Change your handle from your account settings

To change your Twitter handle, log into your account, click the three-dot menu in the top right corner, and select Settings and privacy. From there, go to Account, then Username. Type your new handle in the text field — it must start with @ and can contain letters, numbers, and underscores, but no spaces or special characters. Click Save when you're done.

Your old handle becomes available for anyone else to claim when ready after you change it. If you think you might want it back later, consider creating a second account and claiming the old handle there before someone else does. Twitter does not hold handles in reserve, even for the person who used them before.

The change takes effect right away. Your profile URL, mentions, and direct messages will all update automatically. People who follow you will still see you in their feed — the handle change does not affect your follower list or the content you've posted.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your handle through Settings and privacy > Account > Username, and the change takes effect when ready.
  • Your old handle becomes available for anyone to claim as soon as you change it, so decide whether you want to preserve it before you proceed.
  • Changing your handle does not affect your followers, your posts, or your direct messages — only the name people use to mention you.
  • A valid handle must start with @ and can include letters, numbers, and underscores, but not spaces or other special characters.

What happens to your old handle

Once you change your handle, Twitter releases the old one back into circulation. Anyone can claim it within seconds, including people who want to impersonate you or sell it. If your handle has been part of your brand or identity, losing it can be frustrating.

The only way to keep your old handle is to create a second account and change that account's handle to your old one before someone else does. You can then use that second account as a redirect — put a link to your main account in the bio so people who find the old handle know where to find you. This requires a second email address and takes a few minutes to set up.

Choosing a new handle

Twitter handles can be 1 to 15 characters long. They must start with the @ symbol and can contain uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and underscores. Spaces, hyphens, periods, and other punctuation are not allowed.

If the handle you want is already taken, Twitter will tell you so when you try to save it. You can then try variations — adding a number, using an underscore, or shortening the name. Many people add their profession, location, or a number to make their handle unique while keeping it recognizable.

Keep in mind that changing your handle frequently can confuse your followers and hurt your discoverability. Search engines and social media tools index your old handle, so people looking for you by name might not find your new one right away. If you have a business account or a following, change your handle sparingly.

Changing your handle on mobile

The process is the same on the Twitter mobile app as it is on the web. Open the app, tap your profile picture in the top left, then tap Settings and privacy. Go to Account, then Username, and type your new handle. Tap Save to confirm.

Make sure you are logged into the correct account before you start, especially if you manage multiple Twitter accounts. The mobile app does not always make it obvious which account is active, so check your profile picture and name at the top of the screen first.

Handles with special situations

If your account is verified (marked with a blue checkmark), changing your handle does not affect your verification status. The checkmark stays with your account, not with the handle itself.

If you have a business account or a brand account, changing your handle may affect how people search for you and how your account appears in search results. Consider updating your bio, pinned tweet, and any external links to reflect your new handle so people can find you easily.

If you have changed your handle recently and want to change it again, you can do so at any time. Twitter does not limit how often you can change your handle, though changing it very frequently can confuse your audience.

What does not change when you update your handle

Your follower count, your tweets, your likes, your direct messages, and your account creation date all stay the same. People who follow you will continue to see your posts in their timeline. Conversations you've had will still show your new handle, not your old one.

Links to your old tweets will still work, but they will redirect to your new handle. If you've shared a link to your profile on a website or in an email, that link will still work and will take people to your updated profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

Will my followers be notified when I change my handle?

No. Your followers will not receive a notification about the change. They will continue to follow you automatically, but they may not realize your handle has changed unless they visit your profile or see you mention yourself in a tweet.

How long does it take for my new handle to show up everywhere?

The change takes effect when ready on Twitter itself. However, search engines and other websites that index Twitter may take days or weeks to update their records. During that time, people searching for your old handle on Google might still see results pointing to your old name.

Can I change my handle if my account is suspended or locked?

No. You must resolve the suspension or lock first by following Twitter's instructions. Once your account is in good standing, you can change your handle normally.

What if the handle I want contains my name but someone else has it?

You can try adding a number, underscore, or descriptor to make it unique — for example, @yourname1 or @yourname_official. If the person holding the handle is not using it actively, you can report it to Twitter if it violates their policies, but Twitter does not transfer handles based on name ownership alone.