Change your display name in three steps
Your display name on Twitter is the text that appears above your username — it's what people see when they look at your profile or read your posts. You can change it anytime from your account settings, and the change takes effect immediately across the platform.
The process takes less than a minute. Open Twitter on your phone or computer, go to your account settings, find the profile section, and edit the name field. Twitter allows up to 50 characters, including spaces and punctuation.
Key Takeaways
- Your display name is different from your username — the display name is what people see, and the username is the @handle that never changes.
- You can change your display name as often as you want with no restrictions or waiting periods.
- The change shows up immediately on your profile and in all your posts, replies, and retweets.
- Twitter allows up to 50 characters in your display name, including spaces, numbers, and most punctuation marks.
- Changing your display name does not affect your followers, direct messages, or any other part of your account.
Steps to change your display name on desktop
Start by logging into Twitter on your computer. Look for the three-dot menu icon in the left sidebar — it appears near the bottom of the navigation panel. Click it and select "Settings and privacy" from the dropdown menu.
Once you're in Settings, click "Account" in the left menu. Then click "Account information" to open your profile details. Find the "Name" field at the top of the page. Click on the text box, delete your current name, and type the new one you want. Twitter will show you how many characters you've used out of the 50-character limit as you type.
After you've entered your new name, look for the "Save" button — it usually appears at the bottom right of the form. Click it. Twitter will confirm the change, and your new display name will appear on your profile immediately.
Steps to change your display name on your phone
Open the Twitter app and tap your profile picture in the top left corner. Select "Settings and privacy" from the menu that appears. Tap "Account," then tap "Account information."
You'll see your current display name at the top of the screen. Tap on the name field to edit it. Delete the old name and type your new one. As you type, Twitter shows your character count. When you're done, tap "Save" or the checkmark button to confirm the change.
The new name appears on your profile right away. If you don't see it update immediately, try closing and reopening the app — sometimes the display takes a few seconds to refresh on mobile devices.
What you can and cannot use in your display name
Twitter allows letters, numbers, spaces, and most punctuation marks in your display name. You can use emojis, accented characters, and symbols like hyphens, underscores, and parentheses. Many people add emojis to their display names to make them stand out or to indicate their profession or interests.
You cannot use certain characters that Twitter reserves for its system, such as the @ symbol at the beginning of your name. If you try to use a character Twitter doesn't allow, the platform will show an error message and prevent you from saving until you remove it.
Keep in mind that your display name is public — anyone on Twitter can see it. Avoid including personal information like your full address, phone number, or email address, even though Twitter technically allows it.
The difference between display name and username
Your display name and your username are two separate things, and it's important to understand the difference. Your display name is what people see when they visit your profile or read your tweets — it can be changed anytime and can include spaces and special characters. Your username is the @handle that comes after the @ symbol, like @yourname. Your username is permanent and cannot be changed, though you can choose a new one if you create a new account.
When someone searches for you on Twitter, they search by username, not display name. If you change your display name from "Sarah Johnson" to "Sarah J," people who know you by your old display name might not recognize you at first, but your username stays the same so people can still find you by searching for your @handle.
What happens when you change your display name
When you change your display name, the new name appears immediately on your profile page and on all your posts, replies, and retweets. Anyone looking at your account or your tweets will see the new name right away. Your followers do not receive a notification that you've changed your name — they'll simply see the new one the next time they visit your profile or see your posts.
Changing your display name does not affect your direct messages, your follower list, or anyone's ability to find you. People who have you in their direct message history will still see your conversation thread, and your followers remain followers. If you've been mentioned in someone else's tweet with your old display name, those mentions don't change — they still show your old name in that context, but your profile shows your new one.
Troubleshooting if your change won't save
If you click Save and the change doesn't stick, first check that you're not using any characters Twitter doesn't allow. If you've used an @ symbol, a line break, or other restricted characters, remove them and try again. Twitter will usually show an error message telling you which character is the problem.
If you're not seeing an error message but the change still isn't saving, try logging out and logging back in. Sometimes a browser cache or app glitch prevents the save button from working properly. Close the app completely or clear your browser cache, then log back in and try editing your name again.
If you're on a phone and the change won't save, make sure you're using the official Twitter app or the Twitter website — third-party apps sometimes have trouble with account settings. Switch to the official app or website, log in, and try the change again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my display name back to what it was before?
Yes. There's no limit to how many times you can change your display name. You can change it back to your old name anytime by following the same steps. Twitter doesn't track your name history or prevent you from reusing old names.
Will my followers know if I change my display name?
No. Your followers don't get a notification when you change your display name. They'll see the new name the next time they visit your profile or see your posts, but Twitter doesn't send them an alert about the change.
Can I use special characters or emojis in my display name?
Yes. Twitter allows emojis, accented letters, and most punctuation marks in your display name. You cannot use the @ symbol at the beginning or certain other reserved characters. If you try to use a character Twitter doesn't allow, you'll see an error message.
What's the character limit for a display name?
Twitter allows up to 50 characters in your display name, including spaces, numbers, and punctuation. As you type your new name, Twitter shows you how many characters you've used.
If I change my display name, will people still be able to find me?
Yes. People find you by your username (your @handle), not your display name. Your username never changes, so anyone searching for you by your @handle will find you no matter what your display name is.