Where to find your username settings
Your Spotify username lives in your account settings, not in the app itself. Open a web browser and go to www.spotify.com, then sign in with your email and password. Once you are logged in, click your profile icon in the top right corner — it looks like a circle with your initials or profile picture inside.
A dropdown menu will appear. Select Account from this menu. This takes you to your account overview page, where Spotify shows your subscription type, payment method, and personal details. You will see a section labeled Username near the top of the page, usually under your display name.
The web browser route is the only way to change your username. The Spotify mobile app and desktop app do not have a username-editing feature, so you must use a computer or phone web browser to make this change.
Key Takeaways
- You can only change your username through the Spotify website, not through the mobile or desktop app.
- Your username is different from your display name — the display name is what friends see, but the username is your unique account identifier.
- Spotify allows you to change your username once every 30 days, so plan ahead if you want to change it again later.
- After you change your username, your old username becomes available for someone else to use within a few hours.
The steps to edit your username
Once you are on the Account page, look for the Username field. Next to it, you will see an Edit button or link. Click it. A text box will appear where you can type a new username.
Spotify usernames must be between 3 and 30 characters long and can contain letters, numbers, and underscores only. You cannot use spaces, hyphens, or special characters like @ or #. If you try to use a character Spotify does not allow, the system will show an error message telling you which characters are not permitted.
Type your new username into the box. Spotify will check in real time whether that username is already taken — if it is, you will see a message saying the username is unavailable. Keep trying different combinations until you find one that is free. Once you have chosen an available username, click the Save or Confirm button to lock in the change.
What happens after you save your new username
The change takes effect when ready. Your friends will see your new username the next time they look at your profile. Any playlists you have shared will still work, and the links to your profile will update automatically — you do not need to send new links to people.
Your old username becomes available for someone else to use within a few hours. If you change your mind and want your old username back, you will have to wait for someone else to claim it first, or you can try to reclaim it if it remains unclaimed. However, Spotify does not reserve old usernames for previous owners, so there is no may provide you will be able to get it back.
The 30-day waiting period between changes
After you change your username, Spotify locks you out of making another change for 30 days. This rule applies whether you change it once or multiple times — each change resets the 30-day timer. If you try to edit your username before 30 days have passed, the Edit button will be grayed out and you will see a message telling you when you can change it again.
This waiting period exists to prevent people from rapidly cycling through usernames or impersonating other users. If you are unhappy with your new username, you will have to wait the full 30 days before you can try again, so choose carefully.
Troubleshooting common problems
If the Edit button does not appear next to your username, you may be looking at a display name instead. Spotify lets you set both a display name (what friends see) and a username (your account identifier). The display name can be changed anytime and can include spaces and special characters. The username is what you are editing here, and it has stricter rules.
If you see an error message saying your username contains invalid characters, remove any spaces, hyphens, or special symbols and try again. Underscores and numbers are fine, but nothing else. If the username you want is taken, try adding numbers to the end or using an underscore to separate words — for example, music_lover_42 instead of musiclover.
If you are still logged into Spotify on other devices, you may need to sign out and sign back in on those devices to see your new username reflected everywhere. This usually happens automatically within a few minutes, but signing out and back in speeds it up.
How your username differs from your display name
Spotify has two separate name fields, and many people confuse them. Your display name is what your friends see when they look at your profile or see you in their followers list. You can change your display name as often as you want, and it can include spaces, capital letters, and special characters. A display name might look like Sarah's Music Corner or DJ Mike (2024).
Your username is your unique account identifier — it is what appears in your profile URL and what you would use if someone asked for your Spotify handle. Usernames are permanent-looking (though you can change them every 30 days), follow stricter formatting rules, and are what other services use if they connect to your Spotify account. If you only want to change what your friends see, edit your display name instead. If you want to change your account handle, edit your username.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my username on the Spotify app?
No. The Spotify mobile app and desktop app do not have a username-editing feature. You must use a web browser and go to www.spotify.com, sign in, click your profile icon, select Account, and edit your username from there.
What if someone else takes my old username after I change it?
Once you change your username, the old one becomes available to anyone. Spotify does not hold old usernames for previous owners. If you want to reclaim it later, you would have to wait for that person to change their username first, which you cannot control.
How long does it take for my new username to show up everywhere?
The change is when ready on the Spotify website. Friends will see your new username the next time they view your profile. If you are signed into Spotify on other devices, the change may take a few minutes to sync, but signing out and back in will speed it up.
Can I use spaces or hyphens in my username?
No. Spotify usernames can only contain letters (a-z, A-Z), numbers (0-9), and underscores (_). Spaces, hyphens, and special characters like @ or # are not allowed. If you try to use them, Spotify will show an error message.
Do I need to change my password after changing my username?
No. Changing your username does not affect your password or account security. Your password stays the same, and you log in with your email address, not your username.