Where to find the username change option
Ultimate Guitar stores your username in your account settings, not in the app itself. You'll need to log in through a web browser — either on a computer or mobile browser — because the mobile app doesn't have a direct settings menu for this. Go to ultimateguitar.com, sign in with your email and password, then click your profile icon in the top right corner.
From the dropdown menu, select "Settings" or "Account Settings" (the exact wording shifts between updates, but it's always near the top of that menu). You should land on a page that shows your email, profile information, and username field.
Key Takeaways
- You must change your username through the Ultimate Guitar website in a web browser, not through the mobile app.
- The username field is in your Account Settings, accessible through the profile icon menu after you log in.
- Ultimate Guitar allows one username change per account, so choose carefully before you confirm.
- Your new username takes effect when ready, but it may take a few minutes to update across the site if you're logged in elsewhere.
- If you've already used your one change, you'll need to contact Ultimate Guitar support to request another one.
The one-change limit and what it means
Ultimate Guitar gives you one free username change per account. This is a hard limit — once you've used it, you cannot change your username again without contacting support. The site does this to prevent spam accounts from constantly shifting identities and to keep usernames stable for the community.
Before you click "Save" or "Confirm," make sure the new name is one you'll want to keep. Check that it's spelled the way you want it, that it doesn't have accidental spaces or numbers you didn't intend, and that it follows the site's rules (no offensive language, no impersonation of known guitarists or instructors). Once you confirm, you're locked into that choice.
What happens after you change it
Your new username becomes active when ready on the website. Any tabs you have open will show the old username until you refresh the page. If you're logged into the mobile app at the same time, it may take a few minutes for the app to sync and show your new name — you might need to log out and back in to see the change reflected there.
Your old username is released back into the pool and can be claimed by someone else, though there's usually a delay of a few days before that happens. Your profile history, tabs you've created, and comments you've posted all stay attached to your account — they don't disappear or get reassigned.
If you've already used your one change
If you've already changed your username once and want to change it again, you'll need to contact Ultimate Guitar's support team directly. Go to ultimateguitar.com/support or look for a "Contact Us" link at the bottom of the page. Explain that you've used your free change and want to request another one.
Support doesn't always grant second changes — it depends on the reason and how long ago your first change was. They're more likely to help if you have a legitimate reason (like a name you no longer use or one that was set up years ago) than if you're just trying to rebrand frequently. Response times vary, but expect to wait several days for a reply.
Username rules and what you can't use
Ultimate Guitar has a few restrictions on what usernames are allowed. You cannot use spaces, and the name must be between 3 and 20 characters long. You cannot impersonate real people — so you can't use the exact name of a famous guitarist or instructor in a way that could confuse other users. Offensive language, slurs, and sexually explicit terms are not allowed.
The site also blocks usernames that look like spam or that are designed to trick people (like mimicking the official Ultimate Guitar account or using symbols to look like a verified user). If you try to save a username that violates these rules, the site will tell you it's not available and ask you to pick a different one.
Changing your username on the mobile app
The Ultimate Guitar mobile app (on iOS or Android) doesn't have a built-in way to change your username. If you try to find it in the app's settings, you won't see the option. This is by design — the app syncs with your web account, so the change has to happen on the website first.
After you change your username on the website, close the app completely and reopen it. It should pull the new username from your account. If it still shows the old name after reopening, try logging out of the app and logging back in with your email and password. The app should then display your updated username.
What doesn't change when you update your username
Your email address stays the same — changing your username doesn't affect your login credentials. You still sign in with your email and password, not with your username. Your subscription status (if you have one) doesn't change. Your saved tabs, favorites, and any premium features you've paid for all stay active.
Comments and posts you've made under your old username will now show your new username when other users view them. Your profile URL may also update, depending on how Ultimate Guitar structures its links. If you've shared a direct link to your profile with someone, that link should still work, but it's worth testing it after the change to be sure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my username back to what it was before?
Not directly. Once you've used your one free change, you can't undo it or swap back to your old name without contacting support. If you want to go back to a previous username, you'd need to request it through the support form and explain why. There's no may provide they'll approve it.
What if someone else took my old username after I changed it?
Ultimate Guitar doesn't reserve old usernames for the person who used them. Once you change your name, your old one becomes available for anyone to claim. If someone else grabs it before you realize you want it back, you can't reclaim it — you'd have to contact support and ask them to intervene, which they rarely do.
Does changing my username affect my tabs or my followers?
No. Your tabs, followers, and all your account history stay attached to your account regardless of what your username is. People who follow you will see your new username, and any tabs you've created will still be credited to you under the new name.
Why does the app still show my old username after I changed it on the website?
The app caches your profile information locally, so it doesn't always update when ready. Close the app completely (swipe it away from your recent apps list, don't just minimize it), wait a few seconds, and reopen it. If it still shows the old name, log out and log back in. That forces the app to pull fresh data from the server.
Can I use special characters or numbers in my new username?
You can use numbers, but not spaces or most special characters. Underscores and hyphens are usually allowed, but symbols like @, #, or $ are not. The site will tell you when ready if a character isn't allowed when you try to save the change.