You can change your Reddit username, but only once every 30 days

Reddit lets you change the name on your account through your account settings. The process takes about two minutes. However, there is a hard limit: you can change your username only once per 30 days, and you cannot revert to a previous username after you change it. If you delete your account, that username becomes available for someone else to claim after 90 days.

The change applies everywhere your account is used—on Reddit's website, the mobile app, and anywhere else your profile appears. Your old username will no longer work to log in or to tag you in comments.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your username once every 30 days through your account settings on any device.
  • Your new username must be between 3 and 20 characters, contain only letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, and cannot be taken by another account.
  • After you change your username, your old name is when ready released and can be claimed by someone else.
  • You cannot change back to a previous username unless it has been unclaimed for 90 days and no one else has taken it.
  • Changing your username does not affect your post history, karma, or saved content—those stay attached to your account.

How 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 page. From the dropdown menu, select User Settings.

On the User Settings page, look for the Username field on the left side under your account information. Click the Change button next to your current username. Type your new username into the text box. Reddit will tell you when ready if the name is already taken or if it breaks the naming rules. Once you see a green checkmark, click Save to confirm the change.

How to change your username on mobile

Open the Reddit app and tap your profile icon at the bottom right of the screen. Tap Settings (the gear icon). Scroll down and tap Account. Tap Username.

Tap the Change button next to your current username. Type your new username and tap Save. The app will show you whether the name is available before you confirm.

Rules for choosing a new username

Your new username must be between 3 and 20 characters long. You can use letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers, hyphens, and underscores. Spaces and special characters like periods, commas, or @ symbols are not allowed.

The username you choose cannot already be in use by another account. Reddit checks this in real time as you type, so you will see a message if the name is taken. Usernames are not case-sensitive—if someone has "RedditUser", you cannot create "reddituser" or "REDDITUSER".

What happens to your old username

Once you change your username, your old one becomes available when ready. Another user can claim it right away. This means if you change your mind within minutes, you may not be able to get your old name back unless the new owner gives it up.

If you want to reclaim an old username, you would need to wait 90 days after your account was deleted (not just after you changed the name). Even then, someone else may have already taken it. There is no way to reserve or hold a username you no longer use.

Your posts and history stay with your account

Changing your username does not erase or hide your post history. All your comments, posts, and saved content remain attached to your account under your new username. Anyone can still find your old posts by visiting your profile.

Your karma score, awards, and subscriptions also stay the same. The only thing that changes is the name displayed next to your content going forward.

The 30-day waiting period between changes

After you change your username, you must wait 30 days before you can change it again. This timer starts the moment you save your new username. If you try to change it before 30 days have passed, Reddit will show you a message telling you when you will be able to change it next.

There is no way to speed up this waiting period or request an exception. If you make a mistake choosing a new username, you will need to live with it for a month.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Only if no one else has claimed it and at least 90 days have passed since you changed away from it. Since old usernames become available when ready, someone usually takes them within hours or days. Your best option is to choose a new name you are happy with for the long term.

What if the username I want is taken?

You cannot use a username that another active account owns. Try a variation—add a number, use an underscore, or change the spelling slightly. Reddit shows you whether a name is available as you type, so you can test options quickly.

Does changing my username affect my password or login?

No. You log in with your email address and password, not your username. Changing your username does not change how you sign in. Your old username will no longer work to tag you in comments, but your email and password stay the same.

Can I hide or delete my post history when I change my username?

Changing your username does not hide your posts. If you want to remove your post history, you would need to delete individual posts or use a third-party tool to remove them. Changing your name alone does not make old content disappear.

What if I created my account with a username I now regret?

You can change it once every 30 days. Choose a new name you are comfortable with, knowing that you will be stuck with it for at least a month. After that, you can change again if needed, but each change requires another 30-day wait.