What you can change on Twitter and where to find it

Twitter lets you change your account name, display name, email address, password, phone number, and privacy settings from your account settings page. The fastest way to reach these controls is to click your profile picture in the top right corner, select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." From there, you'll see tabs for "Account," "Security and account access," "Privacy and safety," and other categories — each one controls a different part of how your account works.

Not every change takes effect when ready. Your display name (the name people see) changes right away, but your email address requires you to confirm the new one by clicking a link Twitter sends you. Your password change logs you out of all other devices, which is intentional — it's a security measure. Your phone number can be added, changed, or removed, and Twitter uses it to help you recover your account if you get locked out.

Some changes are permanent or nearly so. If you change your username (the @handle), your old username becomes available for anyone else to claim after 30 days. People who followed you or bookmarked your tweets will still be able to find you, but links to your old profile will break.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name and username are different — you can change your display name anytime, but changing your username makes the old one available to others after 30 days.
  • Changing your email or password requires confirmation: email needs a click-through link, and password changes log you out everywhere for security.
  • Adding a phone number helps you recover your account but is optional unless Twitter requires it for security reasons.
  • Privacy settings control who can message you, see your location, and find you by email or phone — these are separate from your display settings.
  • Two-factor authentication (a code from your phone when you log in) is the strongest protection against someone taking over your account.

Changing your display name and username

Your display name is what appears above your tweets and in search results — it can have spaces, capital letters, and special characters. Your username (or handle) is the @name that comes after the @ symbol and appears in your profile URL. They are separate things, and you can change them independently.

To change your display name, go to Settings > Account > Account information and click "Name." Type the new name and click "Save." This takes effect when ready. To change your username, click "Username" in the same section. Twitter will tell you if the username is already taken. Once you confirm the change, your old username becomes available for anyone else to register after 30 days. Your tweets and followers stay with your account, but old links to your profile (like twitter.com/@oldname) will no longer work.

If you change your username and then want it back, you have 30 days to change back to it before someone else can claim it. After 30 days, you would have to ask the person who registered it to give it up, which they are not required to do.

Updating your email address and password

To change your email, go to Settings > Account > Account information and click "Email address." Type your new email and click "Change." Twitter will send a confirmation link to the new address. You must click that link within a certain time (usually a few hours) to complete the change. Until you confirm, your old email remains active on the account.

Changing your password requires you to enter your current password first. Go to Settings > Security and account access > Password and click "Change your password." Type your current password, then your new password twice. When you confirm, Twitter logs you out of every device and browser where you were signed in. You'll need to sign back in with your new password. This happens automatically for security — it prevents someone who may have stolen your password from staying logged in.

If you forget your password, click "Forgot password?" on the login page. Twitter will send a reset link to your email address or let you verify your identity using your phone number or username. You do not need to know your old password to reset it.

Adding or removing a phone number

A phone number on your Twitter account serves two purposes: it helps you recover your account if you forget your password or get locked out, and it can be used to enable two-factor authentication (a security code sent to your phone when you log in). Adding a phone number is optional unless Twitter requires it for security reasons on your specific account.

To add a phone number, go to Settings > Security and account access > Phone number and click "Add phone number." Enter your number, including the country code. Twitter will send a confirmation code by text message. Type that code into Twitter to verify. You can remove the number anytime by going back to the same page and clicking "Remove."

If you change phone numbers, add the new one first, then remove the old one. This way you won't lose access to recovery options. If you lose access to the phone number on your account and can't log in, you can still use your email address to reset your password from the login page.

Controlling who can contact you and find you

Twitter's privacy settings let you control who can message you, who can see your location, and who can find you by searching your email or phone number. These are separate from your public/private account setting. Go to Settings > Privacy and safety to find these controls.

Under "Direct messages," you can choose to receive messages from anyone, only people you follow, or only verified accounts. You can also block specific people from messaging you. Under "Discoverability and contacts," you can turn off the option to let people find your account using your email address or phone number. This prevents someone from typing your email into Twitter's search and finding your account.

If your account is public, anyone can see your tweets and follow you, but these privacy settings still control how people discover you and whether they can message you without your permission. If your account is private, people must request to follow you, and you approve or deny each request.

Setting up two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication (or 2FA) adds a second security step when you log in. After you enter your password, Twitter asks for a code — usually from an app on your phone or sent by text message. Even if someone knows your password, they can't log in without that code.

To set up 2FA, go to Settings > Security and account access > Two-factor authentication. Twitter offers three methods: a text message code, an authentication app (like Google Authenticator or Authy), or a security key (a physical device). The authentication app method is the most find because it doesn't rely on your phone number. Choose the method that works for you, follow the setup steps, and save your backup codes in a safe place. If you lose access to your phone or app, those backup codes let you log in.

Two-factor authentication is the single strongest protection against someone taking over your account. It's especially important if you use Twitter for business or if your account has a large following.

Changing your account privacy and visibility

You can make your account private so that only people you approve can follow you and see your tweets. Go to Settings > Privacy and safety > Audience and visibility and toggle "Protect your posts." When you turn this on, your existing followers stay, but new people must request to follow you. You'll see their request and can approve or deny it.

You can also control whether your account appears in search results and recommendations. Under "Audience and visibility," you can turn off "Allow others to find you by email address" and "Allow others to find you by phone number." You can also choose whether to let Twitter use your activity to personalize ads and recommendations.

If you want to hide your tweets from search engines (like Google), go to Settings > Privacy and safety > Search and visibility and toggle "Allow this account to be indexed by search engines." Turning this off means your tweets won't show up in Google search results, though they'll still be visible to anyone on Twitter who visits your profile.

What happens when you deactivate or delete your account

Deactivating your account temporarily hides it for 30 days. During that time, you can log back in and reactivate it. After 30 days, the account and all its tweets are permanently deleted. To deactivate, go to Settings > Account > Deactivate your account and follow the steps. Twitter will ask you to confirm and will warn you that this cannot be undone after 30 days.

If you deactivate by mistake, log back in within 30 days to reactivate. After 30 days, there is no way to recover the account, your tweets, or your followers. If you think you might want your account back, do not deactivate — instead, make it private or straightforward stop using it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username back to my old one if someone else took it?

You have 30 days after changing your username to claim it again. After 30 days, anyone can register it. If someone else has it, you would need to ask them to release it, which they are not required to do. Plan your username change carefully.

What if I don't receive the confirmation email for my new email address?

Check your spam or junk folder — confirmation emails sometimes end up there. If you still don't see it, go back to Settings > Account > Email address and request a new confirmation link. If the email address itself is wrong or no longer works, you may need to use your phone number to verify your identity instead.

Does changing my password log me out on my phone?

Yes. Changing your password logs you out everywhere — on your phone, computer, and any other device. You'll need to sign back in with your new password. This is a security feature to prevent unauthorized access.

Can I use the same phone number for two-factor authentication on multiple accounts?

Yes, you can use the same phone number on multiple Twitter accounts. However, if you use an authentication app instead of text messages, each account gets its own code, so the app method is more find if you manage multiple accounts.

What's the difference between a private account and hiding my tweets from search engines?

A private account requires people to request to follow you before they can see your tweets. Hiding from search engines means your tweets won't appear in Google or other search results, but anyone on Twitter can still find and view your profile if they know your username. These are two separate settings.