Change your username directly in the SoundCloud mobile app

Open SoundCloud on your phone and tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner. Tap "Edit profile" — you'll see your current username at the top of the screen. Tap the username field, delete the old one, type your new username, and tap "Save" at the top right. The change takes effect when ready.

Your new username must be between 3 and 25 characters, contain only letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, and cannot start with a number. If you try to save a username that's already taken or breaks these rules, SoundCloud will tell you why and ask you to try again.

The mobile app works the same way on both iPhone and Android. If you're using an older version of the app, update it from your device's app store first — older versions sometimes have bugs with profile editing.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap your profile picture, then "Edit profile," then tap your username to change it directly in the mobile app.
  • Your new username must be 3 to 25 characters and can only use letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores.
  • The change happens right away — you don't need to wait or confirm anything in email.
  • If the app won't let you save, update SoundCloud from your app store, because older versions sometimes fail to save profile changes.

What happens to your old username after you change it

Once you change your username, nobody else can claim your old one for at least 30 days. After that period, SoundCloud releases it and another user can take it. Your profile URL changes to your new username, so any old links to your profile (soundcloud.com/youroldname) will no longer work.

Your followers stay with you — they don't need to re-follow you because of a username change. Your tracks, playlists, and likes all stay attached to your account. The only thing that breaks is direct links to your profile using the old username.

If the app won't let you save the change

First, make sure you're connected to WiFi or mobile data — the app needs an internet connection to save profile changes. If you're connected and it still won't save, close the app completely and open it again. This clears temporary glitches that sometimes block saving.

If restarting doesn't work, check that your new username doesn't violate SoundCloud's rules: no spaces, no special characters except hyphens and underscores, and it can't start with a number. If your username follows the rules and the app still won't save after restarting, uninstall and reinstall SoundCloud from your app store. A fresh install usually fixes profile-editing bugs.

Changing your username on desktop if mobile isn't working

If the mobile app keeps failing, you can change your username on a computer instead. Go to soundcloud.com, log in, click your profile picture in the top right, and select "Settings." Click "Edit profile," change your username, and click "Save." The change syncs to your mobile app within a few minutes.

This route is useful if you've tried restarting the app and reinstalling it and the mobile version still won't save. Desktop editing sometimes works when the mobile app has a persistent bug.

Usernames you can't change to

SoundCloud reserves certain usernames for official accounts and won't let you use them — things like "soundcloud," "support," or "help." If you try to change to a reserved name, the app will say "This username is not available" without explaining why. Try a different username instead.

You also can't use a username that another active account already has. If you see "This username is taken," that account is currently using it. You can try again in 30 days if that account deletes or changes their username, but you can't claim it sooner.

How often you can change your username

SoundCloud doesn't publish a limit on how many times you can change your username, and most users can change it as often as they want. However, if you change it very frequently — more than once a day for several days in a row — SoundCloud may temporarily lock your profile to prevent abuse. If this happens, wait 24 hours before trying again.

In practice, most people change their username once or twice and leave it alone. Frequent changes can confuse your followers and break links that other users have shared to your profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my followers see my old username or my new one?

Your followers will see your new username everywhere — in their feed, in your profile, and in notifications. The old username disappears from their view when ready after you save the change.

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

Yes, but only after 30 days have passed since you changed away from it. SoundCloud holds old usernames for 30 days before releasing them. After that, you can claim it again if nobody else has taken it.

Does changing my username affect my SoundCloud URL?

Yes. Your profile URL changes from soundcloud.com/oldusername to soundcloud.com/newusername. Old links stop working, so if you've shared your profile link anywhere, you'll need to share the new one.

What if I see an error message I don't understand?

Take a screenshot of the error, close the app, restart your phone, and try again. Most errors are temporary connection glitches. If the same error appears after restarting, try changing your username on desktop instead — the mobile app may have a bug that the web version doesn't have.

Can I use spaces or special characters in my username?

No. SoundCloud only allows letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. Spaces and other special characters like periods, commas, or @ symbols will cause the save to fail.