Change your display name in Twitter settings

Your Twitter display name — the one that appears above your posts and in search results — lives in your account settings and takes about 30 seconds to change. You do not need to create a new account or lose your followers. The change happens when ready across all devices.

Open Twitter on a web browser or the mobile app. Tap or click your profile picture in the top right corner, then select Settings and privacy. Choose Account, then Account information. You will see a field labeled Name — this is your display name, separate from your username (the @handle that comes after the @ symbol).

Click or tap in the Name field and type your new display name. Twitter allows up to 50 characters, including spaces and punctuation. When you are done, click Save. The change takes effect when ready. Your username — the @handle — stays the same unless you change it separately, which is a different process.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name and your username (@handle) are two different things; changing one does not change the other.
  • Display name changes happen in Settings and privacy > Account > Account information, and take effect right away.
  • You can use up to 50 characters for your display name, including spaces, numbers, and emoji.
  • Changing your display name does not affect your followers, messages, or any of your posts.
  • If you want to change your @username instead, that is a separate setting in the same Account information section.

The difference between display name and username

Many people mix these up because Twitter uses both. Your display name is what you see above someone's posts — it can be anything, change anytime, and multiple accounts can have the same one. Your username is the @handle: it is unique to your account, appears in your profile URL, and is what people type to mention you in a post.

If you want to change your @username instead of your display name, go to the same Settings and privacy > Account > Account information page. Look for the field labeled Username and click the pencil icon next to it. Twitter will check whether the new username is available. If it is taken, you will see a message saying so and will need to try a different one. Usernames can be 4 to 15 characters long and can only contain letters, numbers, and underscores.

Changing your username is more disruptive than changing your display name because links to your old @handle will break. People who had you bookmarked or saved your profile link will land on an error page. For this reason, most people change their display name instead and leave their @username alone.

What happens to your account when you change your name

Your followers stay with you. Your posts, likes, and retweets all remain under your account. Direct messages are not affected. The only thing that changes is what appears above your posts and on your profile card. People who follow you will see the new name the next time they refresh their feed.

If you change your display name to something that looks like a different person — for example, from your real name to a brand name — some followers may not recognize you at first. But your profile picture, bio, and posting history are still there, so people can figure out it is the same account. There is no waiting period or verification step; the change is live when ready.

Changing your name on the mobile app

The process is nearly identical on iPhone or Android. Open the Twitter app and tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner (on iPhone) or top left (on Android). Tap Settings and privacy, then Account, then Account information. Tap the Name field, delete the old name, type the new one, and tap Save.

On some older Android versions, the Save button may appear as a checkmark icon instead of text. The function is the same. If you do not see the Name field right away, scroll down — it appears below your username and email address.

Changing your name on a web browser

Go to twitter.com and sign in if you are not already. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select Settings and privacy. Click Account in the left sidebar, then Account information. The Name field appears near the top of the page. Click in it, clear the old text, type your new display name, and click Save.

If you are using Twitter in a language other than English, the menu labels will be in that language, but the structure is the same. The Name field is always in the same location within Account information.

Reasons to change your display name

People change their display name for many reasons: they got married or divorced, they want to rebrand a business account, they prefer a nickname to their legal name, or they straightforward want a fresh start. Because the change does not break anything on your account, there is no downside to doing it whenever you want.

Some people change their display name seasonally or for events — adding a holiday theme in December, for example, or adding their team name during sports playoffs. Twitter does not limit how many times you can change it, so you can experiment without consequence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my display name back to what it was before?

Yes. There is no history of old names stored anywhere public, but you can change it to anything you want at any time. Just go back to Settings and privacy > Account > Account information and type the old name in the Name field.

Will my followers see the name change right away?

Yes, but only when they refresh their feed or visit your profile. If someone is reading their timeline and your old name is still visible in a cached post, they will see the new name once they reload the page or close and reopen the app.

What if the name I want is already taken?

Display names are not unique — multiple accounts can have the exact same display name. You can use any name you want, even if someone else is already using it. This is different from usernames (@handles), which must be unique.

Can I use emoji or special characters in my display name?

Yes. Twitter allows emoji, accented letters, and most punctuation in your display name as long as you stay under 50 characters. Some symbols like @ and # may behave unexpectedly, so test your name after saving to make sure it displays the way you intended.

Does changing my name affect my verified badge?

No. If your account has a verified badge (the blue checkmark), it stays with your account no matter what name you use. The verification is tied to your account, not your display name.