Yes, you can change your GitHub username, and GitHub makes the process straightforward

GitHub lets you change your username at any time through your account settings. The change takes effect when ready, and GitHub automatically redirects your old username to your new one for a short period. However, there are a few things that won't update automatically — like links in your repositories, mentions in issues, and URLs you've shared publicly — so you'll need to decide whether to update those yourself.

The actual username change takes about two minutes. The harder part is usually deciding whether the disruption is worth it, especially if you've been using the same name for years and other people have linked to your profile.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your username in your account settings under "Change username", and the change is when ready with no approval process.
  • GitHub redirects your old username to your new one for a limited time, but this redirect eventually expires.
  • Repository URLs, commit history, and links in documentation do not update automatically when you change your username.
  • If you use GitHub Pages, your site URL will change, and you'll need to update any DNS records or custom domain settings.
  • Organizations and teams you belong to will still see you under your new username, but you should notify collaborators about the change.

Where to find the username change setting

Log into GitHub and click your profile picture in the top right corner. Select Settings from the dropdown menu. On the left sidebar, click Account. You'll see a section labeled Change username with a text field showing your current name.

Type your new username into the field. GitHub will tell you when ready if the name is already taken or contains invalid characters. Usernames can contain letters, numbers, and hyphens, but cannot start or end with a hyphen. Once you've entered a valid name, click the button to confirm the change.

What happens to your old username

GitHub reserves your old username for a short period and redirects anyone who visits your old profile URL to your new one. This redirect is temporary — it typically lasts for a few months, though GitHub doesn't publish the exact timeframe. After the redirect expires, someone else can claim your old username.

This means if you change your mind and want to switch back, you should do it soon after the change. If you wait too long and someone else has taken your old name, you won't be able to reclaim it.

What does and doesn't update automatically

Your username appears in many places across GitHub, and the platform handles updates differently depending on where it shows up. Your profile page, your repositories, and your account settings all update when ready. Any new links to your profile will use your new username.

However, several things do not update automatically. Repository URLs change from github.com/oldname/repo to github.com/newname/repo, but any links you've shared publicly — in documentation, on your website, in README files, or in social media — will still point to the old URL. Commit history shows your username as it was at the time you made each commit, so old commits will still display your previous username. Issues, pull requests, and comments you've made will also show your old username on older activity.

If you have a GitHub Pages site, your site URL will change from oldname.github.io to newname.github.io. You'll need to update any custom domain settings, DNS records, or links pointing to your old site URL.

Updating links and documentation after the change

After you change your username, search your repositories for any hardcoded references to your old username. This includes README files, documentation, configuration files, and any scripts that reference your profile URL. You can use GitHub's search feature to find instances of your old username across your repositories.

If you maintain documentation or a website that links to your GitHub profile, update those links to use your new username. The same applies to any CI/CD pipelines, deployment scripts, or automation that references your old profile URL. The redirect will work temporarily, but relying on it long-term is risky since it will eventually expire.

If you've published your GitHub profile URL in places you don't control — like Stack Overflow, LinkedIn, or archived blog posts — you don't need to do anything. The redirect will handle those for a while, and people can still find you.

How this affects organizations and teams

If you're a member of an organization or team, your new username takes effect when ready across all those spaces. Organization owners and team maintainers will see you under your new name in member lists and access controls. You don't need to rejoin or be re-invited.

However, you should notify the people you work with about the change, especially if they reference your username in documentation, deployment processes, or team communications. If your organization uses any automation that checks for specific usernames, that automation may need to be updated.

Considerations before you change your username

Changing your username is most disruptive if you've been using it for a long time and it's widely linked across the internet. If you have a popular open-source project, many people may have bookmarked or linked to your profile. The redirect helps, but it's temporary.

If you're early in your GitHub journey and haven't shared your profile widely, the disruption is minimal. If you're changing your username for professional reasons — like moving from a personal brand to a company name, or vice versa — the effort to update links is usually worth it.

One thing to keep in mind: you can change your username again later if you want. There's no limit on how many times you can change it, so if you're unsure, you can always try the new name and switch back if it doesn't feel right.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my repositories disappear when I change my username?

No. Your repositories stay in your account and remain accessible. The repository URLs change, but GitHub redirects the old URLs to the new ones temporarily. You should update any public links to your repositories, especially in documentation or on your website.

What happens to my GitHub Pages site when I change my username?

Your GitHub Pages site URL changes from oldusername.github.io to newusername.github.io. If you use a custom domain, you don't need to change anything — your custom domain will continue to work. If you rely on the default GitHub Pages URL, you'll need to update any links pointing to the old URL and reconfigure any DNS settings.

Can someone else take my old username after I change it?

Yes, but not when ready. GitHub reserves your old username for a limited time. Once that period expires, someone else can claim it. If you think you might want to switch back, do it soon after the change.

Do my commits show my new username after I change it?

No. Commits are permanent records with the username you had when you made them. Old commits will continue to show your previous username. Only new commits you make after the change will show your new username.

Will my followers or stars transfer to my new username?

Yes. Your followers, starred repositories, and all your account activity transfer when ready to your new username. Nothing is lost when you change your name.