Where to find the username setting on your device or account

The location of your username setting depends on what you are changing it on. On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Your info, then click Rename your device at the top. On Mac, open System Settings > General > About, then click Edit next to the device name. On most websites and apps, look for Account Settings, Profile Settings, or Preferences — usually found by clicking your profile picture or avatar in the top right corner.

For email accounts, the process varies. Gmail does not let you change your email address itself, but you can add an alias or create a new account and transfer your data. Outlook and Yahoo both allow username changes through their account settings, though the steps differ slightly. Microsoft accounts (which control Windows sign-in) have their username setting separate from your email address — you change it in Settings > Accounts > Your info > Rename your device.

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok all place the username setting in account or profile settings, but they use different names for it. Facebook calls it your "username" or "Facebook URL". Instagram calls it your "username". Twitter calls it your "handle". TikTok calls it your "@username". Check the help section of the specific platform if you cannot find it after looking through settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows usernames are changed in Settings > Accounts > Your info > Rename your device, while Mac usernames are in System Settings > General > About.
  • Most websites and apps keep username settings in Account Settings or Profile Settings, usually accessible from your profile picture or avatar.
  • Gmail does not allow you to change your email address, but Outlook and Yahoo do through their account settings.
  • Social media platforms use different names for the same feature — Facebook uses "username", Instagram uses "username", Twitter uses "handle", and TikTok uses "@username".
  • Some services require you to wait a certain number of days between username changes, so check the confirmation message after you change it.

What happens to your old username after you change it

When you change your username, the old one usually becomes available for someone else to claim after a waiting period. On most platforms, this waiting period is 30 to 90 days. During that time, your old username is reserved and cannot be taken by another person. After the waiting period ends, anyone can register it. This is why you should not share your old username publicly if you are concerned about someone impersonating you.

Links and mentions that used your old username may stop working. If someone tagged you in a photo using your old handle, that tag may break or point to a blank profile. Direct messages sent to your old username will still reach you, but only if the platform stores messages by account ID rather than by username — most modern platforms do this. Check the platform's help section if you need to know whether old links will break.

Restrictions and waiting periods for changing your username

Most platforms limit how often you can change your username. Twitter allows one change every 30 days. Instagram allows one change every 14 days. TikTok allows one change every 30 days. Facebook does not have a strict limit but warns you that changing it too often may trigger a security review. Windows and Mac do not restrict how often you change your device name, but changing your Microsoft account username has a 30-day waiting period between changes.

Some services require your account to be a certain age before you can change your username. Discord requires your account to be at least 30 minutes old. Most email providers and social platforms do not have an age requirement, but they may require you to verify your identity or email address before allowing the change. If you just created your account, try changing the username after a few hours or a day if the option is not available when ready.

How to change your username without losing access to your account

Before you change your username, write down your email address and password somewhere safe. Your email address is what you use to log in and recover your account if something goes wrong — your username is just what other people see. If you change your username and then forget your password, you will still be able to recover your account using your email address, not your old username.

After you change your username, log out and log back in using your email address and password to confirm the change worked. Do not log out of other devices until you have tested this on at least one device. If the login fails, try using your old username first — some platforms keep old usernames working for a grace period. If that does not work, use the "Forgot password" option to reset your password and regain access.

If you use your username to sign into other services (like using your Twitter account to sign into a third-party app), those connections may break after you change your username. Check any apps or websites that use your account to sign in, and reconnect them if needed. Most will prompt you to re-authenticate the next time you try to use them.

Changing your username on specific platforms

Windows: Open Settings, go to Accounts, select Your info, and click Rename your device. Type your new name and click Next. You will be asked to restart your computer. After restart, your new username will be active.

Mac: Open System Settings, click General, then click About. Click the Edit button next to the device name, type your new name, and click Rename. The change takes effect when ready without a restart.

Gmail: You cannot change your Gmail address itself. Instead, you can add an alias by going to Settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP > Send mail as, then clicking Add another email address. You can also create a new Gmail account and set up forwarding from your old account.

Outlook: Go to your account settings, select Change your Microsoft account info, then click Change your name or username. Follow the prompts to verify your identity. The change takes effect within a few hours.

Facebook: Click the down arrow in the top right, select Settings and privacy > Settings, go to Personal information, and click Username. Type your new username and click Review. Facebook will show you the URL it will create, then click Save changes.

Instagram: Open your profile, tap the menu icon, select Settings and privacy > Edit profile, and tap Username. Type your new username and tap Done. You can change it again after 14 days.

Twitter: Click More in the left sidebar, select Settings and privacy > Your account > Account information, and click Username. Type your new username and click Save. You can change it again after 30 days.

TikTok: Open your profile, tap the menu icon, select Settings and privacy > Account, and tap Username. Type your new username and tap Save. You can change it again after 30 days.

What to do if your desired username is already taken

If the username you want is already taken, you have a few options. You can add numbers, underscores, or periods to make it unique — for example, if "john_smith" is taken, try "john_smith1" or "john.smith". You can also try abbreviations or variations of your name. Most platforms show you whether a username is available as you type, so you can test different versions quickly.

You can also check whether the account using your desired username is active. On Twitter, you can visit the profile to see when the person last posted. On Instagram, you can see their follower count and post history. If the account appears abandoned or inactive, you can report it to the platform for violating their terms of service — many platforms remove accounts that have been inactive for years. However, this process is slow and not may provide to work.

Another option is to wait. If someone is holding a username you want, they may eventually abandon their account or change their own username, freeing it up. You can periodically check whether it has become available. Some people also contact the account holder directly to ask if they will change their username, though this rarely works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my username affect my password or login?

No. Your password stays the same, and you still log in with your email address or account ID, not your username. Your username is only what other people see when they look at your profile. If you forget your password after changing your username, use the "Forgot password" option and reset it using your email address.

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

Yes, but only after the waiting period ends. Most platforms require 30 to 90 days before you can reuse an old username. During that time, your old username is reserved. After the waiting period, you can change your username back to the old one, but someone else might have claimed it first.

What if I change my username and then cannot log in?

Try logging in with your email address instead of your username. If that does not work, use the "Forgot password" option to reset your password. Your email address is your account recovery method, not your username. Once you reset your password, you should be able to log in normally.

Do I need to tell my contacts my new username?

It depends on how they find you. If they search for you by name, they will find you regardless of your username. If they have you saved in their contacts or follow you, they will see your new username automatically. You only need to tell people if they search for you by your old username specifically.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my username?

Most platforms do not allow spaces in usernames. Special characters like @, #, or ! are usually not allowed either. Most platforms allow underscores, periods, and hyphens. Check the platform's rules as you type — it will tell you which characters are not allowed.