You can change your Twitter username anytime from your account settings, and it takes about two minutes

Your Twitter username — the handle that starts with @ — is different from your display name. You can change your username as often as you want, and Twitter does not charge you or require you to wait between changes. The old username becomes available for someone else to claim after you switch, so if you want to keep it reserved, you will need to create a separate account and hold it there.

The process is the same whether you use Twitter on a phone or computer. You go into your account settings, find the username field, type the new one, and save. Twitter checks when ready whether the name is available. If someone else has already claimed it, you will see a message telling you so, and you can try a different one.

Key Takeaways

  • Change your username from Settings and Privacy > Account > Username, then type your new handle and click Save.
  • Your new username must be between 4 and 15 characters long and can only contain letters, numbers, and underscores.
  • When you change your username, your old one becomes available for anyone else to claim within a few minutes.
  • Changing your username does not affect your followers, your tweets, or your direct messages — everything stays attached to your account.
  • If you want to keep your old username, you must create a separate account and claim it before someone else does.

Step-by-step: changing your username on a phone or computer

Open Twitter and tap or click the three-dot menu icon in the top left corner (on a phone) or look for your profile picture in the top right (on a computer). Select "Settings and Privacy" from the menu.

Tap or click "Account" from the list of options. You will see a section labeled "Username" with your current handle displayed. Tap or click on the username field to edit it. Delete your current username and type your new one. Twitter shows you when ready whether the name is taken — if it is, you will see a red X and a message saying the username is unavailable. If it is available, you will see a green checkmark.

Once you have chosen an available username, tap or click the "Save" button. Your username changes when ready. Twitter sends you a confirmation email, but the change is active right away — you do not need to do anything else.

Rules for what your new username can be

Your username must be between 4 and 15 characters long. You can use letters (both uppercase and lowercase), numbers, and underscores. You cannot use spaces, hyphens, periods, or any other special characters. Twitter treats uppercase and lowercase the same way — @MyHandle and @myhandle point to the same account, so you cannot have both.

You cannot use a username that is already taken, even if the account that holds it has not posted anything in years. You also cannot use certain reserved usernames that Twitter holds for its own use, like @Twitter or @Support. If you try to claim one of these, Twitter will tell you it is unavailable.

What happens to your old username when you change it

Your old username becomes available for anyone else to claim as soon as you switch to a new one. This usually happens within a few minutes. If you want to keep your old username so no one else can use it, you will need to create a second Twitter account and claim the old username there. You can then leave that account inactive or use it for a different purpose.

Be aware that if you do not claim your old username quickly, someone else might take it. This is especially true if your old username was short, memorable, or related to your real name or business. If someone else claims it, you cannot get it back unless Twitter removes the account for violating its rules.

What does not change when you update your username

Your followers stay with you. All the people who followed @oldusername now follow @newusername automatically — you do not lose anyone. Your tweets, likes, retweets, and bookmarks all stay on your account. Your direct messages stay intact, and the people you messaged can still find your conversation history. Your profile picture, bio, and header image do not change unless you change them yourself.

Links to your old tweets still work. If someone shared a link to a tweet from your old username, that link will still take them to the tweet, but it will show your new username in the URL. Your account verification badge (the blue checkmark, if you have one) stays with your account.

Changing your username if you have a business or brand account

If you use Twitter for a business, a brand, or a public figure account, changing your username can affect how people find you. Your followers will not be lost, but people who search for your old username will not find you anymore. Before you change it, consider telling your followers about the change — you can post a tweet from your new account mentioning the old one, or update your bio to say you have moved.

If your account is verified (has a blue checkmark), your verification stays with you after the username change. You do not need to re-verify. However, if you are trying to build recognition around a specific username, changing it means starting over with search visibility. Search engines and social media tools take time to update, so people may still find your old username in search results for a few weeks.

Troubleshooting: what to do if you cannot change your username

If you see an error message when you try to save a new username, the most common reason is that the username is already taken. Try a different one. If the username you want contains characters that are not allowed (like hyphens or periods), Twitter will not let you use it — stick to letters, numbers, and underscores only.

If you are locked out of your account or cannot access your settings, you may need to log out and log back in. If you are using a third-party app to access Twitter, try using the official Twitter app or website instead — some third-party tools do not support all account settings. If you still cannot change your username after trying these steps, you can contact Twitter's support team through the Help Center in your settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Only if no one else has claimed it. Once you change your username, the old one becomes available when ready. If someone else has taken it, you cannot get it back. If you want to keep your old username, create a second account and claim it before you switch to a new one on your main account.

Does changing my username affect my password or login?

No. You log in with your email address, not your username. Changing your username does not change your email, password, or how you sign in. Your login information stays exactly the same.

Will my followers be notified when I change my username?

Twitter does not send a notification to your followers when you change your username. However, if you post a tweet announcing the change, your followers will see it in their feed. This is especially important if you use Twitter for business or have a large following.

Can I use special characters like @ or # in my username?

No. Your username can only contain letters, numbers, and underscores. The @ symbol is added automatically before your username — you do not type it yourself. Hashtags (#) and other special characters are not allowed in usernames.

What if I want to change my display name instead of my username?

Your display name and username are different things. Your display name is what appears on your profile and next to your tweets — it can be anything and can include spaces and special characters. You can change it in the same Settings and Privacy menu, but look for "Name" instead of "Username." You can change your display name as often as you want with no restrictions.