You can change your Twitter handle anytime, and it takes about two minutes

Your Twitter handle — the @username that appears in your profile URL — can be changed whenever you want, as many times as you want. Twitter doesn't charge for this, doesn't limit how often you do it, and doesn't require you to wait between changes. The old handle becomes available for someone else to claim after you switch, so if you're worried about impersonation, changing it is one way to reclaim control of your identity on the platform.

The process is the same whether you use Twitter on a phone or a computer. You go into your account settings, find the username field, type in something new, and save. Your followers stay with you — they'll just see your new handle next to your name.

Key Takeaways

  • Change your handle by opening Settings and Privacy, selecting Your Account, then Username, typing your new handle, and clicking Save.
  • Your new handle must be between 4 and 15 characters, contain only letters, numbers, and underscores, and not already be taken by another account.
  • All your followers, tweets, and replies stay attached to your account — only the @username changes.
  • Your old handle becomes available for someone else to use immediately after you change it, so pick your new one before you switch if you want to reserve it on another account.

Step-by-step: changing your handle on any device

Open Twitter and tap or click your profile picture in the top right corner. A menu will appear. Select Settings and Privacy.

In the Settings menu, choose Your Account. You'll see several options listed — scroll down until you find Username. Tap or click on it. A box will appear with your current handle already filled in. Delete it and type your new handle.

Twitter will tell you immediately if the name is already taken or if it breaks the rules. If it's available, you'll see a green checkmark. Click or tap Save. That's it — your handle is now changed.

Rules for what your new handle can be

Twitter enforces a few hard limits on handles. Your new handle must be between 4 and 15 characters long. It can contain letters (uppercase and lowercase both work), numbers, and underscores. It cannot contain spaces, periods, hyphens, or any other punctuation or symbols.

The handle also cannot already be in use by another account. If you try to use someone else's current handle, Twitter will reject it. However, if someone has an inactive account with a handle you want, you cannot force them to release it — you can only choose something different.

Twitter does not reserve handles or hold them for you. If you want to secure a handle on a second account before you change your main account's handle, you need to create that second account and claim the handle first. Once you change your main account, your old handle opens up immediately.

What stays the same when you change your handle

Your followers do not need to re-follow you. Your tweets, retweets, likes, and replies all stay attached to your account. Direct messages with other users remain intact. Your profile picture, bio, and header image don't change. Your verification badge (if you have one) stays with you.

Links to your old tweets still work — Twitter automatically redirects them to your new handle. If someone bookmarked your profile or saved a link to your account, those links will still take them to you under your new handle.

Why someone might impersonate your old handle

Within minutes of you changing your handle, someone else can claim your old one. This is a real risk if your old handle was recognizable or if you had a public profile. A bad actor could set up a profile with your old handle, copy your profile picture and bio, and use it to impersonate you or confuse your followers.

If you're concerned about this, you have a few options. You can change your handle to something completely new that nobody would want. You can create a second account and claim your old handle yourself, then set it to private so nobody else can use it. Or you can simply accept the risk — most accounts that get impersonated this way are high-profile accounts, and the impersonation is usually caught and reported quickly.

If you can't find the username setting

Make sure you're logged into the account you want to change. If you're using Twitter on a phone, swipe from the left edge of the screen to open the menu, then tap your profile picture. On a computer, click your profile picture in the top right. If you still don't see Settings and Privacy, you may be using an older version of the app — try updating it from your phone's app store or using Twitter in a web browser instead.

If you're locked out of your account or can't access your email, you won't be able to change your handle through the normal settings. In that case, you'll need to contact Twitter Support through their help center.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my handle back to one I used before?

Only if nobody else has claimed it in the meantime. Once you change your handle, your old one becomes available to anyone. If you want to use an old handle again, you'll need to check if it's still free. If someone else has taken it, you cannot reclaim it unless they change their handle first.

Will my @ mentions break if I change my handle?

No. If someone tagged you in a tweet using your old handle, that tag will still work and will redirect to your new handle. The same applies to direct messages and replies. Twitter's system automatically updates the connection.

Can I change my handle if my account is suspended?

No. You cannot access any account settings, including the username field, while your account is suspended. You'll need to resolve the suspension first by following Twitter's appeal process or waiting out the suspension period.

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

It's instant on your profile and in your tweets. However, it can take a few minutes for the change to show up in search results or in other people's followers lists. This is normal and usually clears within an hour.

Do I need to tell my followers I changed my handle?

You don't have to, but it's a good idea if your handle is part of how people recognize you. You could post a tweet from your new account saying you've switched, or update your bio to mention the change. This prevents confusion and helps people find you if they search for your old handle.