Yes, you can change your Twitter handle whenever you want

Your Twitter handle—the username that starts with @—can be changed at any time, as many times as you want. Twitter does not charge a fee, does not require you to wait between changes, and does not limit how often you can do it. The process takes about two minutes and happens when ready.

When you change your handle, your old handle becomes available for someone else to claim after about 30 days. Your tweets, followers, and follower count stay with your account. People who were following you will still follow you under your new handle, though they will not be notified of the change.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your handle through Settings and Privacy, then Account, then Username—no other tool or page will do it.
  • The change takes effect when ready, but your old handle does not become available to others for about 30 days.
  • Your followers, tweets, and follower count do not change when you change your handle.
  • If someone else claims your old handle before you want them to, you cannot get it back, so think through the timing.
  • Links to your old handle will not work after you change it, so update your website or other profiles if you list your Twitter there.

Where to find the username setting

Open Twitter on the web or in the app. Tap or click the three dots (more menu) in the top left corner, then select Settings and Privacy. On the next screen, tap or click Account. You will see a field labeled Username with your current handle in it.

Click or tap in that field to edit it. Type your new handle—it can be 4 to 15 characters long and can include letters, numbers, and underscores. Twitter will tell you when ready if the handle is taken or if it breaks the rules. Once you enter a handle that is available, click Save.

What happens to your old handle

Your old handle does not disappear right away. For about 30 days, Twitter reserves it so that no one else can claim it. This gives you time to change it back if you made a mistake or change your mind. After 30 days, the handle becomes available and anyone can claim it.

If you want to keep your old handle reserved longer, you can change back to it at any point during those 30 days—the timer resets. But if you wait longer than 30 days and someone else has already claimed it, you cannot get it back. There is no way to reclaim a handle once someone else has taken it.

What stays the same when you change your handle

Your account itself does not change. All your tweets remain on your account under your new handle. Your follower count, the number of accounts you follow, your likes, your lists, and your direct messages all stay exactly as they were. People who were following you will still be following you—they do not have to re-follow you or do anything on their end.

Your profile URL changes to match your new handle, but Twitter automatically redirects the old URL to your new one for about 30 days. After that, links to your old profile will not work. If you have your Twitter handle listed on your website, in your email signature, or on other social media, update those places so people can find you.

Reasons to think before you change

If your handle is well-known or you have built a reputation under it, changing it can confuse people who are looking for you. They may not recognize your new handle and might think your account is gone. If you use your Twitter handle in marketing, on business cards, or in any material you have printed, you will need to update all of it.

If you are changing your handle to claim one that looks similar to a brand or public figure, Twitter may suspend your account if it appears you are trying to impersonate someone. Keep your handle clearly your own. Also, if you change your handle and then want your old one back, you will have to wait for someone else to release it or accept that it is gone.

If your desired handle is already taken

If the handle you want is taken, you cannot claim it unless the person who owns it changes their handle or deletes their account. Twitter does not have a waiting list or a way to request a handle from someone else. Your options are to choose a different variation—adding a number, an underscore, or a word—or to wait and check back periodically in case the person abandons their account.

Some people hold onto handles they do not actively use. If you see a handle you want that belongs to an inactive account, you can try contacting the person through their direct messages or another social media account, but Twitter will not force them to change it. The handle belongs to them as long as their account exists.

Changing your handle on mobile versus web

The process is the same whether you use the Twitter app on your phone or the website on a computer. On mobile, tap the three-line menu (hamburger menu) at the top left, then Settings and Privacy, then Account, then Username. On the web, click the three dots in the left sidebar, then follow the same path. Both take about two minutes.

If you use Twitter on both your phone and computer, the change will sync across both automatically. You do not need to change it twice or wait for it to update—it happens when ready everywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my followers know I changed my handle?

No, Twitter does not send a notification to your followers when you change your handle. They will still be following you, but they may not realize your username changed unless they visit your profile. If you want people to know, you can post a tweet announcing the change.

Can I change my handle back to my old one after 30 days?

Only if no one else has claimed it. If your old handle is still available, you can change back to it at any time. If someone else has taken it, you cannot reclaim it. Twitter does not have a process to recover old handles.

What if I change my handle and then want to change it again?

You can change your handle as many times as you want with no waiting period between changes. Each time you change it, your previous handle enters the 30-day reservation period before it becomes available to others.

Do links to my old Twitter profile still work?

For about 30 days after you change your handle, Twitter redirects your old profile URL to your new one. After 30 days, links to your old handle will not work. If you have shared your Twitter link anywhere, update it to your new handle.

Can I change my handle if my account is suspended?

No, you cannot change your handle while your account is suspended or locked. You must restore access to your account first by following Twitter's instructions for the type of suspension you have.