You can change your Twitter handle anytime from your account settings
Your Twitter handle — the @username that appears in your profile — can be changed whenever you want. The process takes less than a minute and requires only that you log into your account and visit your settings. Twitter does not charge a fee, and you can change it back to your old handle later if someone else has not claimed it in the meantime.
The steps are the same whether you use Twitter on the web, the mobile app for iPhone or Android, or the desktop app. Your new handle takes effect immediately across all platforms where you use Twitter.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your Twitter handle from the account settings menu under "Username" without needing to verify your email or phone number again.
- Your new handle must be between 4 and 15 characters long and can contain only letters, numbers, and underscores.
- If someone else takes your old handle after you change it, you cannot reclaim it unless they give it back to you.
- Changing your handle does not affect your followers, direct messages, tweets, or any other content on your account.
- You can change your handle as often as you want, but Twitter may rate-limit extremely frequent changes.
How to change your handle on the web or mobile app
Log into your Twitter account and tap or click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the screen. Select "Settings and privacy" from the menu that appears. On the settings page, choose "Account" from the left sidebar (on web) or scroll down to find it (on mobile).
Look for the "Username" field near the top of the Account section. Click or tap in the field, delete your current handle, and type your new one. Twitter will show you whether the name is available as you type — a green checkmark means it is free to use, and a red X means someone else has already taken it. Once you have entered a handle that is available, click or tap "Save" to confirm the change.
Rules for your new Twitter handle
Your handle must be between 4 and 15 characters long. You can use uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers 0 through 9, and underscores. Twitter does not allow spaces, hyphens, or special characters like periods, commas, or @ symbols in your handle itself (the @ appears before your handle in your profile URL, but is not part of the handle).
Your handle cannot be the same as another account's handle, and it cannot be a handle you used previously if someone else has claimed it since you changed away from it. If the handle you want is taken, you will need to choose a different one or wait to see if the person using it ever abandons their account.
What happens to your account when you change your handle
Your followers stay with you — they do not need to re-follow you or do anything on their end. All your tweets, likes, retweets, and direct messages remain exactly as they were. Your profile picture, bio, and header image do not change. Links to your old tweets will still work because Twitter redirects them to your new handle automatically.
However, any links that people shared pointing to your old handle (like in a blog post or email) will no longer work. If you had a custom URL in your bio pointing to your old handle, you should update that manually. People who mentioned your old handle in tweets will not be notified that you changed — their mentions will simply point to your new handle if they click on it.
If someone takes your old handle after you change it
Once you change your handle, your old one becomes available for anyone else to claim. If another user takes it before you change your mind, you cannot get it back unless that person voluntarily gives it to you. Twitter does not reserve old handles for their previous owners, and there is no process to reclaim a handle someone else has taken.
If you think you might want to use your old handle again, change to a temporary handle first, wait to see if you really prefer the new one, and only then let the old one go. If you do decide to change back and your old handle is still unclaimed, you can simply enter it in the username field and save it.
Changing your handle on the desktop app
If you use Twitter's desktop app for Windows or Mac, the process is nearly identical to the web version. Click the three-dot menu in the top right, select "Settings and privacy," then choose "Account" from the sidebar. Find the "Username" field, enter your new handle, and click "Save" when you see the green checkmark indicating it is available.
The desktop app shows the same availability indicator as the web and mobile versions, so you will know immediately whether your chosen handle is free. Once you save the change, it syncs to all other devices where you are logged into Twitter within seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my Twitter handle if my account is suspended?
No. You cannot access your account settings while your account is suspended. You would need to appeal the suspension or wait for it to be lifted before you can make any changes, including changing your handle.
Will my old tweets still show my new handle?
Yes. All your old tweets will display your new handle, not your old one. This happens automatically — you do not need to do anything. People viewing your tweet history will see only your current handle.
How often can I change my Twitter handle?
You can change your handle as often as you want in theory, but Twitter may slow down or block extremely frequent changes to prevent abuse. Changing your handle once a week or less should never cause problems.
What if the handle I want has a space or special character in it?
Twitter handles cannot contain spaces or most special characters. You can use letters, numbers, and underscores only. If you want a handle with a space, you will need to use an underscore instead or choose a different name.
Do I need to verify my email or phone number again after changing my handle?
No. Changing your handle does not affect your account security or verification status. Your email and phone number stay the same, and you do not need to re-verify anything.