What "At" means on Twitter and why you might want to change it

Your @username — the "at" handle — is the unique identifier that appears after the @ symbol on your profile. It's different from your display name, which is the regular name people see at the top of your profile. When someone mentions you in a tweet or wants to tag you, they use your @username. Once you create a Twitter account, you can change your @username, but there are limits to how often you can do it and what names are available.

People change their @username for many reasons: they want something shorter, they've outgrown an old handle, they're rebranding a business account, or they simply like a different name better. Twitter allows you to change it without losing your followers, your tweets, or your account history.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your @username from your account settings on Twitter's website or mobile app, and the change takes effect immediately.
  • Your old @username becomes available for anyone else to claim after you change it, usually within a few minutes.
  • Changing your @username does not affect your followers, your tweets, or your account history — everything stays with your account.
  • Twitter does not limit how often you can change your @username, but you cannot use a name that is already taken or reserved by Twitter.

How to change your @username on the Twitter website

Open Twitter in your browser and log in to your account. Click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the screen, then select "Settings and privacy" from the dropdown menu. This takes you to your account settings page.

On the settings page, click "Account" in the left sidebar. Scroll down until you see the "Username" field. Click on the field and type your new @username. Twitter will show you whether the name is available — if it is taken, you'll see a red X and a message saying the username is unavailable. Once you've entered a name that is available, click "Save" to confirm the change. Your new @username is active immediately.

How to change your @username on the Twitter mobile app

Open the Twitter app and tap the three-line menu icon (called a hamburger menu) in the top left corner. Scroll down and tap "Settings and privacy," then tap "Settings." Tap "Account" to open your account settings.

Scroll down to find the "Username" field. Tap on it and enter your new @username. Twitter will tell you right away if the name is taken. If it's available, tap "Save" or "Done" (the button label depends on your phone's operating system). The change takes effect immediately, and you'll see your new @username on your profile.

What happens to your old @username after you change it

When you change your @username, your old handle does not stay reserved for you. It becomes available for anyone else on Twitter to claim, usually within a few minutes. This means someone could take your old @username and use it for their own account. If you want to prevent this, you could create a second account and claim the old username yourself, though Twitter's terms of service do not allow you to operate multiple accounts for the same person.

Your followers do not lose you when you change your @username. Everyone who followed you before the change still follows you after — they just see your new @username on your profile. Any tweets you posted under your old @username remain on your account under your new one.

Usernames Twitter does not allow you to use

Some @usernames are reserved by Twitter and cannot be claimed by regular users. These include handles like @Twitter, @Support, @Safety, and other accounts that belong to Twitter itself or its official services. You also cannot use a username that is already taken by another active account.

Twitter's username rules require that your handle be between 4 and 15 characters long and contain only letters, numbers, and underscores. You cannot use spaces or most special characters. If you try to use a name that breaks these rules, Twitter will show an error message and ask you to try a different one.

Changing your display name versus your @username

It's easy to confuse your display name with your @username because they both appear on your profile, but they are separate things. Your display name is what shows at the top of your profile in large text — you can change it to anything you want, including spaces and special characters, and you can change it as often as you like. Your @username is the unique handle that comes after the @ symbol and is used for mentions and tags.

If you want to change how your name appears on your profile but do not want to change your @username, edit your display name instead. Go to Settings and privacy, click Account, and look for the "Name" field (separate from the Username field). Type your new display name and save. This change does not affect your @username or how people tag you.

What to do if your desired @username is taken

If the @username you want is already in use, you have a few options. You could try a variation — adding numbers, underscores, or abbreviations to make it unique. You could also wait to see if the account holding that username becomes inactive. Twitter does not currently recycle inactive usernames, so if someone is not using an account, their @username stays reserved to them.

Another option is to contact the person who has the username you want and ask if they would be willing to change theirs. This works sometimes with inactive accounts or accounts that were created by mistake, but there is no may provide. Twitter does not transfer usernames between users, so you cannot request that Twitter give you someone else's handle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my @username affect my followers or my tweets?

No. Your followers stay with you, and all your tweets remain on your account. The only thing that changes is the @username that appears on your profile and in mentions. Everyone who followed you before the change still follows you after.

Can I change my @username back to what it was before?

Only if no one else has claimed it. Once you change your @username, it becomes available for anyone to use. If someone else has taken it, you cannot get it back unless they change their username first.

How long does it take for my new @username to show up everywhere on Twitter?

Your new @username is active immediately on your profile and in new tweets. However, it may take a few minutes to update everywhere on the platform, including in search results and in other people's feeds.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my @username?

No. Twitter @usernames can only contain letters (A–Z), numbers (0–9), and underscores (_). You cannot use spaces, hyphens, periods, or other special characters in your @username, though you can use them in your display name.

What if I see an error message when I try to save my new @username?

The most common reasons are that the username is already taken, it contains characters Twitter does not allow, or it is shorter than 4 characters or longer than 15. Try a different name that follows Twitter's rules: 4–15 characters using only letters, numbers, and underscores.