Change your Twitter name in three steps

Open Twitter on your phone or computer and tap or click the three-dot menu in the top right corner of your profile. Select "Settings and privacy," then go to "Account" and choose "Your name." Delete the current name and type the new one you want, then click "Save." The change takes effect when ready across your account.

You can change your name as often as you want — there is no limit. Twitter does not require you to use your real name, so you can use a nickname, business name, or any text you prefer. The name you choose appears at the top of your profile and next to your posts in feeds.

Your username (the @handle that starts with @) is different from your name and follows a separate process. If you want to change your @handle instead, you will need to go to "Account" and select "Username" rather than "Your name."

Key Takeaways

  • Your Twitter name changes when ready and can be updated as many times as you want without waiting periods or restrictions.
  • The name field accepts up to 50 characters and does not have to match your real identity.
  • Your username (@handle) is separate from your name and requires a different change process in your account settings.
  • Other users will see your new name on your profile and next to all your posts once you save the change.

Where to find the name setting on different devices

On a phone or tablet, open the Twitter app and tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner. Tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the top, then select "Settings and privacy." Go to "Account," then tap "Your name" and make your change.

On a desktop or laptop, click your profile picture in the top right corner of the page. Select "Settings and privacy" from the dropdown menu. Click "Account" in the left sidebar, then click "Your name" to edit it. Type your new name and click "Save."

What happens to your old name after you change it

Your old name disappears from your profile when ready. Posts you made under your previous name will not show the old name — they will display your new name instead. People who saw your posts before the change will not receive a notification that you renamed yourself.

Your followers stay with your account, and your follower count does not change. If someone searches for your old name, they will not find your account — only your new name will appear in search results.

Changing your name versus changing your username

Your name is what appears in large text at the top of your profile and next to your posts. Your username is your @handle — the unique identifier that starts with @ and appears in your profile URL. You can have the same name as thousands of other users, but each username must be different.

To change your username, go to "Settings and privacy," select "Account," then click "Username." Twitter may tell you that your desired username is taken. If it is, you will need to choose a different one. Usernames can include letters, numbers, and underscores, but not spaces or most special characters.

Name length and character limits

Your Twitter name can be up to 50 characters long. This includes letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation marks. If you try to enter more than 50 characters, Twitter will not let you save the change and will show an error message.

You can use emojis in your name, and they count toward the 50-character limit. Special characters like hyphens, periods, and parentheses are allowed, but Twitter blocks some symbols like @ and #.

Troubleshooting if your name change will not save

If you see an error message when you try to save, check that your name is not longer than 50 characters. Count spaces and punctuation — they take up character space too. If the length is correct, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the app, then attempt the change again.

If the problem continues, sign out of your account completely and sign back in. This clears temporary glitches that sometimes prevent changes from saving. If you still cannot change your name after signing out and back in, your account may have a temporary restriction, and you may need to wait a few hours before trying again.

Using a business or brand name on Twitter

If you run a business or brand, you can use your business name as your Twitter name instead of a personal name. There is no verification process required — you can type any name you want. However, if you want a blue verification checkmark next to your name, Twitter has separate requirements for that, which involve proving you own the business or brand.

Many businesses use their full business name as their Twitter name and their username as a shortened version. For example, a business might use "Sarah's Coffee Shop" as the name and @sarahscoffee as the username. This makes it straightforward for customers to recognize you while keeping your @handle short and memorable.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. You can change your name to anything at any time, including a previous name you used. There is no restriction on reusing old names or changing back and forth. straightforward go to your name settings and enter the name you want.

Will people be notified if I change my name?

No. Twitter does not send notifications to your followers when you change your name. People will see your new name the next time they visit your profile or see your posts in their feed, but they will not receive an alert about the change.

Can I have spaces in my Twitter name?

Yes. Spaces are allowed in your Twitter name and count toward your 50-character limit. You can type spaces between words just as you would in normal text. However, your username (@handle) cannot contain spaces.

What if my desired name is already taken by someone else?

Multiple people can have the same name on Twitter — names are not unique. Only usernames (@handles) must be different. If someone else is already using the name you want, you can still use it because Twitter allows duplicate names.

Does changing my name affect my tweets or followers?

No. Your tweets remain on your account and will show your new name. Your follower count stays the same, and all your followers remain connected to your account. The change only affects how your name appears — nothing else about your account changes.