want your old handle back, you will have to wait for someone else to claim it first, then hope they change it again — which is not a reliable way to get it back.

If you are worried about someone else taking your old handle, you can create a second account and claim it yourself before someone else does. You can then use that second account to hold the handle, or you can delete the second account later and let the handle go dormant (though it will eventually become available again).

Handles that Twitter will not let you change to

Twitter blocks certain handles from being claimed by regular users. These include handles that impersonate public figures, government accounts, or organizations — for example, you cannot claim @BarackObama or @WhiteHouse. Twitter also blocks handles that are offensive or violate its terms of service.

If you try to change to a handle that is blocked, Twitter will tell you "This username is not available" without explaining why. If you believe you should be allowed to use a particular handle, you can contact Twitter support, but Twitter rarely overrides these blocks for regular users.

What does not change when you change your handle

Your email address, phone number, password, and two-factor authentication settings all stay the same. Your account history, follower count, and verification badge (if you have one) stay attached to your account. Your profile picture, bio, and header image do not change unless you change them yourself.

People who have you saved in their phone contacts will still see your old handle in their contacts until they update it manually. Links to your old profile will redirect to your new one for a short time, but this redirect does not last forever — if someone tries to visit your old profile URL weeks or months later, they will get a "page not found" error.

Why you might want to change your handle

Some people change their handle to match a username they use on other platforms, to reflect a change in their professional life, or straightforward because they want a shorter or more memorable name. Others change it because they created their account years ago with a handle they no longer like.

If you are changing your handle because you are being harassed or impersonated, changing the handle alone will not stop the harassment — the person harassing you will straightforward start using your new handle. In that case, you should also report the account to Twitter and consider blocking or muting the person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my handle back to what it was before?

Only if no one else has claimed it in the meantime. Once you change your handle, the old one becomes available when ready. If someone else claims it, you cannot get it back unless they change it again. You can create a second account to claim your old handle before someone else does.

Will my followers see my old handle in their notifications?

No. Once you change your handle, your followers will see your new @name everywhere — in their timeline, in notifications, and in their follower list. Old tweets you posted will show your new handle, not the old one.

What if I change my handle and then want to change it again?

You can change your handle as many times as you want with no waiting period. Twitter does not limit how often you can make this change. Each time you change it, your old handle becomes available for someone else to claim.

Does changing my handle affect my verification badge?

No. If your account is verified (has a blue checkmark), the verification stays with your account when you change your handle. The checkmark will appear next to your new @name.

Can I change my handle if my account is suspended?

No. You cannot access your account settings if your account is suspended or locked. You would need to appeal the suspension or unlock your account first through Twitter's support process.