You can change your Twitter handle anytime from your account settings

Your Twitter handle — the @username that appears in your profile — can be changed whenever you want. You do not lose your followers, tweets, or account history when you change it. The process takes about two minutes and happens entirely within the Twitter app or website.

The old handle becomes available for someone else to claim after you change it, so if you want to keep it reserved, you will need a second account. Twitter does not hold handles for former users.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your handle from Settings and Privacy > Account > Username, and the change takes effect when ready.
  • Your followers stay with you, and all your old tweets remain on your account under your new handle.
  • The handle you had before becomes available for other users to claim within minutes.
  • You can change your handle as often as you want, but Twitter may slow down repeated changes if done within hours of each other.
  • If someone takes your old handle, you cannot reclaim it unless Twitter suspends that account.

Step 1: Open your account settings

On the Twitter website, click the three-dot menu icon in the top left corner of your screen (next to your profile picture). Select Settings and Privacy from the dropdown menu.

On the Twitter mobile app, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner, then tap Settings and Privacy.

Step 2: Navigate to your username field

Once you are in Settings and Privacy, select Account from the left sidebar (on web) or from the list (on mobile).

Look for the field labeled Username. This is where your current @handle appears. Click or tap on this field to edit it.

Step 3: Type your new handle and save

Delete your current username and type the new one you want. Twitter will show you in real time whether the handle is available — if it is taken, you will see a red X. If it is available, you will see a green checkmark.

Once you have chosen an available handle, click or tap the Save button. The change takes effect when ready. You will be logged out and then logged back in automatically.

What happens to your old handle

Your old Twitter handle becomes available for anyone else to register within a few minutes. Twitter does not reserve old handles for their previous owners, and there is no way to reclaim a handle once someone else has taken it.

If you want to keep your old handle from being used by someone else, you will need to create a second Twitter account and register that handle there. You can then use that second account as a placeholder or redirect people to your new main account.

Common mistakes and what to avoid

Do not include spaces or special characters in your new handle — Twitter only allows letters, numbers, and underscores. If you try to use a space or symbol like a hyphen or period, Twitter will reject it.

Avoid changing your handle multiple times in quick succession. If you change it several times within an hour or two, Twitter may temporarily prevent further changes as a security measure. Wait at least a few hours between changes if you are experimenting with different options.

Remember that changing your handle does not change your display name (the name that appears above your @username on your profile). Those are two separate fields. Your display name can include spaces and special characters, but your handle cannot.

If your desired handle is already taken

If the handle you want is already in use, you have a few options. You can try a variation — adding a number, an underscore, or a short word to make it unique. Many people add their birth year, their location, or a descriptor related to their interests.

You can also search for the account using that handle to see if it is an active account or an inactive one. Inactive accounts (those with no tweets and no activity for a long time) may eventually be reclaimed by Twitter and released for others to use, but this is rare and unpredictable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my followers if I change my handle?

No. Your followers stay with you when you change your handle. They will see your new @username on your profile, but they remain subscribed to your account. All your tweets and account history transfer to your new handle as well.

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

Only if no one else has claimed it. If someone registered your old handle after you changed it, you cannot get it back unless Twitter suspends that account. If your old handle is still available, you can change back to it anytime from your settings.

How often can I change my Twitter handle?

You can change it as often as you want, but Twitter may slow down or block repeated changes if you do them within a short time frame (usually within an hour or two). If you get a message saying you have changed your handle too recently, wait a few hours and try again.

Does changing my handle affect my direct messages or notifications?

No. Your direct messages, notifications, and all other account features work the same way after you change your handle. People who have you in their contacts or follow you will see your new handle, but nothing else changes about how your account functions.

What if I see an error message when I try to save my new handle?

The most common errors are: the handle is already taken (try a variation), the handle contains invalid characters (remove spaces and special characters except underscores), or you have changed your handle too recently (wait a few hours). If you get a different error, try logging out and back in, then return to your settings.