You can change your Reddit username once every 30 days through your account settings

Reddit lets you change your username, but only once per month. The process takes about two minutes and happens entirely in your account settings — you do not need to contact Reddit support or create a new account. Once you change it, your old username disappears and becomes available for someone else to use after 30 days.

The change affects your profile name across all subreddits you participate in. Your post history, comments, and saved content all stay attached to your new username. People who knew your old name will not automatically know your new one, so if privacy or separation from past activity is your goal, a username change can help with that.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your username once every 30 days by going to User Settings, then Account, then Change Username.
  • Your new username must be between 3 and 20 characters, contain only letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, and cannot be changed back to your old one.
  • All your posts, comments, and saved content move with you to your new username — nothing is lost.
  • Your old username becomes available for others to claim after 30 days, so choose a new one you plan to keep for a while.

How to access the username change tool

Start by clicking your profile icon in the top right corner of Reddit. On desktop, it looks like a small circle or avatar image. On mobile, it is in the top right of the home feed. A menu will drop down with several options.

Look for "User Settings" in that menu and click it. This opens your account settings page. On the left side, you will see a column of categories. Click on "Account" — it is usually near the top of that list. Scroll down until you see the section labeled "Change Username" with a button next to it.

Entering your new username and confirming the change

Click the "Change Username" button. A box will appear asking you to type your new username. Reddit will tell you when ready if the name is already taken or breaks the rules. Valid usernames are 3 to 20 characters long and can only contain letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores — no spaces or special characters like periods or apostrophes.

Type your new username and check that it is spelled the way you want it. Reddit does not let you change back to your old username, and you cannot change again for 30 days, so take a moment to make sure. Once you are ready, click the confirm button. Reddit will ask you to enter your password to verify it is really you making the change.

What happens to your old username and posts

Your old username becomes inactive when ready and will not appear on your profile or your posts. However, it does not become available for someone else to use right away. Reddit holds it for 30 days before releasing it back into circulation. This prevents someone from when ready impersonating you by taking your old name.

All your posts, comments, saved content, and upvote history stay attached to your account and now display under your new username. People looking at your profile or your comment history will see your new name, not the old one. Subreddits you moderate will still show you as a moderator, but under your new username.

Reasons to change your username and timing to consider

People change usernames for several reasons. You might want to distance yourself from old posts or comments that no longer represent you. You might have chosen a name you now find embarrassing or that reveals too much personal information. You might straightforward want a fresh start or a name that better fits how you use Reddit now.

If you are changing your username for privacy reasons, remember that your post history is still public and searchable. Changing your name makes it less obvious that old posts are yours, but someone determined could still connect them. If you want to truly separate from past activity, deleting old posts before changing your username is more effective than the name change alone.

Troubleshooting a username that will not change

If you see a message that you cannot change your username, the most common reason is that you changed it within the last 30 days. Reddit enforces a strict 30-day waiting period between changes. Check when you last changed it — if it was fewer than 30 days ago, you will need to wait until that period passes.

If the username you want is already taken, Reddit will tell you that directly. Try adding a number, underscore, or hyphen to make it unique. If you are getting an error message that does not match these reasons, log out and log back in, then try again. If the problem persists, you can contact Reddit support through the Help Center, though they cannot override the 30-day rule or force a username to be available.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Once you change your username, you cannot switch back to the old one, even after the 30-day waiting period. Your old username becomes available for someone else to claim, but you cannot reclaim it yourself. Choose your new username carefully because you are stuck with it for at least 30 days.

Will people I messaged see my old username or my new one?

They will see your new username. Direct messages and chat conversations will display your current username, not the one you used when you sent the message. This applies to old messages too — if someone goes back to read a conversation from months ago, they will see your new name.

What if someone takes my old username after 30 days?

Once the 30-day hold expires, your old username becomes available and someone else can claim it. You cannot prevent this. If you are concerned about impersonation, you can delete old posts before changing your username, or you can monitor whether someone takes it and report them to Reddit if they use it to impersonate you.

Do I need to change my password when I change my username?

No. Your password stays the same. Changing your username does not affect your login credentials or security settings. You log in with your email address or username, so either your old or new username will work for a short period, but eventually only your new username will work for login.

Can I change my username on mobile?

Yes. Open the Reddit app, tap your profile icon in the top right, go to Settings, then Account, then scroll to Change Username. The process is identical to desktop. Make sure you are using the official Reddit app or a browser — third-party apps may not have access to this feature.