Edit your name in Twitter's account settings

Your Twitter name — the display name that appears above your posts — is separate from your username (the @handle). To change it, open Twitter on any device, go to Settings and Privacy, select Account, then tap Edit Profile. Find the Name field at the top, clear the current text, type your new name, and save. The change takes effect when ready across your account.

You can change your display name as often as you want with no waiting period or restrictions. Twitter allows up to 50 characters, including spaces and special characters. Other users will see the new name on your profile and on any posts you've made, but old conversations won't be rewritten — if someone quoted your old name in a tweet, that quote stays as they wrote it.

Your username (@handle) is different and much harder to change. You can only modify it once every 30 days, and only if no one else has claimed your old handle in the meantime. If you want to change your @handle instead of your display name, go to Settings and Privacy, select Account, then Username, and follow the same process — but plan ahead, since the 30-day wait applies.

Key Takeaways

  • Display names (what appears above your tweets) can be changed when ready and as often as you want through Settings and Privacy > Account > Edit Profile.
  • Your username (@handle) can only change once every 30 days and requires a separate step in the Username field.
  • Display names can be up to 50 characters and can include spaces and special characters.
  • Changing your name does not affect your followers, messages, or the ability to see your old tweets.
  • If you change your username, your old @handle becomes available for anyone else to claim after a short period.

Where to find the name field on different devices

On a computer, log into Twitter, click your profile picture in the top right corner, and select Settings and Privacy. Click Account in the left menu, then Edit Profile. The Name field is the first text box on the page. Make your change and click Save.

On an iPhone or Android phone, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, go to Settings and Privacy, tap Account, then tap Edit Profile. The Name field appears at the top. Type your new name and tap Save in the top right corner.

The process is identical whether you use the Twitter website, the official Twitter app, or a third-party app that connects to your account — the change syncs everywhere because it's stored on Twitter's servers, not on your device.

What happens when you change your name

Your followers see the new name when ready on your profile and on any new tweets you post. All your old tweets will show the new name when someone views them, even if you posted them years ago under a different name. This is different from your username: if you change your @handle, old links to your profile may break, but your display name change never breaks anything.

People who have you in their contacts or saved your profile link will still reach you because the link is based on your username, not your display name. If someone has a screenshot of your old name, it won't update automatically, but that's the only place the old name stays visible.

Changing your name does not reset your follower count, unfollow people, or affect direct messages. Your account history, likes, and retweets all stay attached to your account regardless of what name you're using.

Reasons to use a different display name than your username

Many people choose a display name that's easier to read than their username. For example, your username might be @j_rodriguez_2019, but your display name could be "James Rodriguez" or "James R." — something people recognize when they see your tweets in their feed. The display name is what catches attention; the username is what people type to find you.

You might also change your display name to reflect a current project, job, or interest without losing your established username and follower base. A journalist might use @sarah_chen as their username but change their display name to "Sarah Chen — Tech Reporter" when covering a specific beat, then change it back later.

Some people use display names for privacy — keeping their real name off their profile while using a username that doesn't reveal their identity. Twitter allows this, though accounts that mislead people about who they are (like impersonating a public figure) can be suspended.

Fixing a name change you regret

If you change your name and when ready regret it, you can change it back right away. There's no penalty for changing your name multiple times, and no one gets notified when you do. Go back to Settings and Privacy > Account > Edit Profile, clear the Name field, and type what you want instead.

If you changed your name a while ago and can't remember what it was, you can't recover the old name from Twitter directly. However, if you posted screenshots or if someone quoted your old name in a tweet, you can search for it. Alternatively, you can straightforward choose a new name you like — there's no requirement to match a previous one.

Protecting your account while managing your name

Changing your name is a safe operation that doesn't require special security steps. However, if you're changing your name because someone is impersonating you or harassing you, take additional steps: check your email address and phone number in Settings and Privacy > Account > Account Information to make sure they're correct, enable two-factor authentication if you haven't already, and review your login history to see if anyone else has accessed your account.

If someone else has created an account impersonating you with a similar name, report it to Twitter by visiting their profile, clicking the three dots, and selecting Report Account. Twitter can suspend accounts that impersonate others, though the process takes time.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Twitter allows letters, numbers, spaces, and special characters including emojis in your display name, up to 50 characters total. You can type an emoji by copying it from another source or using your device's emoji keyboard. Some special characters like @ or # work, though @ at the start might confuse people into thinking it's a username.

Will changing my name affect my verification badge?

No. If your account is verified (has a blue checkmark), the verification stays with your account regardless of what name you use. The checkmark is tied to your account identity, not your display name.

How is my display name different from my username?

Your display name is what people see and read — it can change when ready and as often as you want. Your username is your @handle, which people use to mention you or search for you. Usernames can only change once every 30 days and affect how people find you.

Can I use someone else's real name as my display name?

Technically yes, but Twitter prohibits impersonation. If you use a real person's name as your display name and your account misleads people into thinking you are that person, Twitter can suspend your account. Using a name for parody or commentary is allowed if your profile makes the parody clear.

What if I forgot what my old display name was?

You can search your own tweets or ask someone who follows you to check their screenshots. If you can't find it, you can straightforward choose a new name — there's no requirement to remember or restore an old one, and you can change it again anytime.