Yes, you can change your Reddit username, but only once every 30 days
Reddit lets you change your username through your account settings. The process takes about two minutes. You can change it once every 30 days, and the old name becomes available for someone else to claim after you switch.
The username change feature works on both the Reddit website and the mobile app. After you change your name, your post and comment history stays attached to your new username — nothing disappears from your account.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your Reddit username once every 30 days through your account settings under "Change username".
- Your post and comment history follows you to your new username; nothing is deleted or hidden when you change.
- The old username becomes available for other users to claim after you change it.
- You cannot change your username if you created your account fewer than 30 days ago.
- Reddit usernames are permanent in the sense that old posts stay under your new name — you cannot fully erase your history by changing names.
How to change your username on desktop
Go to Reddit.com and sign in. Click your profile icon in the top right corner and select "User settings" from the dropdown menu.
On the left sidebar, click "Account". Scroll down until you see the "Change username" button. Click it, type your new username in the box that appears, and click "Change". Reddit will ask you to confirm your password before the change takes effect.
The new username is live when ready. You will be logged out and need to sign back in with your new username.
How to change your username on mobile
Open the Reddit app and tap your profile icon at the bottom right. Tap "Settings" (the gear icon). Scroll down and tap "Account".
Tap "Change username". Type your new username and tap "Change". You will need to enter your password to confirm. The app will log you out, and you can log back in with your new name.
What happens to your old username
When you change your username, the old one does not stay reserved for you. After 30 days, another user can claim it. If you want to keep that name unavailable, you would need to create a separate account with it and never use it — but Reddit does not allow account hoarding, and inactive accounts may eventually be reclaimed by the platform.
Your post and comment history does not disappear. Everything you posted under your old username now shows under your new one. Anyone who looks at your profile will see all your activity under the new name.
Restrictions on changing your username
You must wait 30 days between username changes. If you just changed your name, you cannot change it again until 30 days have passed.
Your account must be at least 30 days old to change your username at all. New accounts cannot use this feature when ready.
Reddit usernames must be between 3 and 20 characters, contain only letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, and cannot start with a number or hyphen. If you try to use a name that breaks these rules or is already taken, Reddit will tell you and ask you to try another.
Why you might want to change your username
People change their Reddit username for privacy reasons — if someone knows your old name and you want a fresh start, a new username makes it harder for them to find your history. You might also change it if your old name no longer fits your interests or if you straightforward want something you like better.
Changing your username does not hide your old posts or comments. If someone has a direct link to one of your old posts, they can still see it and it will show your new username. The change is a fresh name going forward, not a way to erase your history.
What you cannot do with Reddit usernames
You cannot delete your account and keep your username. If you delete your account, your username becomes available for others to use, and your posts and comments are removed from Reddit.
You cannot change your username to one that is already taken. If the name you want belongs to another active account, you will have to choose something else.
You cannot change the capitalization of your username as a workaround to the 30-day rule. Reddit treats "Username" and "username" as the same name for the purposes of the cooldown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my username more than once every 30 days?
No. Reddit enforces a 30-day waiting period between username changes. If you change your name, you must wait 30 days before changing it again. There is no way to bypass this limit.
Will my karma or awards disappear if I change my username?
No. Your karma, awards, saved posts, and subscribed communities all stay with your account. Only the name changes; everything else follows you.
Can someone else take my old username after I change it?
Yes. After you change your username, the old one becomes available. Anyone can claim it after a short period. If you want to prevent this, you would need to keep an account with that name active, but Reddit does not allow inactive accounts to be held indefinitely.
What if I change my username and then want to change it back?
You can change it back, but you have to wait 30 days after your first change. If someone else claimed your old username in the meantime, you cannot have it back — you would have to choose a different name.
Does changing my username affect my subreddit moderator status?
No. If you are a moderator of any subreddits, your moderator status stays with your account under your new username. The subreddit mod list will show your new name.