The fastest way to find your username

Your GitHub username is visible on any page once you are logged in — look at the top right corner of the screen and click your profile picture or avatar. A dropdown menu appears with your username listed right below your name. If you are not logged in, go to github.com, click "Sign in" in the top right, enter your email and password, and then check that same top right corner.

If you have forgotten your password, click "Forgot password?" on the sign-in page, enter the email address you used to create the account, and GitHub will send you a reset link. Once you have reset your password and logged back in, your username will be visible in that top right dropdown.

Key Takeaways

  • Your username appears in the top right dropdown menu next to your profile picture when you are logged into GitHub.
  • If you are not logged in, sign in with your email and password, then check the top right corner.
  • You can also find your username by visiting your profile page — the URL will show github.com/yourusername.
  • If you have forgotten your password, use the "Forgot password?" link on the sign-in page to reset it.

Check your profile URL

Another way to see your username is to look at the web address of your profile page. Once logged in, click your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Your profile" from the dropdown. The URL in your browser's address bar will show github.com/yourusername — everything after the last forward slash is your username.

This method works even if you are not sure whether you are logged in correctly, because GitHub will only show you your own profile page if you own that account.

Find your username in account settings

You can also locate your username through your account settings. Click your profile picture in the top right, select "Settings" from the dropdown, and then click "Account" in the left sidebar. Your username will appear near the top of the page under "Username".

This page also shows your account name (which may be different from your username), your email address, and other account details. Your username is the one you use to log in and the one that appears in your profile URL.

What to do if you cannot log in

If you cannot remember your email address or password, you will need to recover your account through GitHub's account recovery process. Go to github.com/login/recovery and follow the prompts — GitHub will ask you to verify your identity using the email address associated with your account or by answering security questions you set up when you created the account.

Once you have recovered access to your account, you can then log in and find your username using any of the methods above. If you still cannot recover your account, GitHub's support team can help — visit github.com/contact to reach them.

Difference between username and display name

GitHub lets you set two different names: your username and your display name. Your username is what you use to log in and what appears in your profile URL (github.com/yourusername). Your display name is what shows up on your profile page and in comments — it can include spaces and special characters, while your username cannot.

When someone asks for your GitHub username, they are asking for the one that appears in your URL, not your display name. You can change your display name anytime, but changing your username affects all the links to your profile and repositories, so GitHub makes that process more involved.

Where your username appears

Once you know your username, you will see it in several places across GitHub. It appears in your profile URL, in the top right dropdown when you are logged in, on your profile page, and next to your name whenever you comment on issues or pull requests. Other people use your username to mention you in conversations (by typing @yourusername) and to find your profile.

Your username is also part of the URL for any repositories you create — they will be at github.com/yourusername/repositoryname. This is why your username matters for sharing your work and collaborating with others.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my GitHub username?

Yes, you can change it in your account settings under "Account" in the left sidebar. Look for the "Change username" option. GitHub will warn you that changing your username breaks existing links to your profile and repositories, so update any bookmarks or documentation that reference the old URL.

Is my username the same as my email address?

No. Your email address is what you use to log in, but your username is a separate name you choose when you create your account. You can log in with either your email or your username, but they are not the same thing.

What if I see a username that is not mine in my account settings?

That should not happen if you are logged into your own account. If you see an unfamiliar username, log out when ready and contact GitHub support at github.com/contact — your account may have been compromised.

Can someone else use the same username as me?

No. GitHub usernames are unique — once you create a username, no one else can use it. If the username you want is taken, you will need to choose a different one when you create your account.