Change your Twitter handle from your account settings

To change your Twitter handle, log into your account on Twitter.com or the Twitter app, go to Settings and Privacy, then Account, then Username, and type your new handle in the field. Twitter will check when ready whether that handle is taken. If it is available, click Save and your handle changes right away.

Your old handle becomes available for anyone else to claim after you change it. If you want to reserve it, you can create a new account with that handle when ready, or ask someone you trust to hold it temporarily. Twitter does not let you keep a handle in reserve once you stop using it.

Changing your handle does not affect your followers, your tweets, your direct messages, or anything else on your account. People who were following you will still follow you under your new handle. Links to your old profile will redirect to your new one for a short time, but this redirect eventually expires.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your handle through Settings and Privacy > Account > Username on Twitter.com or the app.
  • Your old handle becomes available for anyone else to use as soon as you change it.
  • All your followers, tweets, and messages stay with your account when you change your handle.
  • You can change your handle as often as you want, but Twitter limits how many times you can change it in a short period if you are switching between many different handles.
  • Old links to your profile redirect to your new one temporarily, but the redirect does not last forever.

Where to find the username setting on desktop

On Twitter.com, click the three-dot menu icon in the bottom left corner of the screen (or the top right if you are on a mobile browser). Select Settings and Privacy from the menu. Click Account in the left sidebar. Look for Username in the list of options and click it.

A text field will appear with your current handle. Delete the current text and type your new handle. Twitter shows you when ready whether the handle is taken or available. If it is available, a green checkmark appears next to it. Click Save to confirm the change.

Where to find the username setting on the Twitter app

Open the Twitter app and tap your profile picture in the top left corner. Tap Settings and Privacy. Tap Account. Tap Username. The text field shows your current handle; delete it and type your new one.

As you type, Twitter tells you whether the handle is available. Once you see the green checkmark, tap Save. The app returns to your profile page, and your new handle appears at the top of your profile.

Rules for what you can use as a new handle

Twitter handles must be between 4 and 15 characters long. You can use letters, numbers, and underscores. You cannot use spaces or most punctuation marks. Handles are not case-sensitive, so @MyHandle and @myhandle are the same account.

You cannot use a handle that is already taken by another account. If you see a handle you want but it belongs to an inactive account, you cannot claim it—Twitter does not recycle old handles from dormant accounts. You can only use a handle if its owner changes it or deletes their account.

What happens to your old handle after you change it

The moment you change your handle, your old one becomes available. Anyone can register it on a new account or claim it if they change their own handle to it. If you want to keep your old handle, you need to act fast—either create a new account with that handle right away, or ask someone to hold it for you.

If someone else takes your old handle before you can find it, you cannot force them to give it back. Twitter does not have a process to reclaim a handle you used to own. The only exception is if the new account is impersonating you or violating Twitter's rules; in that case, you can report it.

How long the redirect from your old handle lasts

When you change your handle, Twitter redirects people who visit your old profile to your new one. This redirect works for a limited time—Twitter does not publish exactly how long, but it is typically a few weeks to a few months. After the redirect expires, anyone visiting the old handle will see a "user not found" message.

If you shared links to your old profile on other websites or social media, those links will eventually break. To avoid this, update any important links to your new handle before the redirect expires. If you have a website or bio that links to your Twitter profile, change those links now.

Rate limits on how often you can change your handle

Twitter does not publish a specific limit on how many times you can change your handle, but the platform does monitor accounts that change handles very frequently. If you change your handle many times in a short period—especially if you are cycling through different handles—Twitter may temporarily prevent you from changing it again.

This is a spam-prevention measure. If you hit this limit, wait a few days before trying to change your handle again. Most users who change their handle once or twice a year will never encounter this restriction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my followers unfollow me if I change my handle?

No. Your followers stay with your account when you change your handle. They will see your new handle on their timeline and in their follower list, but they do not have to do anything. The follow relationship does not break.

Can I change my handle back to my old one?

Only if no one else has claimed it. If someone else took your old handle after you changed it, you cannot use it again unless they change theirs or delete their account. If your old handle is still available, you can change back to it anytime.

Do my tweets get deleted or hidden when I change my handle?

No. All your tweets stay on your account and remain visible to anyone who can see your profile. Your tweets do not change, and the timestamps do not change. People can still like, retweet, and reply to them.

What if the handle I want is taken but the account looks inactive?

You cannot claim it. Twitter does not recycle handles from inactive or deleted accounts. The only way to get that handle is if the account owner changes it themselves or if their account is permanently deleted by Twitter for violating the rules.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my handle?

No. Handles can only contain letters (A–Z), numbers (0–9), and underscores. You cannot use spaces, hyphens, periods, or other punctuation. If you want to separate words, use an underscore instead.