Change Your Handle on Twitter in Three Steps

To change your Twitter handle, go to your account settings, find the username field, type your new handle, and save. The whole process takes less than a minute. Your old handle becomes available for someone else to claim after you change it, so if you want to keep it reserved, create a new account and transfer your followers there instead — but Twitter does not offer a built-in way to do that, so you would need to tell your audience manually.

A Twitter handle is the @username that appears in your profile URL and in replies. It is different from your display name, which is the name that shows at the top of your profile and can include spaces and special characters. You can change your handle as often as you want, but Twitter limits how frequently you can change it if you switch multiple times in a short period.

Key Takeaways

  • Your handle change takes effect when ready, and your old handle becomes available for others to claim within a few minutes.
  • You can change your handle from the Settings and Privacy menu under Account, then Username — no verification or approval needed.
  • Your display name and handle are separate; you can change your display name without affecting your @username.
  • If you change your handle frequently, Twitter may temporarily prevent you from changing it again for a short period.
  • All your tweets, followers, and follower count stay with your account when you change your handle.

Where to Find the Username Setting

Open Twitter on your phone or computer and tap or click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner. Select Settings and Privacy from the dropdown menu. Then tap or click Settings and Privacy again to open the full settings page.

On the left side of the page, you will see a menu with several options. Click Account. Scroll down until you see the Username field — it will show your current handle with an @ symbol in front of it. Click the edit icon (pencil) next to your username, or click directly on the username field to make it editable.

Entering and Saving Your New Handle

Type your new handle into the username field. Twitter will show you in real time whether the handle is available — if it is taken, you will see a red X and a message saying the username is not available. If it is free, you will see a green checkmark.

Handles can be 4 to 15 characters long and can include letters, numbers, and underscores. They cannot include spaces or most special characters. Once you have entered a handle that is available and you are happy with it, click the Save button. Your new handle is now live on your account.

What Happens to Your Old Handle

When you change your handle, your old one does not stay reserved for you. Within a few minutes, anyone else on Twitter can claim it. If you want to prevent someone from taking your old handle, you have a few options: create a secondary account and claim the old handle yourself, or ask a trusted friend to hold it for you temporarily.

All of your tweets, followers, and follower count remain attached to your account under your new handle. People who were following you will still be following you — they do not need to re-follow you. However, any links to your old profile URL will no longer work, and mentions using your old handle will not tag you in new tweets.

Rate Limits on Changing Your Handle

If you change your handle multiple times in a short period, Twitter may temporarily prevent you from changing it again. This is a spam prevention measure. The exact time window varies, but if you see a message saying you cannot change your username right now, wait a few hours or a day before trying again.

This rate limit applies only if you are changing your handle very frequently — changing it once every few weeks or months will not trigger it. If you are locked out, there is no way to override it; you straightforward have to wait for the cooldown period to end.

Changing Your Display Name Instead

If you want to change the name that appears at the top of your profile but keep your handle the same, you can do that separately. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Account, and look for the Display Name field. This is above the Username field. Type your new display name and click Save.

Display names can be up to 50 characters and can include spaces, emojis, and most special characters. Changing your display name does not affect your handle, and you can change it as often as you want without any rate limits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my old handle back if someone else claims it?

No. Once you change your handle, Twitter does not reserve it for you. If someone else claims it, you would have to contact that person and ask them to release it, which they are not required to do. The only way to prevent this is to claim the old handle yourself on a secondary account before anyone else does.

Will my followers see my tweets under my new handle?

Yes. Your followers will continue to see all your tweets under your new handle. The tweets themselves do not change — only the handle attached to your account changes. Your follower count and all your account history stay the same.

What if the handle I want is taken?

You will need to choose a different handle. Twitter shows you in real time whether a handle is available as you type. If the one you want is taken, try adding numbers, underscores, or a variation of the name. You can always change it again later if you find a better one.

Do I need to verify my account to change my handle?

No. You can change your handle on any account, whether it is verified or not. Verification status does not affect your ability to change your username. The change takes effect when ready once you click Save.

Can I change my handle on the Twitter app?

Yes. The process is the same on the mobile app as on the website. Tap the three-dot menu, go to Settings and Privacy, select Account, find Username, and edit it. The change syncs across all devices when ready.