You can change your Steam username anytime, but the process differs depending on what you want to change
Steam has two separate names that can confuse people: your account name (what you log in with) and your profile name (what other players see). You can change your profile name as many times as you want with no restrictions. Your account name — the one you use to sign in — can only be changed once, and only if you've never changed it before. Most people want to change their profile name, which takes about two minutes.
This guide walks you through both processes so you know which one applies to you and exactly what to do.
Key Takeaways
- Your profile name is what other players see and can be changed unlimited times from your Steam profile settings.
- Your account name is what you log in with and can only be changed once if you've never changed it before.
- Changing your profile name takes about two minutes and shows up immediately to other players.
- If you've already changed your account name once, you cannot change it again — you would need to create a new Steam account.
- Both changes are made through your account settings on the Steam website or Steam client, not in-game.
How to change your profile name (the name other players see)
Open Steam on your computer and sign in. Click your username in the top right corner, then select "Profile" from the dropdown menu. You're now on your profile page.
Look for the pencil icon next to your current name at the top of your profile. Click it. A text box will appear where you can type your new name. Type what you want to be called, then click the checkmark to save. The change takes effect immediately — other players will see your new name right away.
You can change this name as often as you want. There's no cooldown period and no limit to how many times you can do it. If you change your mind in five minutes, you can change it again.
How to change your account name (what you log in with)
Your account name is different from your profile name. This is the username you type into the login screen when you start Steam. You can only change this once in your account's lifetime, and only if you've never changed it before.
Go to the Steam website and sign in. Click your username in the top right, then select "Account" from the menu. Scroll down until you see "Change Account Name" — it will only appear if you're allowed to change it. If you don't see this option, you've already used your one change or your account doesn't support it.
Click "Change Account Name" and type your new login username. Read the warning carefully: once you confirm, your old account name stops working and your new one takes effect immediately. You cannot undo this. Write down your new account name somewhere safe before you confirm, because you won't get another chance to change it.
What happens after you change your name
If you changed your profile name, nothing else happens. Other players see the new name, your friends list updates, and your game library stays exactly the same. You don't need to do anything else.
If you changed your account name, you must use the new name to log in from now on. Your old login name no longer works. The next time you open Steam, it may ask you to log in again. Enter your new account name and your password. If you're on a computer where Steam remembers your login, it might still try to use the old name — if that happens, click "Switch User" and enter your new account name manually.
Reasons your name change might not work
If you try to change your profile name and get an error, the most common reason is that Steam thinks the name violates its code of conduct. Names with slurs, excessive profanity, or impersonation of real people or companies get rejected. Try a different name without those elements.
If you're trying to change your account name and don't see the option, you've already changed it once before. Steam allows this change only once per account, ever. If you need a different account name now, you would need to create a new Steam account — your games and purchases stay on your original account and cannot be moved.
If you changed your account name and now can't log in, make sure you're typing the new name exactly as you set it. Account names are case-sensitive. If you forgot what you changed it to, go to the Steam website, click "Forgot your login name?" and follow the steps to recover it using your email address.
How to find your account name if you forgot it
Go to the Steam website and click "Login" in the top right. Below the login boxes, click "Forgot your login name?" Enter the email address connected to your Steam account. Steam will send you an email with your account name in it.
If you don't have access to that email address anymore, you'll need to contact Steam Support. Go to help.steampowered.com, click "Contact Steam Support," and explain that you need to recover your account name. They can verify your identity and help you regain access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my profile name back to what it was before?
Yes. There's no restriction on changing your profile name back and forth. You can change it as many times as you want with no cooldown between changes. Just go back to your profile, click the pencil icon next to your name, and type your old name again.
If I change my account name, do my friends still see me in their friends list?
Yes. Your friends list doesn't change when you change your account name. Your friends will see your new profile name (if you changed that too), but they'll still have you in their friends list and can still message you and play with you normally.
What if someone else already has the account name I want?
Account names on Steam must be unique, so if someone else has it, you can't use it. Try a variation — add a number, underscore, or different spelling. For profile names, multiple people can have the same name, so this isn't a problem there.
Do I need to change my password when I change my account name?
No. Your password stays the same. You only need to use your new account name instead of your old one when you log in. Your password doesn't change unless you change it separately in your account settings.
Can I change my account name on my phone or tablet?
You can change your profile name from the Steam mobile app — tap your profile picture, then tap your name to edit it. However, you can only change your account name from the Steam website on a computer, not from the mobile app.