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're logged in, click your profile icon in the top right corner — it's a small circle with your name or a default image. A dropdown menu will appear.

From that menu, select Account. This takes you to your account overview page. On the left side, you'll see a menu with options like "Overview," "Edit profile," and "Privacy settings." Click Edit profile to reach the page where you can change your username.

Key Takeaways

  • You must use a web browser to change your username — the Spotify app does not have this option.
  • Your username is different from your display name; changing one does not automatically change the other.
  • Usernames must be between 3 and 30 characters and can only contain letters, numbers, and underscores.
  • Once you change your username, your old one becomes available for someone else to use within a few days.
  • Your Spotify URL and profile link will update when ready, but some third-party apps may take time to reflect the change.

The username field and what names are allowed

On your Edit profile page, you'll see a field labeled Username. This is separate from your display name — your display name is what friends see in playlists and on your profile, while your username is the unique identifier in your Spotify URL. You can change your display name anytime, but your username has stricter rules.

Spotify usernames must be between 3 and 30 characters long. You can use letters (both uppercase and lowercase), numbers, and underscores. You cannot use spaces, hyphens, periods, or special characters like @, #, or &. If you try to enter a username with forbidden characters, Spotify will show an error message telling you what's not allowed.

Type your new username into the field. Spotify will tell you when ready if the name is already taken — you'll see a red message saying "This username is taken" or "Username not available." If that happens, try a variation: add a number, use an underscore, or pick a different name altogether. Keep trying until you find one that works.

Checking availability before you commit

Spotify does not show you a list of available usernames, so you have to guess and check. A common strategy is to try your first name plus your birth year, or your first and last name with an underscore between them. If those are taken, add numbers to the end — most people try low numbers first, so something like yourname_2847 is more likely to be free than yourname_1.

There is no way to "reserve" a username before you change it, and there is no waiting list. If you see a username you want but it's taken, your only option is to check back later and hope the person who owns it stops using Spotify or changes their own username. In practice, this rarely happens.

Saving your change and what happens next

Once you've entered a username that's available, look for a Save button at the bottom of the page. Click it. Spotify will confirm the change, and your new username takes effect when ready. Your Spotify profile URL will update right away — if your old URL was open.spotify.com/user/oldusername, it will now be open.spotify.com/user/newusername.

Your old username becomes available for someone else to use within a few days. If you change your mind, you can change it again, but you cannot go back to your old username if someone else has claimed it in the meantime. Think through your choice before you save.

Why third-party apps might show your old username

Some services that connect to Spotify — like music discovery apps, playlist sharing tools, or gaming platforms — may continue showing your old username for a while. This happens because those apps cache your information and do not update it when ready when you change your Spotify username. There is nothing you can do to speed this up; it usually syncs within a few days to a week.

If you use a third-party app regularly and it's important that your username is current there, you may need to disconnect and reconnect your Spotify account to that app. Check the app's settings for an option to "reconnect Spotify" or "update account." The exact steps vary by app.

What you cannot change about your username

Your Spotify username is not the same as your email address, and you cannot change your email through the username settings. If you need to change the email associated with your account, go back to the Account page and look for an Email or Login email field — it will be separate from the username field.

You also cannot make your username private or hidden. Once you set a username, anyone who knows it can find your profile and see your public playlists, your followers, and who you follow. If you want more privacy, you can adjust your privacy settings separately — go to Privacy settings on the Account page to control what information is visible to other users.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username on the Spotify app?

No. The username settings are only available on the web version at spotify.com. Open a browser, sign in, and go to Account > Edit profile to make the change. The app will reflect your new username once you've saved it on the web.

What if the username I want is taken?

Try variations: add numbers, use underscores, or combine your first and last name differently. There is no way to reserve a username or join a waitlist. If you really want a specific name, you can check back occasionally to see if it becomes available, but this is rare.

Will my friends' playlists update if I change my username?

Yes. Your profile link updates when ready, so any playlists you've shared or collaborated on will show your new username. Friends who follow you will still see you in their followers list — the change does not affect your relationships on Spotify.

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

Only if no one else has claimed it. Once you change your username, the old one becomes available for others to use within a few days. If someone takes it, you cannot get it back.

Why does a third-party app still show my old username?

Apps that connect to Spotify cache your information and do not always update when ready. It usually syncs within a week. If it's taking longer, try disconnecting and reconnecting your Spotify account in that app's settings.