Where Spotify stores your name and what it controls

Your Spotify account name appears in three places: your profile (visible to anyone who searches for you), your email inbox (in messages from Spotify), and your account settings (where only you see it). Changing your name in account settings updates all three at once. The name you set does not have to match your legal name, your email address, or your payment method — Spotify does not verify any of these against each other.

Your display name is separate from your username. Your username is the handle people use to find your profile and playlists (like @username in the URL). Usernames cannot be changed once you create them, but your display name can be changed as many times as you want, whenever you want. If you need a different username, you would have to create a new account.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name is changed in account settings under "Profile" and takes effect when ready across all Spotify platforms.
  • You can change your name as often as you want, and it does not have to match your legal name, email, or payment method.
  • Your username (the handle people use to find you) cannot be changed, only your display name can.
  • If you change your name, playlists you created keep their names, but your profile shows the new name as the creator.

Steps to change your name on the Spotify app or website

On the Spotify app for phone or tablet, tap the home icon at the bottom, then tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Select "Profile" from the menu. Tap "Edit profile" and change the text in the "Name" field to whatever you want. Tap "Save" when you are done. The change appears when ready.

On the Spotify website, log in and click your profile picture in the top right corner. Select "Account" from the dropdown menu. Under "Public profile," click "Edit profile." Change the name in the "Name" field and click "Save." The change takes effect right away on all your devices.

If you use Spotify on a computer through the desktop app (not the web player), the process is the same: click your profile picture, select "Account," then "Edit profile," change the name, and save. You do not need to restart the app or log out and back in — the new name shows up when ready.

What happens to your playlists and saved music when you change your name

Your playlists keep their names and descriptions exactly as they were. If you created a playlist called "Road Trip 2024," it stays called "Road Trip 2024" even if you change your display name from Alex to Jordan. The only thing that changes is who the playlist shows as the creator — it now shows your new name instead of your old one.

Your saved songs, liked tracks, and followed playlists do not change at all. Your listening history stays the same. If you share a playlist link with someone, it still works after you change your name. The person who receives the link can still see the playlist and follow it, and they will see your new name as the creator.

Privacy and visibility of your name change

When you change your name, Spotify does not send a notification to people who follow you. Your followers will see the new name the next time they visit your profile, but they are not alerted that you changed it. If you have a public profile and people search for you by your old name, they will not find you — they would need to search for your new name or your username (which does not change).

Your name change does not affect your privacy settings. If your profile was private before, it stays private. If it was public, it stays public. Changing your name does not make your account more or less visible to other users.

Reasons to change your name and what to consider first

People change their Spotify name for many reasons: they want a different username style, they are sharing an account with someone else and want to distinguish whose profile it is, they prefer a nickname to their legal name, or they straightforward want a fresh start. Since you can change it as many times as you want, there is no penalty for experimenting.

One thing to keep in mind: if you share playlists or collaborate with others, they will see your new name as the creator or collaborator. If you change your name frequently, people might get confused about who made what. If you have a public profile that people follow or search for, changing your name means they will need to search for the new name to find you again — your username stays the same, so sharing that is more reliable if you change your display name often.

If you cannot change your name or the change is not working

In rare cases, the "Edit profile" button does not appear or the save button does not work. This usually happens if you are using an older version of the Spotify app. Update the app from your phone's app store (Apple App Store or Google Play Store) and try again. If you are on the website, try a different browser or clear your browser cache.

If you are using a third-party account to log in (Facebook, Apple ID, or Google), make sure you are logged into that account on your device. Spotify sometimes has trouble syncing profile changes when you use a linked account instead of a Spotify password. Log out of Spotify completely, log back in, and try editing your profile again.

If the change still does not work after updating the app and logging back in, contact Spotify Support through the app or website. Go to "Settings" and scroll to the bottom to find "Contact Us." Describe what happens when you try to change your name (for example, "the save button does not respond" or "the edit profile button is missing"). Support usually responds within a few days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Spotify username?

No. Your username is permanent and cannot be changed once you create it. You can only change your display name, which is what appears on your profile. If you need a different username, you would have to create a new Spotify account.

Does changing my name affect my payment method or subscription?

No. Your subscription and payment method are tied to your email address and account, not your display name. You can change your name without affecting your Premium status or billing in any way.

Will people who follow me know I changed my name?

Spotify does not send a notification when you change your name. Your followers will see the new name when they visit your profile, but they are not alerted that you changed it. If they search for you by your old name, they will not find you unless they search for your new name or your username.

What if I share a playlist with someone before I change my name?

The playlist link still works after you change your name. The person who has the link can still access the playlist, and they will see your new name listed as the creator. You do not need to reshare the link.

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

Yes. You can change your name to anything you want, including a previous name, as many times as you want. There is no limit on how often you can edit your profile.