AnyDesk usernames are tied to your account, not your device

Your AnyDesk username is the name you chose when you created your account, and it appears in the AnyDesk address book so other people can find and connect to you. Unlike some apps where you can change your display name without touching your account, AnyDesk does not have a built-in username change feature. If you want a different username, you need to create a new AnyDesk account with the name you want, then transfer your settings and connections to it.

The process takes about 10 minutes and does not affect any remote sessions already in progress. Your old account will still exist unless you delete it, so you can keep both active if you need to — for example, if other people still have your old username saved in their address books.

Key Takeaways

  • AnyDesk does not allow you to edit your username after account creation; you must create a new account with your desired name.
  • Your old account remains active until you delete it, so people using your old username can still reach you if you keep it running.
  • You can run both accounts on the same device by signing out of one and signing into the other in the same AnyDesk installation.
  • Anyone who has your old username saved in their address book will need to add your new username to reach you under the new account.

Create a new AnyDesk account with your desired username

Open AnyDesk on your device. In the top left corner, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines), then select Sign out. This logs you out of your current account but does not uninstall AnyDesk or delete your old account.

Once you are signed out, the AnyDesk window will show a login screen. Click Create a new account (or Sign up, depending on your version). Enter the username you want, your email address, and a password. AnyDesk will send you a confirmation email — open it and click the link to verify your new account. Once verified, sign back into AnyDesk with your new username and password.

Transfer your settings and address book to the new account

Your address book (the list of devices and people you connect to regularly) is stored in your AnyDesk account, not on your device. When you sign into your new account, you will see an empty address book. You have two options: manually re-add the devices and contacts you need, or export your address book from your old account and import it into your new one.

To export from your old account, sign back into your old username, open the menu, and look for Address book or Contacts. Some versions of AnyDesk allow you to export this list as a file. If your version does not have an export option, you can take a screenshot of your address book and manually type the device names or usernames into your new account. Then sign out and sign back into your new account to complete the switch.

Decide whether to keep or delete your old account

After you have set up your new account and transferred your contacts, you can leave your old account as-is or delete it. If you delete it, anyone trying to reach you using your old username will get an error message. If you keep it, they can still connect to you through the old account, but you will need to have it running on your device to receive their connections.

Many people keep both accounts active for a transition period — perhaps a week or two — to make sure everyone they work with has switched to the new username. Once you are confident that all your regular contacts have updated their address books, you can delete the old account by signing into it, opening the menu, and selecting Delete account. This action is permanent and cannot be undone.

Run both accounts on the same device if you need to

If you want to keep both usernames active on the same computer or phone, you can do that by signing out and signing back in each time you need to switch. However, only one AnyDesk account can be active at a time on a single installation of the app. You cannot have both accounts logged in simultaneously on the same device.

If you need both accounts to be reachable at the same time, you would need to install AnyDesk on two separate devices or use a virtual machine. For most people, signing out of one account and into the other when needed is the simpler approach.

Update your contacts and collaborators with your new username

After you have created your new account, let the people who regularly connect to you know about the change. Send them your new AnyDesk username so they can add it to their address books. If you are removing your old account, tell them when you plan to do so, so they have time to update their settings before the old username stops working.

If you work in an organization, check whether your AnyDesk username is listed in any shared documentation, team wikis, or support tickets. Update those references to your new username to prevent confusion later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my AnyDesk username without creating a new account?

No. AnyDesk does not have a username-change feature. Your username is permanent to your account. Creating a new account with a different username is the only way to change it.

Will my remote sessions stop working if I switch to a new account?

No. Sessions already in progress will continue. Your old account will still work for incoming connections until you delete it. Only new connections using your new username will route to your new account.

What happens to my address book when I create a new account?

Your address book stays with your old account. You will need to re-add your contacts to your new account, or export your old address book and import it if your AnyDesk version supports that feature.

Can I have both usernames active at the same time on one device?

Not simultaneously. You can only be signed into one AnyDesk account per installation. You can sign out and sign back in to switch between them, but only one will be active at a time.

What if I delete my old account by mistake?

Deleted accounts cannot be recovered. If you delete your old account and then realize you need it, you would have to create a new account with that same username (if it is still available) and rebuild your address book and settings from scratch.