The simplest way to change your WordPress username

You cannot change your username directly through the WordPress dashboard. Instead, you create a new user account with the username you want, transfer your posts and settings to that account, and then delete the old one. This takes about ten minutes and requires you to log out and back in once.

The reason WordPress works this way is that your username is tied to your author history and permissions. Rather than breaking those connections by renaming, WordPress lets you build a new identity and move your work to it. The process is safe — your posts stay published, your site keeps working, and you can undo it by switching back if you change your mind.

Key Takeaways

  • WordPress does not have a rename function; you must create a new account and transfer your posts to it.
  • You need administrator access to create new user accounts and change post authorship.
  • After creating the new account, you reassign all your posts from the old username to the new one in bulk.
  • Once your posts are moved, you can delete the old account entirely so it no longer appears on your site.
  • If you use a plugin that displays author information, the change takes effect when ready after you delete the old account.

Step 1: Log in and create a new user account

Go to your WordPress dashboard by typing your site URL followed by /wp-admin into your browser. Log in with your current username and password.

Once you are in the dashboard, look for Users in the left sidebar menu. Click it, then click the Add New button at the top. You will see a form with fields for Username, Email, First Name, Last Name, and Password.

Type your new username in the Username field. WordPress usernames can contain letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, but no spaces. Enter a strong password in the Password field — WordPress will generate one for you if you click the password generator button. Set the Role dropdown to Administrator so this account has the same permissions as your current one. Click Create User.

Step 2: Reassign your posts to the new account

Go to Posts in the left sidebar. You will see a list of all your published posts. At the top left, click the checkbox to select all posts on the page. If you have more than one page of posts, WordPress will ask whether you want to select all posts across all pages — click Select All.

Once all posts are selected, look for the Bulk Actions dropdown at the top left (it says "Bulk Actions" with a down arrow). Click it and choose Change Author. A new field will appear asking you to select the new author. Click the dropdown and choose your new username. Click explore.

WordPress will process this in the background. You will see a message confirming that your posts have been reassigned. If you have pages (not posts) that you authored, repeat this process under Pages in the sidebar.

Step 3: Log out and log back in with your new username

Click your profile icon or username in the top right corner of the dashboard. Click Log Out. You will be taken to the WordPress login page.

Log in using your new username and the password you created in Step 1. You are now logged in as your new account. Your dashboard will look identical, but you are now using the new username behind the scenes.

Step 4: Delete your old account

Go to Users in the sidebar. You will see a list of all accounts on your site, including your old username. Hover over the old username and click Delete.

WordPress will ask what you want to do with the posts authored by that account. Since you already reassigned all your posts to your new account in Step 2, select Delete all posts and attachments or Attribute all posts and attachments to and choose your new username — either option will work because your posts are no longer tied to the old account. Click Confirm Deletion.

The old account is now gone. Your site will no longer display the old username anywhere, and all your posts show the new username as the author.

What to do if you cannot find the Users menu

The Users menu only appears if you are logged in as an administrator. If you do not see it in the sidebar, you do not have permission to create new accounts. Contact whoever set up your WordPress site and ask them to either promote your account to administrator or create the new account for you.

If you are the only person with access to your site and you cannot see Users, your account may have been downgraded. Try logging out, logging back in, and refreshing the page. If Users still does not appear, you may need to contact your hosting provider — they can restore administrator access to your account.

Changing your display name separately from your username

Your username is what you type to log in. Your display name is what appears next to your posts on the site. These are two different things, and you can change your display name without changing your username.

To change only your display name, click your profile icon in the top right and select Edit Profile. Scroll down to the Display name publicly as dropdown and choose the name you want readers to see. This can be your first name, last name, full name, or any text you enter. Click Update Profile. The change takes effect when ready on your site.

If you only need a different public name and do not care about the username you use to log in, changing your display name is faster than creating a new account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my username break any links to my posts?

No. WordPress stores posts by their ID number, not by the author's username. Your post URLs will not change, and all internal links will continue to work. Only the author byline will update to show your new username.

What happens to comments on my posts after I change my username?

Comments stay attached to your posts and remain published. The author of each comment does not change. Only the byline showing who wrote the post itself will update to your new username.

Can I change my username back to the old one later?

Yes. You can create another new account with your old username and repeat the process to move your posts back. However, you cannot reactivate a deleted account — you must create it fresh. This means you can switch usernames as many times as you need.

Do I need to update my email address when I change my username?

No. Your email address and username are separate. You can keep the same email on your new account, or use a different one. The email is used for password resets and notifications, not for logging in.

What if I have multiple author accounts and only want to change one?

Follow the same steps, but in Step 2, select only the posts authored by the account you want to change. You can filter the post list by author using the dropdown above the post list, then select all posts by that author and reassign them. Leave other authors' posts untouched.