Your username is the name you chose when you created your account

Your GitHub username is the unique name you picked during signup — the one that appears in your profile URL and in front of your repositories. If you created the account yourself, you chose it. If someone else set it up for you, they picked it. Either way, it is not your email address, and it is not your real name unless you made it that way.

The fastest way to find it: log into GitHub, look at the top right corner where your profile picture sits, click it, and select "Your profile". The page that loads shows your username right under your profile picture, and your profile URL shows it too — it will look like github.com/yourusername.

If you cannot remember your password, you can still find your username without logging in, but the path depends on whether you know your email address or have access to a repository you contributed to.

Key Takeaways

  • Your GitHub username appears in your profile URL as github.com/yourname and under your profile picture when you log in.
  • If you forgot your password, you can recover your username by entering the email address you used to sign up at github.com/login.
  • If you contributed to a public repository, your username appears in the commit history even if you do not have an account anymore.
  • Your username is permanent once created — GitHub does not allow you to change it, though you can change your display name.

Finding your username if you are logged in

Open GitHub in your browser and make sure you are logged in. Click the profile icon in the top right corner — it is a small circle with either your photo or a default avatar. A dropdown menu appears. Select "Your profile" from that menu.

The profile page shows your username directly under your picture at the top of the page. It also appears in the URL bar at the top of your browser — the address will be github.com/yourname, where "yourname" is your actual username. Copy it from either place.

Finding your username if you forgot your password

Go to github.com/login and look for the "Forgot password?" link below the password field. Click it. GitHub asks for the email address associated with your account. Enter the email you used when you signed up.

GitHub sends a password reset email to that address. Open the email and click the reset link. Before you reset your password, GitHub shows you your username on the password reset page. Write it down before you proceed. You can then create a new password and log in.

If you do not have access to the email address anymore, this route will not work. Move to the next section instead.

Finding your username through a repository you contributed to

If you made commits to a public repository on GitHub, your username is recorded in the commit history even if you cannot log in. Ask a collaborator or search for a project you remember working on. Navigate to the repository on GitHub and click the "Commits" tab or link.

Scroll through the commit list and look for commits with your name or email address. Click on one of your commits. The commit detail page shows your GitHub username in the "Author" field. If the username is a link, click it to confirm — it takes you to your profile.

This method works only if the repository is public and you made at least one commit to it. If you only opened issues or pull requests, your username appears there too — check the "Issues" or "Pull requests" tabs.

What to do if you still cannot find it

If you have no access to your email, no memory of repositories you contributed to, and cannot log in, contact GitHub Support. Go to github.com/contact and select "Account and profile" from the category menu. Describe your situation — that you need to recover your username but cannot access your account.

GitHub Support will ask you to verify your identity. They may request information like the email address you used, the date you created the account, or details about repositories you owned. Provide as much detail as you can. Response times vary, but GitHub typically replies within a few business days.

Understanding the difference between username and display name

GitHub lets you set a display name separate from your username. Your username is permanent and cannot be changed — it is the unique identifier GitHub uses. Your display name is what appears on your profile and in comments, and you can change it anytime.

If you see a name on someone's profile that looks different from their URL, that is their display name. The URL always shows the real username. When you need your username for technical purposes — like cloning a repository or setting up authentication — use the one from your profile URL, not the display name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my GitHub username?

No. GitHub usernames are permanent and cannot be changed. You can change your display name, which is what appears on your profile, but the username in your URL stays the same. If you need a different username, you would have to create a new account.

What if my username is taken by someone else now?

If your old account is inactive, someone else may have claimed the username. You cannot reclaim it. You can contact GitHub Support to explain the situation, but they typically do not reassign usernames. Your best option is to create a new account with a different username.

Is my username the same as my email address?

No. Your username and email are separate. You chose your username during signup, and it does not have to match your email. You can change your email address in your account settings, but your username stays the same.

Where do I use my GitHub username?

You use it when cloning repositories from the command line, setting up SSH keys, inviting collaborators, or sharing your profile. It appears in your profile URL and in front of every repository you own. If someone asks for your GitHub username, give them the name from your profile URL.