Change your Medium username through account settings

To change your Medium username, log into your account, go to Settings, select the Profile tab, and update the username field. Medium usernames appear in your public profile URL and on every story you publish, so changing it affects how readers find your work. The change takes effect when ready, though your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after a short delay.

Medium allows one username change per account without restriction. If you need to change it again later, you can, but Medium may limit how often you can make changes to prevent abuse. There is no cost to change your username, and you do not need to create a new account.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Medium username is the unique handle that appears in your profile URL and on all your published stories.
  • You can change your username once freely by going to Settings, then Profile, then editing the username field.
  • The change takes effect right away, and your old username becomes available for others to use after a brief delay.
  • Changing your username does not affect your stories, followers, or reading history — only how your profile address appears.
  • If you have a Medium publication (a collection of stories you manage), the publication name and username are separate and change independently.

Step-by-step: accessing your profile settings

Start by logging into Medium on a web browser or the Medium app. On the web, click your profile picture in the top right corner of the page. A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Select "Settings" from that menu.

On the Medium mobile app, tap the profile icon at the bottom of the screen, then tap the gear icon in the top right to open Settings. Both the web and app versions take you to the same account settings page.

Finding and editing your username field

Once you are in Settings, look for the "Profile" tab near the top of the page. Click or tap it to open your profile information. You will see several fields here: your name, bio, location, and other details. The username field is typically near the top, often labeled "Username" or showing your current handle.

Click into the username field to select it. Clear the current text and type your new username. Medium usernames can contain letters, numbers, and hyphens, but not spaces or special characters. Keep your new username reasonably short — long usernames are harder for readers to type and remember.

What happens after you save your change

After you type your new username, look for a "Save" button or similar confirmation option on the page. Click it to explore the change. Medium will confirm that the new username is available and not already taken by another user. If the name is taken, you will see an error message and need to choose a different one.

Once saved, your new username takes effect when ready. Your profile URL changes from medium.com/@oldusername to medium.com/@newusername. All your existing stories remain under your account and will show the new username as the author. Readers who followed you will still see your stories in their feed — the username change does not affect your follower list or reading history.

Your old username and what happens to it

After you change your username, your old one does not disappear right away. Medium holds it for a short period — usually a few days to a week — before releasing it back into circulation. During that time, if someone tries to visit your old profile URL, they will be redirected to your new one.

Once the hold period ends, another Medium user can claim your old username. This is why you should not share your old profile URL with people after changing it. Instead, share your new URL or direct people to your profile through a link on your website or social media.

Changing your username a second time

Medium allows you to change your username more than once, but the first change is always free and unrestricted. If you want to change it again, Medium may require you to wait a certain amount of time or may impose other limits. The exact rules can vary, so if you are planning a second change, try going through the same Settings process and see what Medium tells you.

If you run into a message saying you cannot change your username yet, it usually means you need to wait longer since your last change. Medium does this to prevent people from rapidly cycling through usernames and confusing their audience.

Usernames versus display names

Medium has two separate identity fields: your username and your display name. Your username is the unique handle that appears in your profile URL and is what readers type to find you. Your display name is the full name or pen name that appears on your stories and profile — this can include spaces and special characters, and you can change it as often as you want.

If you only want to change how your name appears on your stories but keep your profile URL the same, edit your display name instead of your username. Both are in the Profile settings, but they serve different purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my stories disappear if I change my username?

No. All your stories stay on your account and remain published. They will show your new username as the author, and readers can still find them through search and your profile. The only thing that changes is the URL of your profile page itself.

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

Not when ready. Your old username enters a hold period after you change it, so you cannot reclaim it right away. After the hold expires and someone else claims it, you would need that person to release it. It is simpler to choose a new username you plan to keep.

What if the username I want is already taken?

Medium will tell you the name is unavailable and you will need to pick a different one. Try adding a number, a hyphen, or a word to make it unique. You can also check if the username belongs to an inactive account by visiting that profile, though Medium does not release inactive usernames.

Does changing my username affect my Medium membership or paywall access?

No. Your membership status, paywall access, and any earnings from the Medium Partner Program stay the same. The username change only affects how your profile appears to readers.

Can I change my username on the Medium app?

Yes. Open the app, tap your profile icon, tap the settings gear, go to Profile, and edit your username the same way you would on the web. The process is identical across both platforms.