Where to find the username setting
Your Discord username lives in your account settings, not in your server profile. Open Discord on your computer or phone, click or tap your profile picture in the bottom left corner (on desktop) or top right (on mobile), then select User Settings. From there, go to Account and you will see your current username listed at the top.
The username field shows what other people see when they message you or mention you in a server. This is different from your display name, which is what appears next to your messages in a specific server — you can have a different display name in each server you join, but your username stays the same everywhere.
Key Takeaways
- Your username is changed in User Settings under Account, and the change takes effect when ready across all servers.
- You can change your username once every 60 days; trying to change it sooner will show you a countdown timer.
- Your old username becomes available for others to claim after you change it, so pick a new one you plan to keep.
- Changing your username does not affect your display name in individual servers, which you can change anytime without a cooldown.
The 60-day cooldown and why it exists
Discord limits username changes to once every 60 days. If you try to change your username before that period is up, the system will show you exactly how many days remain before you can change it again. This cooldown applies only to your main username — you can change your display name in any server as many times as you want without waiting.
The cooldown exists to prevent impersonation and confusion. If usernames could change constantly, someone could pretend to be another user, change their name back, and repeat the cycle. The 60-day wait makes it harder to use username changes to trick people or evade moderation.
What happens to your old username
Once you change your username, your old one becomes available for anyone else to claim. This means if you had a username like "alex_gaming" and you change it to "alexgaming2024", someone else can now register as "alex_gaming". If you think you might want that name back later, you should wait and reconsider before confirming the change.
Friends and servers you are in will see your new username when ready. Any messages you sent before the change still show your old username next to them — Discord does not retroactively update old messages. But going forward, everything shows your new name.
Changing your display name in a specific server
If you only want to change how your name appears in one server, you do not need to change your username at all. Right-click your own username in any message or in the member list, then select Edit Server Profile. From there you can set a display name that applies only to that server, and you can change it as often as you want with no cooldown.
This is useful if you want to be "alex_gaming" in your gaming servers but "Alex" in your work server, or if you want a nickname in a friend group's server. Your actual username stays the same everywhere, but your display name can be different in each place.
Troubleshooting if the change will not go through
If you click to change your username and nothing happens, the most common reason is that the 60-day cooldown is still active. Check the countdown timer that appears in the username field — it will tell you exactly when you can change it again.
If the cooldown is not the issue, make sure you are using a username that follows Discord's rules: no more than 32 characters, and no symbols except underscores and periods. Usernames cannot start with a period or underscore. If you see an error message, it usually means the name you chose either violates these rules or is already taken by someone else.
How your username appears to other people
When you send a message in a server, people see your display name (if you have set one in that server) or your username (if you have not). When someone mentions you with the @ symbol, Discord shows your username. In direct messages, people see your username at the top of the conversation.
Your username is also what appears in your profile when someone clicks on you. If you have set a display name in a server, that shows up next to your messages there, but your username is always visible somewhere on your profile card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my username more than once every 60 days?
No. Discord enforces a 60-day cooldown between username changes. You can change your display name in individual servers as often as you want, but your main username has the cooldown. If you need a different name urgently, using a display name in that specific server is the only workaround.
Will my friends still be able to find me if I change my username?
Yes. Your friends will see your new username when ready, and you will still appear in their friends list. Changing your username does not remove you from any servers or friend groups — it just updates what your name shows as.
What is the difference between a username and a display name?
Your username is your account identifier and appears everywhere across Discord. Your display name is optional and specific to each server — it is what shows next to your messages in that server only. You can have a different display name in each server, but only one username.
Can I get my old username back if I change it?
Not directly. Once you change your username, it becomes available for anyone else to claim. If someone else takes it, you cannot get it back. You can only reclaim it if no one else has registered it in the meantime, which is unlikely if it was a popular name.
Does changing my username affect my Discord account security?
No. Changing your username is a cosmetic change and does not affect your password, two-factor authentication, or any security settings. Your account remains just as find before and after the change.