OSU lets you change your username once every 30 days at no cost

Open the osu! account settings page at osu.ppy.sh, sign in, and look for the "Change username" option under your profile. You can change it once per month without paying. If you want to change it more often than that, osu! charges 4 USD per additional change within the same 30-day period. The free monthly change resets on the same date each month.

The username you choose must be between 3 and 15 characters long, contain only letters, numbers, underscores, hyphens, and spaces, and cannot already be taken by another player. OSU checks this in real time as you type, so you will see when ready whether your choice is available.

Your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after you change it. If you change your mind later, you can claim it back during your next free change window, but only if nobody else has taken it in the meantime. This is why it helps to think through your new name before you submit the change.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your OSU username once every 30 days without paying anything.
  • The username must be 3 to 15 characters and can only contain letters, numbers, underscores, hyphens, and spaces.
  • Your old username becomes available to other players when ready after you change it, and you cannot reserve it.
  • Changing your username does not affect your account rank, scores, play history, or any other data — everything stays tied to your account.
  • If you want to change your username more than once in 30 days, each additional change costs 4 USD.

Where to find the username change option

Log into your osu! account on the main website at osu.ppy.sh. Click your profile icon in the top right corner and select "Settings" from the dropdown menu. On the Settings page, look for the "Account" section on the left sidebar and click it.

Scroll down until you see "Change username" with a text field below it. This is where you enter your new name. The page will show you when your next free change becomes available if you have already used your monthly change. If your 30-day window is still open, the text field will be active and ready for input.

What happens to your old username

Once you change your username, your old one goes back into the pool of available names. Any other player can claim it when ready. This means if you change your mind within a few minutes, you may not be able to switch back to it. Popular or short usernames tend to be claimed quickly by other players.

If you want to reclaim your old username later, you can do so during your next free change window — but only if nobody else has already taken it. There is no way to reserve or hold a username you no longer use. The system does not give previous owners any priority or grace period.

Restrictions on username changes

OSU does not allow usernames that impersonate staff members, contain offensive language, or are designed to confuse other players (for example, using characters that look like letters but are not). If you try to set a username that violates these rules, the system will reject it and ask you to choose something else. The rejection happens when ready when you try to confirm the change.

You cannot change your username more than once per 30 days without paying. If you have already used your free change this month and want to change again, you will need to pay 4 USD through the osu! website. The payment goes to the game's developer and helps support ongoing development. Each additional change within the same 30-day window costs the same amount.

How your account stays the same after a username change

Changing your username does not reset your account or affect any of your data. Your rank, play history, scores, badges, and supporter status all remain exactly as they were. Other players will see your new name, but your account ID stays the same behind the scenes.

If you are part of a clan or team, your membership carries over with your new username. Friends who have you added will still see you on their friends list. The only thing that changes is what people see when they look at your profile or in-game. Your leaderboard positions and historical records are all still there under your account.

Paying for extra username changes

If you want to change your username more than once in a 30-day period, osu! charges 4 USD for each additional change. You can make these paid changes as often as you want within the same month, but each one costs the same amount. The payment is processed through the osu! website using a credit card or other payment method you have on file.

The 4 USD fee is a one-time charge per change, not a subscription. You do not pay anything extra to keep your new username or to use your account normally. The fee only applies if you want to change your name again before your 30-day free window resets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username more than once a month for free?

No. OSU allows one free username change per 30-day period. If you want to change it again within that window, you must pay 4 USD per additional change. The 30-day timer resets on the anniversary of your last change.

What if someone else takes my old username after I change it?

Once your old username is claimed by another player, you cannot get it back. You can only reclaim a username you previously used if it has not been taken by someone else and you change your name during your next free window.

Do I need to update anything else after changing my username?

No. Your account, scores, and settings update automatically. If you use the osu! client on your computer, you may need to log out and back in to see your new username displayed, but your account access does not change.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my username?

You can use underscores, hyphens, and spaces, but not other special characters like periods, commas, or symbols. Your username must be 3 to 15 characters long and can contain only letters, numbers, underscores, hyphens, and spaces.

What if the username I want is already taken?

The system will tell you when ready that the name is unavailable. You will need to choose a different username. You can try variations like adding numbers, underscores, or hyphens to make your preferred name unique.