You can change your Twitter handle anytime from your account settings

Your Twitter handle — the @username that appears in your profile — can be changed whenever you want, and it takes about two minutes. You do not need to create a new account or lose your followers. The change happens immediately across the platform, though it may take a few moments for the change to show everywhere.

The process is the same whether you use Twitter on a computer, phone, or the mobile app. You will need to know your current password, and the new handle you want must not already be taken by another account.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your handle from Settings and Privacy on any device, and the change takes effect right away.
  • Your new handle must be between 4 and 15 characters, contain only letters, numbers, and underscores, and not already be in use.
  • Your old handle becomes available for someone else to claim after you change it, so choose your new one before you make the switch.
  • Changing your handle does not affect your followers, direct messages, or any of your tweets — only the @username changes.
  • If your new handle is taken, you will see an error message and can try a different one without losing your place.

How to change your handle on a computer

Open Twitter in your web browser and sign in if you are not already logged in. Click the three-dot menu icon in the top left corner of the screen, or look for your profile picture in the top right. Select Settings and Privacy from the menu that appears.

Click Account in the left sidebar. Look for the field labeled Username — this is your handle. Click in that field and delete your current handle, then type your new one. Twitter will show you in real time whether the handle is available. If it is taken, the field will show a red X and you will not be able to save. If it is available, you will see a green checkmark.

Once you have chosen an available handle, scroll down and click the Save button. Twitter will ask you to enter your password to confirm the change. Type your password and click Confirm. Your new handle is now active.

How to change your handle on the mobile app

Open the Twitter app and tap the three-line menu icon in the top left corner (sometimes called a hamburger menu). Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy. Tap Account.

Tap Username and you will see your current handle highlighted. Delete it and type your new handle. The app will show you whether it is available — a green checkmark means you can use it. Tap Save at the bottom of the screen, then enter your password when prompted and tap Confirm.

Rules for choosing a new handle

Your new handle must be between 4 and 15 characters long. You can use letters (A–Z, a–z), numbers (0–9), and underscores (_). You cannot use spaces, periods, hyphens, or special characters like @, #, or $. Twitter will not let you save a handle that breaks these rules — the field will show an error message.

The handle must not already be in use by another account. If you see a red X next to your choice, that handle is taken. You can try adding a number or underscore to make it unique — for example, if @JohnSmith is taken, you might try @JohnSmith2 or @John_Smith.

What happens to your old handle

Once you change your handle, your old one becomes available for anyone else to claim. This happens immediately. If you think you might want to use your old handle again in the future, you should not change your handle unless you are ready to let it go.

If you change your mind within a few seconds, you can go back to Settings and change it again before someone else takes it. However, if you wait too long, someone else may have already claimed it. There is no way to reserve a handle or put it on hold.

What does not change when you update your handle

Your followers stay with you — they will not be unfollowed when you change your handle. All your tweets remain on your account and keep the same content. Your direct messages are not affected. Your profile picture, bio, and all other account information stays the same. Only the @username changes.

People who have bookmarked or saved your profile may see your old handle in their bookmarks for a short time, but clicking those links will take them to your account under your new handle. Links to your tweets will continue to work.

Troubleshooting a handle change that will not save

If you click Save and nothing happens, the most common reason is that the handle is already taken. Check that you see a green checkmark next to your choice before you try to save. If you see a red X, that handle is not available.

If the handle appears available but the save still fails, try signing out and signing back in, then try again. Make sure you are entering your password correctly when Twitter asks you to confirm. If you are still stuck, try using a different web browser or closing and reopening the mobile app.

If you get an error message that says your handle contains invalid characters, check that you are only using letters, numbers, and underscores. Spaces, periods, hyphens, and special characters will not work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my handle back to my old one?

Only if no one else has claimed it. Once you change your handle, your old one becomes available immediately. If you want to go back to it, you can try, but if someone else has taken it in the meantime, you will not be able to use it. Choose your new handle carefully before you make the switch.

Will my followers see that I changed my handle?

Your followers will not receive a notification about the change, but they will see your new handle the next time they visit your profile. Your old handle will no longer work — if someone tries to visit your old profile link, they will see a "user not found" message.

How long does it take for the handle change to show up everywhere?

The change is instant in most places, but it may take a few minutes to show up in search results or in other people's feeds. If you see your old handle somewhere, wait a few minutes and refresh the page. It should update shortly.

Can I use special characters like dots or hyphens in my handle?

No. Twitter only allows letters, numbers, and underscores in handles. If you want to separate words, use an underscore instead — for example, @my_handle instead of @my-handle or @my.handle.

What if the handle I want is taken but the account looks inactive?

You cannot claim an inactive handle. Twitter does not remove handles from inactive accounts. Your only option is to choose a different handle or wait to see if the account owner changes their handle voluntarily.