Change Your Display Name in Three Steps

Your Twitter display name — the one that appears above your posts and in search results — can be changed anytime from your account settings. You do not need to create a new account or wait for approval. The change takes effect when ready across the platform.

Open Twitter on your phone or computer and tap or click your profile picture in the top left corner. Select Settings and privacy, then Account. Find the field labeled Name and type your new display name. Twitter allows up to 50 characters, including spaces and punctuation. Click or tap Save when you are done.

Your old name disappears right away. People who follow you will see the new name the next time they refresh their feed. Your username — the @handle that comes after the @ symbol — stays the same and cannot be changed through this process.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name (the readable name above your posts) changes when ready through Settings and privacy > Account > Name, and takes effect across Twitter when ready.
  • You can use up to 50 characters, including spaces, numbers, and punctuation marks in your display name.
  • Your @username (handle) does not change when you update your display name — only the readable name changes.
  • If you want to change your @username instead, you must visit Settings and privacy > Account > Username, but you can only change it once every 30 days.
  • Changing your display name does not affect your followers, messages, or any of your tweets — only how your name appears to others.

Understanding Display Name vs. Username

Twitter uses two different names for your account, and they work in different ways. Your display name is what people see when they look at your profile or read your tweets — it can be anything you want and can include spaces, emoji, and special characters. Your username (or handle) is the @name that appears in your profile URL and is used to tag you in conversations — it must be unique and cannot contain spaces.

When you change your display name through Settings and privacy > Account > Name, only the readable name changes. Your @username stays exactly the same. If someone has bookmarked your profile or saved a link to your account, that link still works because it uses your @username, not your display name.

How to Change Your @Username Instead

If you want to change your @handle rather than your display name, go to Settings and privacy > Account > Username. Type your new @name and click Save. Twitter will tell you when ready if the name is already taken or contains characters that are not allowed.

You can only change your @username once every 30 days. After you change it, your old @username becomes available for someone else to claim after 30 days have passed. Any links to your old @username will stop working, so if you have shared your profile link on other websites, you will need to update those links.

What Happens When You Change Your Name

When you change your display name, your followers see the new name the next time they refresh their feed or visit your profile. All your old tweets stay attached to your account and show your new name when people view them — Twitter does not keep a record of your previous display names on the tweets themselves.

Direct messages you have sent or received are not affected. Your follower count, likes, and retweets all stay the same. People who have you muted or blocked will continue to have you muted or blocked under your new name.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common mistake is confusing your display name with your @username and trying to change the wrong one. Remember: your display name is the readable text above your posts (up to 50 characters, can have spaces), and your @username is the handle that starts with @ (unique, no spaces, can only change once per 30 days).

Another mistake is changing your display name and then wondering why your old @username no longer works. If you changed your @username, not your display name, that old handle is no longer yours. Wait 30 days before trying to claim it again, or it may be taken by someone else.

Do not use your display name field to try to add a link or contact information — Twitter does not turn text in the name field into clickable links. Use your bio section instead if you want to share a website or email address.

Changing Your Name on Mobile vs. Desktop

The steps are the same whether you use Twitter on your phone or computer, but the buttons look slightly different. On a phone, tap your profile picture at the bottom right (iPhone) or top left (Android), then tap your name at the top of the menu. On desktop, click your profile picture in the top left corner. Both lead to the same Settings and privacy menu.

If you use Twitter through a third-party app like TweetDeck or a mobile client, you may not be able to change your name directly in that app. Open Twitter.com or the official Twitter app instead to make changes to your account settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Go back to Settings and privacy > Account > Name and type your old display name. Twitter does not prevent you from using a name you have used before, and there is no limit to how many times you can change your display name.

What characters can I use in my display name?

You can use letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation marks, including emoji. Twitter does not allow certain characters like the @ symbol at the start of your display name. If you try to use a character that is not allowed, Twitter will show an error message when you try to save.

If I change my name, will my followers still see my tweets?

Yes. Your followers will see all your tweets under your new name. Changing your display name does not affect who follows you or what they can see — it only changes how your name appears on the platform.

Can I change my @username more than once a month?

No. Twitter limits @username changes to once every 30 days. If you change your @username today, you cannot change it again for 30 days. Your display name has no such limit and can be changed as often as you want.

What happens to my old @username when I change it?

Your old @username becomes available for someone else to claim after 30 days. During those 30 days, no one can use it. If you want to keep that @username, do not change it, or be prepared that someone else may take it after the 30-day window closes.