Your username appears in the top-right corner of any GitHub page when you're signed in

If you're logged into GitHub, the fastest way to find your username is to look at the top-right corner of the page. Click the profile icon (a small circle with your photo or initials) and your username will appear in the dropdown menu right below your name. That's the handle you use to log in and the one other people use to mention you or find your profile.

If you're not sure whether you're logged in, or if you need to find someone else's username, there are other ways to locate it. Your username is always visible on your public profile page, in your repository URLs, and in any commit messages you've made.

Key Takeaways

  • Your GitHub username appears in the top-right profile dropdown when you're signed in.
  • You can find your username by visiting github.com/[your-username] — if the page loads, that's your correct username.
  • Your username is part of every repository URL you own, shown as github.com/[your-username]/[repository-name].
  • If you've forgotten your username but remember your email, you can use GitHub's account recovery process to confirm it.

Check your profile page directly

Go to github.com and look at the URL in your browser's address bar. If you're signed in, you can click the profile icon in the top-right corner, then select "Your profile" from the menu. The page that loads will show your username prominently at the top, along with your name, bio, and repositories.

Your username is the text that appears after github.com/ in the URL. For example, if your profile page URL is github.com/sarah-chen, then sarah-chen is your username. This is the permanent handle associated with your account, and it's what appears on all your public repositories and contributions.

Look at your repository URLs

If you've created any repositories, your username is built into every one of them. Open any repository you own and look at the URL. It will always follow the pattern github.com/[your-username]/[repository-name]. The part between the first and second forward slash is your username.

You can also find this information on your local computer if you've cloned a repository. Open the terminal or command prompt, navigate to the repository folder, and type git remote -v. The output will show the repository URL, which contains your username in the same position.

Use GitHub's account settings if you're signed in

Sign in to GitHub and click your profile icon in the top-right corner. Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu. On the left sidebar, click "Account" (or just look at the page that loads by default). Your username will be displayed near the top of the page, often labeled as "Username" or shown in a field you can copy.

This is also where you can change your username if you need to, though GitHub will redirect your old username to your new one for a short period. Any repositories, links, or mentions using your old username will still work, but they'll eventually point to your new username instead.

Recover your username if you don't remember it

If you can't find your username and you're not currently signed in, go to github.com/login and look for a "Forgot password?" or account recovery link. GitHub will ask for the email address associated with your account. Once you confirm your email, you'll be able to reset your password and sign back in, at which point you can see your username in the top-right corner.

If you don't have access to the email address you used to create your account, you can contact GitHub Support through their help portal at support.github.com. They can verify your identity and help you regain access to your account so you can see your username.

Find someone else's username

If you're looking for another person's GitHub username, the easiest way is to search for them on GitHub. Click the search icon at the top of any GitHub page and type their name or email address. GitHub will show matching user profiles, and you can click on any result to see their username in the URL and on their profile page.

You can also find usernames in commit history. If someone has contributed to a public repository, their username appears next to their commits. Hover over or click on their name to see their full profile and confirm their username.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my GitHub username?

Yes. Go to Settings, click Account, and look for the username field. You can change it there. GitHub will keep your old username as a redirect for a limited time, so old links and mentions still work, but you should update any important references to use your new username.

Is my username the same as my display name?

No. Your username is the unique handle you use to log in and that appears in URLs. Your display name is what shows on your profile and can be different — for example, your username might be sarah-chen but your display name could be "Sarah Chen". Only the username matters for logging in or being mentioned.

What if I see an error when I try to visit my profile page?

If github.com/[your-username] shows a 404 error, you may have typed your username incorrectly. Check the spelling, including hyphens or numbers. If you're signed in, use the profile dropdown in the top-right corner instead — that will always take you to the correct page.

Can I see my username if I'm not signed in?

Only if you know it already. If you're not signed in and you don't remember your username, you'll need to sign in first. Use the email address associated with your account to reset your password, then sign in to see your username in the top-right corner.