Your GitLab username is the handle you chose when you created your account or the one your administrator assigned

Your GitLab username is the unique identifier you use to log in, appear in project activity, and receive @mentions. It is different from your display name — the username is what shows in URLs and commands, while the display name is what appears on your profile card. If you set up your own account, you chose this username yourself. If your organization created the account for you, an administrator assigned it.

The fastest way to find it is to log into GitLab and look at your profile. You can also find it in your account settings, in any project where you have contributed, or by checking the URL of your profile page.

Key Takeaways

  • Your username appears in the top-right corner of GitLab when you are logged in, next to your avatar.
  • You can view your full username and profile details by clicking your avatar and selecting "Profile" from the dropdown menu.
  • Your username is part of your profile URL, which follows the pattern gitlab.com/username.
  • If you cannot log in, you can contact your GitLab administrator or the organization that manages your instance to retrieve your username.

Finding your username when you are logged in

When you are signed into GitLab, your username is visible in the top-right corner of the screen next to your avatar image. Click on your avatar to open a dropdown menu. The first option in that menu is "Profile" — click it to go to your profile page, where your username appears prominently at the top and in the URL bar.

Your profile page shows your username, display name, bio, and all your public activity. The URL of your profile page is always gitlab.com/yourusername (or the domain of your GitLab instance if your organization runs its own). This URL is the clearest confirmation of your exact username, because it must match character-for-character.

Finding your username in projects and activity

If you have contributed to any GitLab project, your username appears in the activity feed, commit history, or merge request list. Look for any comment you made, any merge request you opened, or any issue you created. Your username will be displayed as a link or mention next to that activity.

You can also navigate to any project where you are a member, click the "Members" tab, and search for your name. Your username will be listed there alongside your display name and role in the project.

Checking your account settings

Go to your profile page by clicking your avatar in the top-right corner and selecting "Profile." On the left sidebar, click "Account" to open your account settings. Your username is displayed in the "Username" field at the top of this page. This is the official record of your username in GitLab's system.

In the same Account settings page, you can also see your email address, password settings, and other login details. If you need to change your username, that option is also in this section, though changing it may affect existing URLs and @mentions that point to your old username.

If you cannot log in to find your username

If you have forgotten your password or cannot access your account, you cannot use the methods above. Instead, contact your GitLab administrator or the person who manages your organization's GitLab instance. Provide them with the email address associated with your account, and they can look up your username in the admin panel.

If you use GitLab.com (the public instance), you can also use the password reset feature. Click "Forgot your password?" on the login page, enter your email address, and follow the reset link. Once you reset your password and log in, you can find your username using the steps above.

Understanding username format and restrictions

GitLab usernames must be lowercase and can contain letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. They cannot start with a hyphen or number, and they cannot contain spaces or special characters like periods or @ symbols. Your username is permanent once created — you can change it, but doing so breaks old links and @mentions that used your previous username.

If you see a username that looks different from what you remember — for example, with capital letters or spaces — that is likely someone's display name, not their username. The actual username is always the lowercase version that appears in URLs and in code.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my username the same as my email address?

No. Your email address and username are separate. Your email is what you use to log in if you choose that option, but your username is a different identifier. You can log in with either your username or email, but they are not the same thing.

Can I see other people's usernames?

Yes. Any username that appears in a public project, public profile, or public activity is visible to anyone on that GitLab instance. If a project is private, only members of that project can see the usernames of people who have contributed to it.

What happens if I change my username?

Any URL that included your old username will no longer work. @mentions using your old username will not notify you. Projects, groups, and personal namespaces that used your old username in their URL will be redirected for a short time, but links will eventually break. Change your username only if necessary, and update any documentation or scripts that reference it.

How do I find someone else's username?

If the person has a public profile or has contributed to a public project, search for their name in the GitLab search bar or look at the project's members list. If their profile is private or they have not contributed to any public project, you may need to ask them directly or check with your organization's administrator.

Can I use the same username on multiple GitLab instances?

Yes. If your organization runs its own GitLab instance separate from GitLab.com, you can have the same username on both. Each instance maintains its own user database, so the same username can exist on multiple GitLab servers without conflict.