You can change your display name on Twitter in under a minute from your phone or computer

Your Twitter display name — the name that appears above your posts and in search results — is separate from your username (the @handle). Changing your display name does not affect your username, your followers, or any of your tweets. You can change it as often as you want, and the change takes effect immediately across all devices.

The process is the same whether you use Twitter on a phone, tablet, or computer. You will need to access your account settings, find the profile section, and edit the name field directly.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name and your @username are two different things — changing your display name does not change your @handle.
  • You can change your display name from settings on any device: phone, tablet, or computer.
  • The change takes effect immediately and does not affect your followers, tweets, or account history.
  • Twitter allows you to change your display name as many times as you want with no waiting period.
  • Your display name can be up to 50 characters long and can include spaces, numbers, and most symbols.

How to change your display name on a phone or tablet

Open the Twitter app and tap the menu icon in the top left corner (three horizontal lines). Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings. Tap Account, then tap Account information. You will see your current display name at the top of the screen.

Tap on your display name to edit it. Delete the current name and type your new one. You can use up to 50 characters, including spaces, numbers, and most punctuation marks. When you are finished, tap Save or the checkmark button. The change appears immediately on your profile and in all your tweets.

How to change your display name on a computer

Go to Twitter.com and log in if you are not already signed in. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select Settings and privacy from the dropdown menu. Click Settings in the left sidebar. Click Account, then click Account information.

You will see your display name near the top of the page. Click on it to open the edit field, delete the current name, and type your new one. Click outside the field or press Enter to save. The change takes effect immediately and you will see it update on your profile page and in your timeline.

What you can and cannot do with your display name

Your display name can be anything you want — it does not have to match your real name, your username, or anything else on your account. You can use letters, numbers, spaces, and most symbols including emoji. The limit is 50 characters total.

Changing your display name does not change your @username. If you want to change your @username instead, that is a separate process in the same Account information section, though Twitter limits how often you can change it. Your display name change does not notify your followers, does not affect your follower count, and does not change any of your existing tweets or replies.

Why your display name and username are different

Your display name is what people see when they look at your profile or read your tweets. Your @username (also called a handle) is the unique identifier that starts with the @ symbol and appears in your profile URL. For example, your display name might be "Sarah Chen" but your username might be @sarahchen42.

Twitter keeps these separate so you can change how you appear without losing your account identity. People who follow you will still find you under your @username even if you change your display name ten times a day. Your tweets stay attached to your @username, not your display name, so changing your display name never affects your tweet history.

Troubleshooting if your name change is not saving

If you tap or click Save and the change does not appear, first check that you are connected to the internet and that the app or browser has finished loading. Close the app completely and open it again, or refresh the page in your browser. Log out and log back in to your account.

If the problem continues, try changing your display name from a different device — for example, if the app is not working, try the website instead. Make sure you are not using any characters that Twitter does not allow, though Twitter accepts most punctuation and emoji. If you still cannot save after trying these steps, contact Twitter support through the Help Center in your settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my display name change my @username?

No. Your display name and @username are completely separate. You can change your display name as many times as you want without affecting your @username. If you want to change your @username, you do that in a different part of your account settings.

Will my followers see that I changed my name?

Your followers will see your new display name the next time they look at your profile or see your tweets, but Twitter does not send them a notification about the change. They will still be following your @username, which does not change.

Can I use special characters or emoji in my display name?

Yes. You can use letters, numbers, spaces, emoji, and most punctuation marks in your display name. The limit is 50 characters total. Twitter does not allow a few specific characters, but you will see an error message if you try to use one.

How often can I change my display name?

You can change your display name as often as you want with no waiting period or limit. There is no cooldown between changes, so you can update it multiple times per day if you choose.

What happens to my old tweets if I change my display name?

Your tweets stay exactly the same. They remain attached to your @username and will show your new display name when people view them, but the tweet content, date, and engagement numbers do not change at all.