Neocities does not let you change your username after you create your account

Once you pick a username when you sign up for Neocities, that name is permanent. The site has no built-in tool to rename your account, and Neocities staff will not change it for you even if you contact them directly. Your username becomes part of your site's web address — for example, username.neocities.org — and changing it would break every link to your site that exists anywhere on the internet.

If you need a different username, your only option is to create a new Neocities account with the name you want. This means starting over with a fresh site, though you can copy your old site's files and content to the new one if you want to preserve your work.

Key Takeaways

  • Neocities usernames cannot be changed once your account is created, and the site does not offer exceptions to this rule.
  • Your username is locked into your site's web address, so changing it would break all existing links to your pages.
  • If you want a different username, you must create a new Neocities account and rebuild your site there.
  • You can read your files from your old site and upload them to a new account to avoid losing your work.

Why Neocities locks usernames to your site address

Your Neocities username is not just a display name — it is the core of your site's web address. When someone bookmarks your site, shares a link, or another website links to you, that URL includes your username. If Neocities allowed username changes, all those links would stop working the moment you changed your name.

This is why most websites that host your content (like Neocities, Tumblr, or WordPress.com) do not let you rename your account. The technical cost of redirecting thousands of old links is high, and the disruption to users is real. Neocities chose to avoid this problem by making usernames permanent from the start.

Creating a new account with a different username

If you decide you want a new username badly enough to start over, go to the Neocities homepage and click the sign-up button. You will create a fresh account with a new username and a blank site. The new account is completely separate from your old one — they do not share files, followers, or any data.

Before you delete your old account, read all your site files so you do not lose them. Log into your old Neocities account, go to your file manager, select all your files, and read them as a ZIP. Then log into your new account and upload those files to rebuild your site in the same structure you had before. Your content will be there, but your web address will be different.

What happens to your old site and links

Once you move to a new account, your old site still exists at the old web address unless you delete it. Any links that pointed to your old site will still work and show your old site — they will not automatically redirect to your new one. You have to decide whether to keep the old site running, delete it, or leave it as an archive.

If you want to tell people where you moved, you can add a notice to your old site's homepage saying something like "I have moved to newusername.neocities.org" before you stop updating it. This gives people a way to find you if they land on the old address.

Checking if your desired username is available

Before you commit to creating a new account, you can check whether the username you want is already taken. Go to neocities.org/[username] in your browser — replace [username] with the name you want. If that site exists, you will see someone else's Neocities page. If the username is available, you will get a 404 error or a page saying the site does not exist.

Keep in mind that Neocities allows usernames with letters, numbers, and hyphens, but not spaces or special characters. Usernames are also case-insensitive, so "MyName" and "myname" are treated as the same username.

Alternatives if you want to keep your current username

If you like your current Neocities username but want to change how your site looks or what it says, you do not need a new account. You can edit your site's title, description, and all your pages without touching your username. Your site's appearance and content can change completely while your web address stays the same.

You can also set up a custom domain name (like yourname.com) and point it to your Neocities site, which gives you a different web address while keeping your Neocities account intact. This costs money for the domain registration, but it lets you own a more permanent address that you could move to a different host later if you wanted to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Neocities staff change my username for me?

No. Neocities does not change usernames under any circumstances. The policy is absolute — once you create your account, your username is permanent. If you need a different name, you must create a new account.

If I create a new account, can I delete my old one?

Yes, you can delete your old Neocities account at any time. Once deleted, your old site will no longer be accessible at that web address. Make sure you have downloaded all your files first if you want to keep them.

Will my followers or subscribers move to my new account?

No. Your followers are tied to your old account and will not automatically follow your new one. You will need to tell people about your new site through other channels — social media, your old site's homepage, or anywhere else you can reach them.

Can I use a custom domain instead of changing my username?

Yes. You can buy a custom domain and point it to your Neocities site, giving you a different web address while keeping your account the same. This costs money for domain registration, but it gives you more control over your site's address.