How to Change Your Name on TikTok (Username and Display Name)
TikTok gives you two separate identities on the platform — your display name and your username — and changing one doesn't automatically change the other. Understanding which is which, and how often you can change them, saves a lot of frustration before you start.
Display Name vs. Username: What's the Difference?
Before diving into steps, it's worth being clear on what these two things actually are:
- Display name — The name shown prominently on your profile and next to your videos. It can include spaces, emojis, and special characters. This is purely cosmetic and has no effect on your profile URL or how people search for you.
- Username — The unique handle that appears after the
@symbol (e.g.,@yourname). This appears in your profile URL, in tags, and when other users mention you. It must be unique across all of TikTok and can only contain letters, numbers, underscores, and periods.
Both can be changed, but they operate under different rules — especially around how frequently.
How to Change Your TikTok Display Name
Your display name is the easier of the two to update, and TikTok places fewer restrictions on it.
On mobile (iOS or Android):
- Open TikTok and go to your Profile tab (bottom right)
- Tap Edit profile
- Tap on the Name field
- Clear the existing name and type your new one
- Tap Save
The change takes effect immediately. Display names can include emojis and don't need to be unique, so there's more creative flexibility here.
How to Change Your TikTok Username
Changing your username follows the same general path but comes with an important caveat.
On mobile:
- Go to your Profile tab
- Tap Edit profile
- Tap on the Username field
- Enter your new username
- Tap Save
TikTok will tell you immediately if the username is already taken. If it is, you'll need to try a variation.
On desktop (via browser):
- Go to tiktok.com and sign in
- Click your Profile icon in the top right
- Select View Profile, then Edit Profile
- Click the Username or Name field and make your changes
- Click Save
The desktop process is nearly identical to mobile — useful if you find it easier to type on a keyboard.
The 30-Day Rule You Need to Know ⏳
Here's where many users hit an unexpected wall: TikTok restricts username changes to once every 30 days. The same limit applies to display names.
This means if you've recently changed your username and want to update it again, TikTok will show a message indicating when you'll next be eligible. There's no way to bypass this restriction — it's enforced at the account level, not the device level.
What this means practically:
| Field | Change Frequency | Unique Required? | Special Characters Allowed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display Name | Once every 30 days | No | Yes (emojis, spaces) |
| Username | Once every 30 days | Yes | Limited (letters, numbers, _, .) |
Common Reasons a Username Change Might Not Work
Several factors can block or complicate a name change:
- Username already taken — TikTok's user base is large, so many obvious handles are claimed. Variations with underscores or numbers are often the workaround.
- 30-day window hasn't passed — Even if you don't remember changing it recently, TikTok tracks this on the backend.
- Username contains prohibited characters or terms — TikTok's community guidelines extend to usernames, so certain words or patterns are blocked automatically.
- App version is outdated — On older versions of the app, the Edit Profile screen may behave inconsistently. Updating TikTok typically resolves UI glitches in this area.
- Account restrictions — Accounts that have received policy violations may temporarily lose the ability to edit certain profile fields.
What Changes When You Change Your Username
This is something a lot of users overlook: changing your username changes your profile URL. If you've shared your TikTok link anywhere — in a bio, on another social platform, on a website — those links will break.
Your old username is also released back into the pool, meaning someone else can claim it. If you have any following built around a specific handle, it's worth considering how that affects discoverability.
Your video history, followers, following count, and likes are all preserved regardless of a username change. The change is surface-level from a data standpoint, but the discoverability implications are real.
🔄 A Note on TikTok Updates and Interface Changes
TikTok updates its app frequently, and the exact layout of the Edit Profile screen has shifted across versions. If the steps above don't match exactly what you're seeing, the general path — Profile → Edit Profile → tap the field you want to change — remains consistent even when button labels or layouts shift slightly.
If a specific option seems missing, checking whether your app is on the latest version is the most reliable first step.
Whether a name change makes sense right now depends on factors only you can weigh: how established your current handle is, whether you've shared that link externally, how close you are to the 30-day reset window, and what you're actually trying to achieve with the change — rebranding, correcting a mistake, or simply refreshing your presence.