Change Your Yelp Username in Your Account Settings

To change your Yelp username, sign into your account on the Yelp website or app, go to your account settings, find the profile section, and look for an edit option next to your current username. Click or tap to edit, type your new username, and save the change. The process takes about two minutes and takes effect when ready across your Yelp profile, reviews, and public activity.

Your new username will appear on all your reviews, check-ins, and comments going forward. People who have bookmarked your profile or followed you will still be able to find you — Yelp keeps the connection active even after you change your name. However, any direct links someone saved to your old profile URL may not work, so if you share your Yelp profile link with others, you may want to give them your updated link after the change.

Key Takeaways

  • Sign in to your Yelp account on the website or mobile app and navigate to your account settings to find the username edit option.
  • Your new username appears on all your reviews and activity when ready, but old profile links may stop working.
  • Yelp does not limit how many times you can change your username, so you can update it whenever you want.
  • If you cannot find the edit option, make sure you are signed in to the account that owns the profile you want to change.

Where to Find the Username Edit Option on Desktop

On a computer, start by going to yelp.com and signing in with your email and password. Once you are logged in, look for your profile icon or name in the top right corner of the page and click it. A menu will drop down with several options — select "Account" or "Settings" (the exact wording depends on your account type and region).

In your account settings, look for a section labeled "Profile" or "Personal Information." You should see your current username displayed there, often with an "Edit" button or pencil icon next to it. Click that button, clear the current username, type your new one, and then click "Save" or "Confirm." Yelp will check that your new username is not already taken by another user — if it is, you will see an error message and can try a different name.

Changing Your Username on the Yelp Mobile App

The mobile app process is similar but the layout is slightly different. Open the Yelp app on your phone, tap the menu icon (usually three horizontal lines) at the bottom or top of the screen, and look for "Account" or "Settings." Tap that option to open your account menu.

Scroll down until you see "Profile" or "Edit Profile." Tap it, and you should see your username listed near the top. Tap the edit icon next to your username, type your new name, and tap "Save" or "Done." The change will sync to your account within a few seconds, and you will see your new username reflected in the app when ready.

Rules for Yelp Usernames

Yelp usernames can contain letters, numbers, and some special characters like underscores and hyphens, but they cannot contain spaces. Your username must be between 3 and 20 characters long. Yelp does not allow usernames that impersonate businesses, celebrities, or other real people, and usernames that violate this rule may be removed or disabled.

If you try to use a username that is already taken, Yelp will tell you when ready and ask you to choose a different one. There is no waiting period or reservation system — if someone else has the username, it is not available. You can change your username as many times as you want, so if your first choice is taken, you can try again with a different variation.

What Happens to Your Reviews and Activity After You Change Your Username

All your existing reviews, photos, and check-ins will show your new username. Anyone reading your old reviews will see the new name, not the old one. Your review history, helpful votes, and Yelp Elite status (if you have it) all stay attached to your account and will display under your new username.

If someone has you bookmarked or follows your profile, they will still be able to see your activity and reviews — the connection does not break when you change your name. However, if you shared a direct link to your profile with someone before the change, that link may not work correctly after you update your username. If you need to share your profile again, copy the new link from your profile page after the change.

Troubleshooting: Username Change Not Working

If you cannot find the edit option for your username, first make sure you are signed into the correct account. If you have multiple Yelp accounts, you may be looking at the wrong one. Sign out completely and sign back in to confirm you are in the right account.

If the edit button is still not visible, try clearing your browser cache or closing and reopening the app. Sometimes the interface does not load completely on the first try. If you are using an older version of the Yelp app, update it from your phone's app store — older versions sometimes have missing or broken features. If none of these steps work, you can contact Yelp support through the help section of your account settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Yelp does not prevent you from reusing old usernames, so you can change back to a previous name whenever you want. However, if someone else has taken that username in the meantime, you will not be able to use it until they change theirs.

Will changing my username affect my Yelp Elite status or review count?

No. Your Elite status, review count, helpful votes, and all other account history stay exactly the same. Only the name displayed on your profile and reviews changes.

Does Yelp notify my followers when I change my username?

Yelp does not send a notification to people following you, but they will see your new username the next time they view your profile or see one of your reviews.

What if the username I want is taken?

Try a variation with numbers or underscores, like adding your birth year or a number at the end. You can also try a completely different name. There is no waiting list — you just need to pick a name that is currently available.

Can I change my username on Yelp if I signed up through Facebook or Google?

Yes. Even if you created your Yelp account using Facebook or Google login, you can still change your username through your account settings. The process is the same as for accounts created with an email address.