Change your Twitter name from your account settings

To change your Twitter name, open Twitter on your phone or computer and go to your account settings. The name you see on your profile — the one that appears under your handle — can be changed anytime without losing your account or followers. Twitter keeps your handle (the @username) separate from your display name, so changing one does not affect the other.

The process takes about two minutes and requires no special permissions or waiting period. You can change your name as often as you want, though Twitter may flag your account if you change it many times in a short period.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name (what shows on your profile) is different from your handle (@username), and you can change the name without changing your handle.
  • On a phone, tap your profile picture, select Settings and Privacy, then Account, then Your Name to make the change.
  • On a computer, click the three dots next to your profile picture, select Settings and Privacy, then Account, then Your Name.
  • Changes take effect immediately, and all your tweets, followers, and likes stay with your account.
  • Twitter may temporarily limit name changes if you switch too frequently in a short time.

Steps to change your name on a phone

Start by opening the Twitter app and tapping your profile picture in the top left corner. A menu will appear with several options. Select Settings and Privacy from that menu.

Once you are in Settings and Privacy, tap Account. You will see a list of account options. Find and tap Your Name. A text box will appear with your current display name highlighted. Delete the old name and type your new one. Twitter allows up to 50 characters, including spaces and special characters. When you are done typing, tap Save or the checkmark button. Your new name appears on your profile immediately.

Steps to change your name on a computer

Log into Twitter on your web browser and look for your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen. Click the three horizontal dots (sometimes called a menu icon) next to your profile picture. A dropdown menu will appear.

Click Settings and Privacy from that menu. On the left side of the screen, click Account. Find the section labeled Your Name and click on it. The text box with your current name will become editable. Clear the old text and type your new name. Click outside the box or press Enter to save. The change takes effect right away across all your tweets and interactions.

What happens when you change your name

Your handle — the @username that people use to mention you — does not change. Only the display name changes. This means anyone who follows you or has your handle saved will still find you the same way. Your tweets, retweets, likes, and follower count all stay exactly as they were.

People who have you in their contacts or saved searches will see your new name the next time they open Twitter. If you had a custom name with special characters or emojis, those will display correctly on all devices as long as the characters are supported by Twitter.

Why Twitter might prevent you from changing your name

If you change your name many times in a short period — usually more than a few times per day — Twitter may temporarily prevent further changes. This is a safety measure to prevent account takeovers or spam. The restriction usually lasts a few hours to a day. If you see a message saying you cannot change your name right now, wait a few hours and try again.

You cannot use certain characters or symbols that Twitter does not support, though most letters, numbers, spaces, and common punctuation work fine. If your new name does not save, try removing special characters and using only letters and numbers.

Changing your name versus changing your handle

Your display name is what appears at the top of your profile and next to your tweets. Your handle is your @username, which is how people tag you in conversations. To change your handle instead of your name, go to Settings and Privacy, click Account, then click Username. Changing your handle is more disruptive because anyone with your old handle saved will not find you automatically.

If you change your handle, your old handle becomes available for someone else to claim after 30 days. Your tweets and followers stay with your account, but links to your old profile will break. For this reason, most people change their display name instead of their handle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my name affect my followers or tweets?

No. Your followers stay with you, all your tweets remain on your account, and your follower count does not change. Only the name displayed next to your profile and tweets changes. Your handle stays the same unless you specifically change that too.

Can I use emojis or special characters in my name?

Yes, most emojis and special characters work in your display name. Twitter supports Unicode characters, so you can use symbols, accents, and emoji. If a character does not save, Twitter does not support it — try removing it and saving again.

How often can I change my name?

You can change your name as often as you want, but Twitter may temporarily block changes if you do it many times in a short period (usually more than a few times per day). If you see a restriction message, wait a few hours and try again.

What is the difference between my name and my handle?

Your name is your display name — what shows on your profile. Your handle is your @username. You can change your name anytime without affecting your handle. Changing your handle is different and more disruptive because people who have your old handle saved will not find you automatically.

Can I change my name back to what it was before?

Yes. You can change your name to anything you want, including a previous name. Go back to Settings and Privacy, select Account, click Your Name, and type the old name. There is no limit on how many times you can change back and forth, though very frequent changes may trigger a temporary restriction.