How to change your Twitter name

You can change your Twitter name (also called your display name) directly from your account settings on any device. The process takes about one minute. Your display name is the text that appears above your username — it's what other people see when they look at your profile, and you can change it as often as you want without losing your account or followers.

The steps are the same whether you're on a phone, tablet, or computer. You'll go into your settings, find the profile section, edit the name field, and save. Twitter doesn't limit how many times you can change it, and the change takes effect when ready across the platform.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name (what appears above your @username) can be changed from Settings and Privacy in your account menu.
  • Display names can be up to 50 characters long and can include spaces, numbers, and some symbols.
  • Changes take effect right away and are visible to everyone who visits your profile.
  • You can change your display name as many times as you want without affecting your followers or account history.

Steps to change your name on the web

Open Twitter in your browser and log in to your account. In the top left corner, look for your profile picture or the three-dot menu icon. Click it and select Settings and Privacy from the dropdown menu.

Once you're in Settings and Privacy, click Account on the left side. Then click Account Information. You'll see a section labeled Name with your current display name in a text box. Click on that box, delete the old name, and type your new one. When you're done, click Save. The change appears on your profile when ready.

Steps to change your name on your phone

Open the Twitter app and tap the three-line menu icon (called a hamburger menu) in the top left corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy.

Tap Account, then tap Account Information. You'll see your current display name at the top. Tap on the name field, clear it, and type your new name. Tap Save when you're finished. The change shows up on your profile right away.

What you should know about display names

Your display name can be up to 50 characters long. You can use letters, numbers, spaces, and some symbols like hyphens, underscores, and periods. Twitter doesn't require your display name to be unique — many accounts can have the same display name as long as their usernames (the @handle) are different.

Your display name is separate from your username. Your username is the @handle that comes after the @ symbol, and that one is much harder to change. If you need to change your username instead, that's a different process and requires going to the same Account Information page but clicking on the username field.

If you change your name and then change it back, your old followers and messages stay with you. Changing your display name doesn't affect your account history, your tweets, or who follows you.

Troubleshooting if the change won't save

If you click Save and the name doesn't change, first check that you're not using characters Twitter doesn't allow. Stick to letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, underscores, and periods. If you're using special characters like emoji or symbols, remove them and try again.

If the name still won't save, try logging out and logging back in. Sometimes a browser cache issue or a temporary app glitch prevents the save button from working. Close the Twitter app completely (not just minimize it) and open it again, or clear your browser cache and refresh the page.

If you're still having trouble after trying these steps, Twitter's Help Center has a contact form where you can report the issue. You won't get a response in real time, but Twitter's support team can look into account-specific problems.

Changing your username instead of your display name

If you want to change your @username (your handle) instead of your display name, the process is similar but has more restrictions. Go to Settings and Privacy, click Account, then Account Information. Find the Username field and click on it. You can change your username once every 30 days. After you change it, your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after 30 days.

When you change your username, your old profile links stop working. Anyone who tries to visit your old @handle will see a "user not found" message. Your followers don't disappear, but links to your old profile in tweets, bios, or websites will break. For that reason, many people keep the same username and only change their display name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my display name back to what it was before?

Yes. There's no limit on how many times you can change your display name. You can change it back to a previous name whenever you want, and the change takes effect when ready.

Will my followers see my old name if they don't refresh their page?

They may see the old name briefly if they haven't refreshed, but Twitter updates the name across the platform within seconds. Once they refresh their browser or app, they'll see the new name.

What's the difference between my display name and my username?

Your display name is what appears above your @username on your profile — it's the text you can change anytime. Your username is your @handle, which is harder to change and can only be changed once every 30 days. Both are visible to other users, but the username is what people use to mention you in tweets.

Can I use emoji or special characters in my display name?

Some emoji and special characters work, but Twitter restricts certain ones. Stick to letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, underscores, and periods if you're having trouble saving. If you want to use emoji, try adding them one at a time to see which ones Twitter accepts.

Does changing my name affect my tweets or followers?

No. Your tweets stay exactly as they are, and all your followers remain followers. Changing your display name is purely cosmetic — it doesn't change anything about your account history or your relationship with other accounts.