You can change your TikTok username directly in the app settings, and it takes about two minutes

Open TikTok and tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner. Then tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the top right. Scroll down and tap "Settings and privacy," then "Account," then "Username." The current username appears in a text field — tap it, delete the old name, type your new one, and tap "Save."

TikTok lets you change your username once every 30 days. If you changed it recently, you will see a message telling you when you can change it again. The new username must be between 2 and 24 characters, can include letters, numbers, periods, and underscores, but cannot start with a number.

Your display name (the name that appears above your username) is separate and can be changed anytime without waiting. If you want to change how your account looks to other people but do not want to wait 30 days, changing your display name is a faster option.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your TikTok username once every 30 days through Settings and privacy > Account > Username.
  • Usernames must be 2 to 24 characters and can include letters, numbers, periods, and underscores, but cannot start with a number.
  • Your display name is separate from your username and can be changed anytime without waiting for the 30-day window.
  • After you change your username, your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after a short period.

What happens to your old username after you change it

When you change your username, your old one does not stay reserved for you. After a grace period (TikTok does not publicly state exactly how long), another user can claim it. If you think you might want to use an old username again later, do not change it.

Any links to your old profile will stop working. If you shared your TikTok link on other social media, in your email signature, or anywhere else, update those links to point to your new username. Videos you posted stay on your account — changing your username does not delete them or move them anywhere.

Reasons to change your username and what to consider first

People change their TikTok username for different reasons: they want something more professional, they no longer like an old handle, they are starting fresh after taking a break, or they want to match a username they use on other platforms. Before you change it, think about whether the new name fits what you post about and whether you will want to keep it for a while.

If you have built an audience, changing your username might confuse followers who know you by the old one. You cannot control whether they find you under the new name, so consider posting a video or using your caption to let people know you have changed it. If you have a large following, the 30-day wait between changes means you should be fairly certain about your new choice.

Usernames that TikTok will not let you use

TikTok rejects usernames that are already taken, even if the account is inactive. You cannot use a username that belongs to someone else, and you cannot use one that TikTok reserves for itself (like "tiktok" or "support").

The app will also reject usernames that violate its community guidelines — for example, ones that include slurs, impersonate a real person or brand, or are designed to harass someone. If you try to save a username and get an error message, try a different one. The error message usually tells you whether the name is taken or violates the guidelines.

Changing your username on different devices

The steps are the same whether you use TikTok on iPhone, Android, or a web browser. On a phone, follow the steps above. On a computer, go to TikTok.com, click your profile picture in the top right, click "Settings and privacy," then "Account," then "Username," and make your change the same way.

If you use TikTok on multiple devices, the change takes effect on all of them within a few minutes. You do not need to log out and back in — just refresh the app or reload the page.

If you cannot find the username setting

Make sure you are in the right menu. The username option is under Settings and privacy > Account, not under "Edit profile." If you see "Edit profile" instead, tap that first, then look for a username field there — the location varies slightly depending on your app version.

If the username field is greyed out or you cannot tap it, you may have changed your username recently and are still in the 30-day waiting period. Check the message on the screen — it will tell you the exact date you can change it again. If you have a very new account (less than a few days old), TikTok sometimes locks the username setting temporarily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username back to an old one I used before?

Only if no one else has claimed it. Once you change your username, the old one becomes available for others to use after a grace period. If someone else took it, you cannot use it again unless they change theirs first. You can try messaging TikTok support to ask, but they typically do not reserve old usernames.

Will changing my username affect my followers or videos?

Your followers stay with you and your videos remain on your account. However, any direct links to your profile using the old username will break. If you shared your TikTok link anywhere, update it to your new username so people can find you.

How long does it take for the username change to show up?

The change is usually instant in the app, though it may take a few minutes to show up everywhere on TikTok's servers. If you see the old username still appearing after 10 minutes, try closing and reopening the app.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my username?

You can use periods and underscores, but not spaces or other special characters like hyphens, commas, or symbols. Usernames are also case-insensitive, so "MyName" and "myname" are treated as the same username.

What if someone else is using the username I want?

You cannot use a username that is already taken. Try adding a number, period, or underscore to make it unique. If the account using it appears inactive or abandoned, you can report it to TikTok, but they do not remove accounts just because they are inactive.