Where to find the username setting on your device or account
The location of your username setting depends on what you're using — a computer, phone, or online account. On most devices and websites, username settings live in one of three places: a profile or account menu, a settings area, or an admin panel if you manage multiple accounts.
Start by looking for your profile picture or name in the top right or top left corner of the screen. Click or tap it. A menu should appear with options like "Profile," "Settings," "Account," or "Preferences." If you don't see your profile picture, look for a gear icon (⚙️) or three horizontal lines (☰) — these almost always open settings.
Once you're in settings or your profile area, search for a section labeled "Account," "Profile," "Username," or "Personal Information." Some platforms hide it under "Privacy & Security" or "Account Settings." If you're on a phone, you may need to scroll down to find it — settings are often longer on mobile than on desktop.
Key Takeaways
- Username settings are usually found in your profile menu or settings area, accessed through your profile picture or a gear icon.
- You will need to enter your current password to change your username on most platforms for security reasons.
- Some platforms let you change your username once per month or year, while others allow unlimited changes — check the rules before you start.
- Your new username must follow the platform's rules: it may need to be between certain lengths, avoid special characters, or not contain spaces.
- After you change your username, log out and log back in with your new username to confirm the change worked.
Steps to change your username on Windows or Mac
On a Windows computer, go to Settings (the gear icon in the Start menu), then select "Accounts" on the left side. Click "Your info" at the top. You'll see your current account name. Click "Rename your account" and type your new name, then click "Next" and "Finish." This changes the name that appears on your login screen and in Windows menus.
On a Mac, click the Apple menu in the top left, then "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older versions). Select "General," then look for "About" or scroll down to find "Users & Groups." You may need to click the lock icon and enter your password. Right-click your account name in the list and select "Rename," then type your new name and press Enter.
After you change your username on either system, you don't need to restart — the change takes effect when ready. Your files and programs stay exactly where they are. If you ever need to change it back, follow the same steps.
How to change your username on Gmail, Outlook, or other email accounts
Email accounts work differently from device usernames. On Gmail, your username is the part before @gmail.com, and Google does not let you change it once it's created. However, you can add an alias — an alternate email address that works the same way. Go to Gmail settings (click the gear icon, then "See all settings"), select the "Accounts and Import" tab, and click "Add another email address." You can then receive and send mail from that new address.
On Outlook or Hotmail, your username is also locked in. Instead, you can create a new email account with a different name if you need one. To do this, visit outlook.com, click "Create free account," and follow the steps to set up a new address. You can then forward mail from your old account to your new one.
If you want to change the display name (the name that shows when you send an email), that's different from your username and is changeable on most platforms. In Gmail, click the gear icon, go to "See all settings," select "Accounts and Import," and find "Send mail as." Click "Edit" next to your name and change the display name there.
Changing your username on social media platforms
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and other social platforms each have their own rules for username changes. On Facebook, click the downward arrow in the top right, select "Settings & privacy," then "Settings." Click "Personal information" on the left, then "Username." Enter your new username and click "Review." Facebook will show you what your new profile URL will look like. Click "Change Username" to confirm.
On Instagram, go to your profile, tap the menu icon (three lines), select "Settings," then "Account," then "Username." Type your new username and tap "Change username." Instagram lets you change your username as often as you want, but you can only change it once every 14 days if you've already changed it recently.
On Twitter (now called X), click your profile picture, select "Settings and privacy," then "Account," then "Username." Type your new username and click "Save." Twitter allows unlimited username changes. On TikTok, go to "Me," tap the menu icon, select "Settings and privacy," then "Account," then "Username," and enter your new name.
Rules and restrictions for new usernames
Every platform has rules about what characters and lengths are allowed. Most platforms require usernames to be between 3 and 20 characters long, though some allow up to 30. Usernames typically cannot contain spaces, and most do not allow special characters like @, #, $, or %. Periods, underscores, and hyphens are usually allowed.
Some platforms require your username to start with a letter rather than a number. Others reserve certain words — you cannot create a username that is already taken, and some platforms block usernames that match their own brand names or common terms. If you try to create a username and it's rejected, the platform will tell you why and what rules you broke.
Check whether the platform has a change limit before you pick a new username. Some services (like Instagram) let you change your username frequently but with a waiting period between changes. Others (like Gmail) do not let you change it at all. Knowing this before you choose prevents frustration if you want to change it again later.
What to do if your new username is already taken
If the username you want is already in use, the platform will show you an error message saying "Username not available" or "This username is taken." You have two options: choose a different username, or try a variation of the one you want.
Common variations include adding numbers to the end (like "sarah_2024" instead of "sarah"), using an underscore or period in the middle ("sarah.jones" instead of "sarahjones"), or adding a short word ("sarah_official" or "real_sarah"). Many people use their birth year, initials, or a short descriptor to make their preferred username unique.
If you're trying to claim a username for a business or public figure, and someone else has it, you may be able to report it to the platform. Most social media sites have a process for reclaiming usernames that belong to inactive accounts or that infringe on trademarks, but this process is slow and not may provide to work.
Confirming your username change worked
After you change your username, log out of your account completely. Close the browser or app, then log back in using your new username instead of your old one. If the login works, your change was successful. If it doesn't work, try logging in with your old username — the change may not have saved.
On social media, visit your profile page and check that the new username appears in your profile URL. On Facebook, your URL should be facebook.com/yournewusername. On Instagram, it should be instagram.com/yournewusername. If the old username still shows, wait a few minutes and refresh the page — changes sometimes take a moment to appear across all the platform's servers.
If you changed your device username (Windows or Mac), open File Explorer or Finder and look at the folder names. Your user folder should now show your new username. If it still shows the old one, restart your computer and check again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my username affect my password?
No. Your password stays the same. After you change your username, you log in with your new username and your existing password. You do not need to create a new password unless the platform specifically asks you to.
Can I change my username back to what it was before?
On most platforms, yes — you can change it back by following the same steps and entering your old username, as long as no one else has claimed it in the meantime. On some services like Instagram, you'll need to wait 14 days between changes. On Windows and Mac, you can rename your account as many times as you want.
What happens to my old username after I change it?
On social media, your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after a short period (usually a few days to a few weeks). On email services like Gmail, your old username is locked to you permanently and cannot be used by anyone else. On Windows or Mac, your old user folder remains on your computer but is no longer used for login.
Do I need to tell people my new username?
If you use your username to communicate with others — for email, social media, or messaging — yes, you should let them know your new username so they can find you. For device usernames on your personal computer, you only need to tell people if they log into your computer or if you share files over a network.
Why is my new username not showing up on my profile?
Changes to usernames sometimes take a few minutes to appear across all servers, especially on large platforms like Facebook or Instagram. Log out, wait 5 to 10 minutes, then log back in and refresh your profile page. If it still hasn't changed after an hour, contact the platform's support team — the change may not have saved properly.