Where to find the username setting in BeReal

Open BeReal and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. From your profile page, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the top right. Select "Settings" from that menu, then tap "Username." The field will show your current username and let you type a new one directly into the box.

BeReal does not require you to change your username — you can keep the same one indefinitely. But if you want a different one, the process takes less than a minute and does not affect your account, friends, or saved memories.

Key Takeaways

  • Your username is found in Settings under your profile menu, and you can change it as often as you want.
  • BeReal usernames must be between 2 and 20 characters and can include letters, numbers, underscores, and periods.
  • Changing your username does not delete your account, memories, or friend list — only the name people see changes.
  • If someone else has already taken the username you want, BeReal will tell you when ready and you will need to pick a different one.
  • Your old username becomes available for someone else to use as soon as you change it.

What characters and length are allowed

BeReal usernames can be 2 to 20 characters long. You can use letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers, underscores, and periods. You cannot use spaces, special characters like hyphens or exclamation marks, or emoji.

The app will reject a username if it contains characters outside this set or if it is shorter than 2 characters or longer than 20. If you try to save a username that breaks these rules, BeReal shows an error message telling you what went wrong.

What happens when you change your username

Your friends will see your new username the next time they open the app or refresh their friend list. Your old memories and posts stay attached to your account under the new name. Nobody loses you as a friend, and you do not lose any of your saved BeReals or streaks.

The old username becomes available when ready for someone else to claim. If you change your mind later, you can change it back — but only if nobody else has taken it in the meantime. There is no "undo" button, so if you want to go back to an old username and someone else grabbed it, you will have to pick something new.

If the username you want is already taken

When you type a username that someone else already has, BeReal shows a message saying it is unavailable. You will need to choose a different one. Try adding a number to the end, using an underscore or period in the middle, or picking a different name altogether.

There is no way to request a username from someone else or to see who is using it. If you really want a specific name, your only option is to wait and hope the person who has it changes it or deletes their account — which could take years or never happen.

Changing your username on different devices

If you use BeReal on both iPhone and Android, or on multiple phones, you only need to change your username once. The change syncs across all your devices automatically because your username is tied to your account, not to a specific phone.

After you change it on one device, open BeReal on your other devices and refresh or close and reopen the app. Your new username will appear everywhere within a few minutes.

Why you might want to change your username

Some people change their username when they want more privacy — for example, moving from a name that includes their real name to something more anonymous. Others change it because they created an account quickly and want something that feels more like them now. A few change it because they shared their old username with someone they no longer want to stay in touch with.

BeReal does not limit how often you can change your username, so you can experiment. Just keep in mind that your friends will see the new name, and if you change it frequently, they might have trouble finding you or remembering what to search for.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Only if nobody else has claimed it. Once you change your username, the old one goes back into circulation. If you want to switch back and someone else has taken it, you will have to pick a new name instead.

Does changing my username affect my BeReal streak?

No. Your streak is tied to your account, not your username. Changing your name does not reset it, break it, or affect it in any way.

Will my friends still be able to find me after I change my username?

Yes. They can search for your new username the same way they searched for your old one. Your profile also stays in their friend list under the new name, so they do not have to do anything on their end.

What if I see a username I want but it looks inactive?

Inactive accounts still hold their usernames. There is no way to claim a username from an account that is not being used. You will have to choose something different.

Can I use special characters like @ or # in my username?

No. BeReal only allows letters, numbers, underscores, and periods. Any other character will cause the app to reject the username when you try to save it.