Change your display name in three steps
Your display name on X is the name that appears on your profile and next to every post you make. To change it, open X on your phone or computer, tap or click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of your profile, select Edit profile, and type your new name into the name field. X allows up to 50 characters, including spaces and punctuation. Once you've entered the new name, tap or click Save and the change takes effect when ready.
Your display name is separate from your username (the @handle that starts with an @ symbol). Changing your display name does not change your username, and people who follow you will still find you at the same @handle. You can change your display name as often as you want, and there is no limit to how many times you can do it.
Key Takeaways
- Your display name is the readable name on your profile; your username is your @handle, and they are two different things.
- To change your display name, go to your profile, tap the three-dot menu, select Edit profile, and update the name field.
- Display name changes take effect when ready and do not affect your followers or your @handle.
- You can use up to 50 characters for your display name, including spaces, numbers, and most punctuation marks.
- X does not restrict how often you change your display name, so you can update it whenever you want.
Where to find the name field on your profile
On a phone, tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner (on iPhone) or top left (on Android). Then tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon), scroll down, and tap Profile. At the top of your profile page, tap the pencil or edit icon. This opens the edit profile screen, where the name field is the first text box at the top.
On a computer, click your profile icon in the left sidebar, then click Profile. In the top right corner of your profile header, click the three-dot menu and select Edit profile. The name field appears at the top of the edit window. Type your new name and click Save changes when you're done.
What characters and symbols you can use
X allows letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation in your display name. You can include emojis, accented characters, and symbols like hyphens, underscores, periods, and parentheses. The 50-character limit includes everything—spaces, punctuation, and emojis all count toward that total.
X does not allow you to use certain characters that could impersonate official accounts or violate their rules. If you try to save a name that contains prohibited content or appears designed to mislead other users, X will show an error message and ask you to choose a different name. In practice, most straightforward names and reasonable punctuation work without issue.
The difference between display name and username
Your display name is what people see when they look at your profile or read your posts. It can be anything you want and you can change it anytime. Your username (your @handle) is the permanent identifier that appears in your profile URL and is how people mention you in posts. Usernames start with @ and cannot contain spaces.
If you want to change your username instead of your display name, that is a different process. You can change your username once every 30 days by going to Settings and privacy > Account > Username. Changing your username does not notify your followers, but your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after a short period.
How long the change takes to show up
When you save a new display name, it appears on your profile and in your posts almost when ready. Other users will see your new name the next time they refresh their feed or visit your profile. There is no delay or waiting period—the change is live as soon as you tap or click Save.
If you change your display name and it does not appear after a few minutes, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the X app. In rare cases, the change may take a few minutes to sync across X's servers, but this is uncommon.
Changing your name on the X app versus the website
The process is nearly identical on the X mobile app and the X website. On the app, tap your profile icon and then the three-line menu to find your profile. On the website, click your profile icon in the left sidebar. Both routes lead to the same edit profile screen where you update your name field. The name you set will appear everywhere—on the app, the website, and any other device you use to access X.
If you use X on multiple devices, you only need to change your name once. The change syncs automatically across all devices and all versions of X. You do not need to update your name separately on your phone and your computer.
What happens to your old posts when you change your name
When you change your display name, all of your old posts still exist and remain visible to anyone who can see them. Your old posts will now show your new display name, not the old one. People who saw your posts under your old name will see them under your new name if they visit your profile or scroll back through their feed.
Your followers do not receive a notification when you change your display name. They will straightforward see the new name the next time they visit your profile or see one of your posts. Changing your display name does not affect who follows you or unfollow you—your follower count stays the same.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use special characters or emojis in my display name?
Yes. X allows emojis, accented letters, and most punctuation marks in your display name as long as the total does not exceed 50 characters. Each emoji counts as one character. You cannot use characters that X considers abusive or designed to impersonate an official account.
Will changing my name affect my followers or my @handle?
No. Your followers stay the same, and your @handle (username) does not change. Only your display name changes. People who follow you will continue to follow you under your new name, and your profile URL remains the same.
How often can I change my display name?
You can change your display name as many times as you want with no limit. Unlike your username, which you can only change once every 30 days, your display name has no restrictions on how often you update it.
What if I want to change my @handle instead of my display name?
Go to Settings and privacy > Account > Username to change your @handle. You can only change it once every 30 days. Changing your username is different from changing your display name and requires a separate step.
Will my old posts show my new name or my old name?
Your old posts will display your new display name. When someone visits your profile or scrolls through your posts, they will see your current name, not the name you used when you posted. Your post history remains intact; only the name attached to it updates.