You can change your AOL username through your account settings, but the process depends on whether you use AOL Mail or a different AOL service

AOL usernames fall into two categories: your email address (the part before @aol.com) and your account display name. The email address itself cannot be changed once it exists, but you can create a new AOL email address and set it as your primary one. Your display name — the name that appears to other people — can be changed directly in your account settings. This guide covers both paths so you know which one fits what you need to do.

The fastest route is changing your display name, which takes about five minutes and happens when ready. Creating a new primary email address takes longer because AOL requires you to verify the new address before it becomes active, but it gives you a fresh username across all AOL services.

Key Takeaways

  • Your AOL email address (the part before @aol.com) cannot be changed, but you can create a new AOL email and set it as your primary account address.
  • Your display name — what other people see — can be changed in Account Settings under Personal Info in about five minutes.
  • Creating a new primary email requires you to verify the new address by clicking a link AOL sends you, which usually takes a few minutes to arrive.
  • After you create a new primary email, your old AOL address still exists but becomes a secondary address you can use to sign in.
  • Some AOL services like AIM may not when ready reflect your new username, and you may need to sign out and back in to see the change.

How to change your AOL display name in five minutes

Your display name is what appears next to your messages and comments across AOL services. To change it, sign into your AOL account at aol.com, then click the Account icon (usually your initials or a silhouette) in the top right corner. Select Account Settings from the menu that appears.

Once you are in Account Settings, look for the Personal Info section on the left side. Click it, then find the field labeled Display Name or Name. Delete the current name and type the new one you want to use. Click Save at the bottom of the page. The change takes effect when ready, though some AOL services may take a few minutes to show the new name if you stay signed in.

How to create a new primary AOL email address

If you want a completely new AOL email address (a different username before @aol.com), you need to create a new email and then set it as your primary address. Start by signing into your AOL account, then go to Account Settings and select Account Security on the left side. Look for a section called Email Addresses or Manage Email Addresses.

Click the button to add a new email address. AOL will ask you to choose a new username and confirm that you want to create it. Type the username you want (the part before @aol.com), then click Create Email. AOL sends a verification email to your current primary address. Open that email and click the verification link inside it — this usually arrives within a few minutes.

After you verify the new address, go back to Account Settings and return to Email Addresses. You should now see both your old and new email addresses listed. Click on the new one and select Make Primary or Set as Primary. Your new email is now your main AOL address, though your old one still works for signing in and receiving mail if you forward it.

What happens to your old AOL username

When you create a new primary email address, your old AOL username does not disappear or get deleted. Instead, it becomes a secondary address attached to your account. You can still use it to sign into AOL Mail and other AOL services, and any mail sent to the old address will still arrive in your inbox (unless you change the forwarding settings).

If you want to stop using the old address entirely, you can remove it from your account in the Email Addresses section of Account Settings, but this is permanent and cannot be undone. Most people keep the old address active as a backup way to sign in, especially if they have used it for years and other services might still have it on file.

Why your new username might not show up everywhere right away

AOL services like AIM, AOL Mail, and AOL.com itself do not always update your new username at the same moment. If you change your display name or create a new primary email, you may see the old name still showing in one service while another has already switched. This is normal and usually clears up within a few minutes.

If a service is still showing your old name after an hour, try signing out completely, closing your browser, and signing back in. This forces the service to fetch your current account information from AOL's servers instead of using a cached version. If you created a new primary email address, some older AOL services may require you to sign in with the new address before they recognize the change.

Changing your username on AOL Mail through a phone or tablet

The AOL Mail app for iPhone, iPad, or Android does not have a direct way to change your username or display name. Instead, you need to use a web browser to visit aol.com and follow the steps above for changing your display name or creating a new primary email. Once you make the change through the website, open the AOL Mail app, sign out, and sign back in to see the new username.

If you are using the AOL Mail app and want to add a new email address to your account, you can do this through the app's settings. Open the app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), then tap Settings. Look for an option to add an email address or manage accounts, though the full process of creating a new primary address still works faster through a web browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my old AOL username back if I delete it?

No. Once you remove an email address from your AOL account, it is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. Before you delete an old address, make sure you have moved any important mail to your new address and that no services you use regularly are still sending mail to it.

What if my new AOL username is already taken?

AOL will tell you when ready when you try to create the new address. If the username you want is taken, try adding numbers, a period, or an underscore to make it unique. For example, if "john.smith" is taken, try "john.smith1" or "john_smith".

Do I need to change my password when I change my username?

No. Your password stays the same whether you change your display name or create a new primary email address. You sign in with whichever email address is linked to your account, and the password remains unchanged.

Will changing my AOL username affect my other accounts?

Changing your display name has no effect on other accounts. If you create a new primary AOL email address, services that have your old AOL email on file will still send mail to the old address unless you update them separately. You should go through accounts that matter — banking, shopping, social media — and update them with your new AOL email if you want mail to arrive at the new address.

Can I have more than one primary email address?

No. You can have multiple email addresses attached to your AOL account, but only one can be the primary address at a time. You can switch which address is primary whenever you want through Account Settings, and you can sign in with any of your addresses.