Where to find the username setting in Words With Friends
Your username in Words With Friends lives in your account settings, not in the game itself. Open the app and tap the menu icon — usually three horizontal lines in the top left or top right corner, depending on whether you play on iPhone or Android. From there, look for "Settings" or "Account" (the exact wording varies by app version).
Once you are in Settings, you should see a section for your profile or account information. This is where your current username appears. Tap on it to edit. Some versions of the app show your username right at the top of the Settings screen; others nest it under "Profile" or "My Account". If you cannot find it after checking these spots, try scrolling down — the username field is sometimes below other options like notification preferences.
Key Takeaways
- Your username setting is in the app's Settings or Account menu, not in the game board itself.
- You can change your username as many times as you want, and the change takes effect when ready for new games and friend requests.
- Your old username does not carry over to your new one — friends who know you by the old name may not recognize you until you tell them.
- If you play on multiple devices, change your username on one device and it updates everywhere you are logged in with the same account.
The actual steps to change your username
Tap on your current username in the Settings screen. A text field should appear where you can delete the old name and type a new one. Words With Friends usually allows usernames between 3 and 20 characters, and you can use letters, numbers, and some punctuation — but not spaces. If you try a name that is already taken or breaks the character rules, the app will tell you and ask you to try again.
Type your new username and then look for a "Save," "Confirm," or "Done" button. Tap it. The app may take a few seconds to process the change, especially if you have an active game running. Once it confirms, your new username is live. Anyone who searches for you by name or receives a new game invitation from you will see the new username, not the old one.
What happens to your games and friends list
Changing your username does not erase your games, your score history, or your friends list. All of that stays attached to your account. Your friends will still see your games in their inbox, and you will still see theirs. The only thing that changes is the name that appears next to your moves and in your profile.
However, friends who know you only by your old username may not when ready realize the new name is you. If you have friends who play casually and do not check your profile often, consider sending them a message or starting a new game so they see the change. Your account itself does not send a notification when you change your username, so the burden is on you to let people know if it matters to you that they recognize you.
If you are logged in on multiple devices
Words With Friends syncs your account across devices when you are logged in with the same email address or social media account. Change your username on your phone, and it updates on your tablet or computer automatically — you do not have to change it twice. The sync usually happens within a few seconds, but if you are playing an active game on another device, you may see a brief delay before the new name appears there.
If you use different accounts on different devices (for example, one Facebook login on your phone and a different email on your tablet), each account has its own username. Changing one does not affect the other. Make sure you are logged into the account you actually want to change before you edit the username.
Troubleshooting if the change does not stick
If you tap Save and the username reverts back to the old one, the most common cause is that the app did not sync the change to the server. Close the app completely — not just minimize it, but swipe it away from your recent apps — and open it again. Log back in if prompted. Your new username should now appear.
If the problem persists, try restarting your device. This clears temporary files that sometimes interfere with account updates. After restarting, open Words With Friends and check your Settings again. If the username still has not changed after a restart, the app may have a bug or your internet connection may have dropped during the save. Try changing it one more time, making sure you have a strong Wi-Fi or cellular connection, and wait a full 10 seconds after tapping Save before closing the app.
Choosing a username that will not cause problems later
Before you settle on a new username, think about whether it is something you will want to see in your games a year from now. Usernames tied to current events, jokes, or inside references can feel dated quickly. If you play with family or coworkers, avoid anything that might embarrass you in that context — your username is visible to everyone you play against.
Also consider that you cannot use spaces, so "john smith" becomes "johnsmith" or "john_smith". If you want your name to be readable, underscores and numbers help break up long strings of letters. Test how your chosen name looks in a game before you commit to it — open a game you are already playing and see how the new name appears next to your moves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my username back to what it was before?
Yes. There is no limit on how many times you can change your username. If you change it and regret it, go back to Settings and change it again. The old username is not reserved for you, so if someone else has taken it in the meantime, you will not be able to use it again.
Will my friends still be able to find me after I change my username?
Your friends list does not change, so they will still see you in their friends list under your new username. However, if someone tries to search for you by your old name, they will not find you. Let people know if you change your name and you want them to be able to search for you.
Does changing my username affect my word score or game history?
No. Your score, your statistics, and every game you have ever played stay exactly the same. The username change is cosmetic — it only changes the name displayed next to your moves and on your profile.
What if the username I want is already taken?
Words With Friends will not let you save a username that someone else is already using. If you get an error message saying the name is taken, try adding a number or underscore to make it unique — for example, "jane_smith" instead of "janesmith", or "janesmith2" instead of "janesmith".
Do I need to change my password when I change my username?
No. Your username and password are separate. Changing your username does not affect your login credentials or your account security. You only need to change your password if you suspect someone has accessed your account or if you want to update it for security reasons.