You can change your Reddit username once every 30 days
Reddit lets you change your username, but only once per month. The process takes about two minutes and happens right in your account settings — you do not need to contact Reddit support or create a new account. After you change it, your old username disappears and nobody can claim it for 90 days.
The catch is that some things tied to your old username do not change automatically. Your post and comment history stays public under your new name, but your profile URL changes, and anyone who bookmarked your old profile page will see a dead link. If you have a username people know you by, tell them the new one before you switch.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your Reddit username once every 30 days through your account settings on desktop or mobile.
- Your post and comment history moves with you to your new username, but your profile URL changes.
- Your old username becomes unavailable to everyone for 90 days after you change it.
- You cannot change your username back to a previous one if someone else has claimed it during the 90-day waiting period.
- Subreddit moderator permissions and saved posts stay attached to your account regardless of username changes.
How to change your username on desktop
Open Reddit in a web browser and sign in to your account. Click your profile icon in the top right corner — it looks like a small circle with your current username or avatar inside. A dropdown menu appears. Click User Settings (not Profile Settings).
On the left side of the settings page, click the Account tab. Scroll down until you see the Username field. Your current username appears in a gray box. Click the Change button next to it. A popup window opens asking for your new username and your password to confirm the change.
Type your new username in the text field. Reddit shows you immediately whether the name is available — if it is taken, the field turns red and tells you so. Once you find one that works, type your password in the second field and click Change. The page refreshes and your new username appears in the settings.
How to change your username on mobile
Open the Reddit app and tap your profile icon at the bottom right of the screen. Tap Settings (the gear icon). Scroll down and tap Account. Find the Username option and tap Change next to it.
A screen appears with a text field for your new username. Type the name you want and Reddit tells you right away if it is taken. If it is available, tap Next. Enter your password on the next screen to confirm, then tap Change. Your new username takes effect immediately.
Rules for choosing a new Reddit username
Reddit usernames can be 3 to 20 characters long and can contain letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. You cannot use spaces. Usernames are not case-sensitive — Reddit treats "MyName" and "myname" as the same account, so capitalization does not matter for logging in, but it does display the way you typed it on your profile.
You cannot use a username that is already taken, even if the account has not posted anything in years. Reddit does not free up old usernames — they stay claimed unless the account is deleted by the user. If you want a specific name and it is taken, your only option is to wait and hope the person deletes their account, which is rare.
What changes and what stays the same after you switch
Your post and comment history, saved posts, awards, karma, and subreddit subscriptions all stay with your account. Anyone reading your old posts will see your new username next to them. Your profile page URL changes from reddit.com/user/oldname to reddit.com/user/newname, so any bookmarks or links to your old profile will not work.
If you are a moderator of any subreddits, your moderator status stays active under your new username. The same goes for any bans — if you were banned from a subreddit under your old name, the ban follows you to your new one. Reddit ties bans to your account, not your username.
Your old username becomes unavailable for 90 days. After that, someone else can claim it. If you change your mind and want your old username back, you have to wait until that 90-day window closes and hope nobody has taken it.
What to do if you cannot change your username
If the Change button is grayed out or does not appear, you have already changed your username within the last 30 days. Reddit enforces a strict 30-day waiting period between changes. Check the date you made your last change in the Account settings — the button becomes active again exactly 30 days later.
If you see an error message when you try to change your username, make sure you are using the correct password. Reddit requires you to re-enter your password to confirm any username change for security reasons. If you have forgotten your password, click Forgot password? on the login page and follow the email instructions to reset it before trying again.
If the username you want is taken and you need it urgently, there is no way around the waiting period or the availability check. Reddit does not hold usernames, and there is no priority system. Your only option is to choose a different name or wait to see if the person with that username deletes their account.
Telling people about your username change
If you use Reddit to communicate with specific people — through direct messages, in communities you moderate, or in subreddits where you are known — tell them your new username before you change it. Your old username disappears from your profile, and people who try to find you by your old name will not see your account.
If you have a pinned post on your profile or a bio that mentions your username, update those too. You can edit your profile bio by going to your profile page, clicking Edit, and updating the text in the About section. This is especially important if you use your Reddit account for work, community organizing, or anything where people need to find you by name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my username back to what it was before?
Only if nobody has claimed it during the 90-day waiting period after you changed it. If someone else has taken your old username, you cannot use it again. You would have to wait for that person to delete their account, which is unlikely. Choose your new username carefully because you may not be able to go back.
Do I lose my karma or awards when I change my username?
No. Your karma, awards, post history, and comment history all stay attached to your account. They display under your new username. The only thing that changes is the name itself — everything else moves with you.
What happens to my direct messages when I change my username?
Your direct message history stays in your inbox and displays under your new username. People who sent you messages before the change will see your new name when they look back at the conversation. You do not lose any messages.
Can I change my username more than once a month?
No. Reddit enforces a 30-day waiting period between username changes. You can change it once, then you have to wait exactly 30 days before you can change it again. There is no way to bypass this limit.
If I delete my account, can someone else use my username?
Yes, but not right away. When you delete your account, your username becomes available after 90 days. After that waiting period, anyone can claim it. If you want to preserve your username, do not delete your account — just stop using it.