You can change your Reddit username once every 30 days through your account settings

Reddit lets you change the name you display to other users, but only once per month. The process takes about two minutes and happens entirely in your account settings — you do not need to contact Reddit support unless something goes wrong. After you change your username, your old name becomes available for someone else to claim after 30 days.

Your Reddit username is permanent in one sense: your post and comment history stays tied to your old name in Reddit's archives, even after you change it. Other users can still find your old posts by searching your profile. The change only affects what name appears on new posts and comments you make going forward.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your username once every 30 days by going to User Settings and selecting Change Username.
  • Your old username becomes available for others to use 30 days after you change it, but your post history remains under your old name.
  • You cannot change your username back to a name you used before unless 30 days have passed since you stopped using it.
  • If you cannot find the Change Username option, your account may be too new or you may have changed your name within the last 30 days.

Steps to change your username on desktop

Open Reddit in a web browser and log in to your account. Click your profile icon in the top right corner of the screen — it looks like a small circle with your current username next to it. A dropdown menu will appear.

Select User Settings from the dropdown. On the left side of the settings page, you will see a menu with several options. Click Account. Scroll down until you find the Change Username button. Click it, enter your new username in the text box, and click Change. Reddit will confirm the change when ready.

Steps to change your username on mobile

Open the Reddit app and tap your profile icon at the bottom right of the screen. Tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the top right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings.

Tap Account, then scroll down to find Change Username. Tap it, type your new username, and tap Change to confirm. The app will show a confirmation message when the change is complete.

Rules for choosing a new Reddit username

Your new username must be between 3 and 20 characters long. You can use letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. Spaces are not allowed. Reddit usernames are not case-sensitive, so "RedditUser" and "reddituser" are treated as the same name.

If you try to choose a username that is already taken, Reddit will tell you when ready and ask you to pick a different one. You cannot use a username that another account is currently using, even if that account is inactive. If you want to use a name you had before, you must wait 30 days after you stopped using it.

What happens to your posts and comments after you change your username

All your old posts and comments stay visible under your old username. If someone clicks on a link to one of your old posts, they will see your previous username as the author. Your profile page shows your current username, but your post history displays your old name next to each post you made while using it.

You cannot edit old posts to show your new username — Reddit does not offer that option. If you want your old posts to disappear from public view, you would need to delete them individually, which is a separate process from changing your username.

Troubleshooting: why you might not see the Change Username option

If you cannot find the Change Username button, your account may be too new. Reddit requires accounts to be at least 30 days old before you can change your username. If you created your account fewer than 30 days ago, wait until that period passes and try again.

You may also see a message saying you have already changed your username recently. Reddit enforces a 30-day waiting period between username changes. If you changed your username within the last month, you will need to wait until that 30-day window closes before you can change it again. The system will tell you the exact date you can make your next change.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Only if 30 days have passed since you stopped using that name. After you change your username, your old name enters a 30-day holding period. Once that period ends, the old name becomes available again, and you can claim it if you want to switch back. Until then, the name is locked and unavailable.

Will my followers or friends see my old username after I change it?

No. Anyone who follows you or has you added as a friend will see your new username when ready. However, your old posts will still show your previous username as the author, so people who look at your post history will see the name you used when you made each post.

What if someone takes my old username after I change mine?

After 30 days, your old username becomes available for anyone to claim. If someone else takes it before you decide you want it back, you cannot reclaim it. If you think you might want to use that name again, you should change back to it before the 30-day window closes.

Can I change my username if my account is suspended or banned?

No. If your account is suspended or banned, you cannot access your settings or make any changes to your account, including changing your username. You would need to resolve the suspension or ban first, which requires contacting Reddit support.