You can change your Tumblr username once every 30 days through your account settings

Tumblr lets you change the username on your blog, but only once per month. The process takes about two minutes and happens entirely in your account settings — you do not need to contact Tumblr support unless something goes wrong. Your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after you change it, so if you want to keep that name reserved, you will need a separate plan.

The change affects your blog's web address (the URL), your public profile, and how people find and mention you. Messages and reblogs from before the change will still show your old username in the post history, but your current profile and new posts will display the new name.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Tumblr username once every 30 days by going to Settings > Account > Blog URL.
  • Your old username becomes available for anyone else to register immediately after you change it.
  • The change takes effect right away and applies to your blog's web address, profile, and all new posts.
  • Old posts and reblogs will still show your previous username in their history, but your current profile displays only your new name.
  • If you want to keep your old username, you will need to create a separate blog or account to hold it.

Step-by-step: changing your username on desktop

Open Tumblr in a web browser and log in to your account. Click the account icon (usually your profile picture) in the top right corner and select Settings from the dropdown menu.

In the Settings page, click the Account tab on the left side. Scroll down until you see the Blog URL section. This shows your current username and a text field where you can enter a new one. Type the new username you want — Tumblr will tell you immediately if it is already taken or if it contains characters that are not allowed.

Click the Save button. Tumblr will ask you to confirm the change. Once you confirm, the new username is active. You will see a message telling you when you can change it again (30 days from that moment).

Step-by-step: changing your username on mobile

Open the Tumblr app and tap the account icon at the bottom right (usually shown as three horizontal lines or your profile picture). Tap Settings.

Scroll down and tap Account. Find the Blog URL or Username section — the exact wording varies depending on your app version. Tap the text field next to your current username and type the new one you want.

Tap Save or Done (depending on your device). Tumblr will confirm the change and show you the date when you can change it again.

What happens to your old username

Once you change your username, Tumblr releases the old one immediately. Anyone else can register it and claim it as their own blog URL. This means if you change your mind within minutes, you may not be able to get it back — someone else might have already taken it.

If you want to keep your old username from being claimed by someone else, you have two options. You can create a second blog under your same account and set its URL to your old username, then leave it inactive. Or you can create a separate Tumblr account just to hold that username. Neither option costs money, but both require you to manage multiple blogs or accounts.

Usernames Tumblr will not allow

Tumblr blocks certain usernames for technical or policy reasons. You cannot use a username that is already taken, obviously. You also cannot use spaces, most punctuation marks, or special characters — only letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores are allowed.

Tumblr also reserves some usernames for its own use, such as "tumblr", "staff", "support", and "help". If you try to use one of these, Tumblr will tell you it is unavailable. Usernames that are extremely short (one or two characters) are also typically reserved and unavailable.

If your username change does not go through

The most common reason a username change fails is that someone else has already claimed the name you want. Try a different variation — add a number, use an underscore or hyphen, or pick a different name entirely. Tumblr will tell you right away if a name is taken, so you can keep trying until you find one that works.

If you see an error message that does not mention the name being taken, try logging out and logging back in, then attempt the change again. If the problem continues, you may have hit a temporary glitch. Wait a few minutes and try once more. If it still does not work after several attempts, you can contact Tumblr support through the Help Center on the Tumblr website.

How the 30-day waiting period works

After you change your username, Tumblr locks you out of making another change for exactly 30 days. This is a site-wide rule with no exceptions. The 30 days starts from the moment you confirm the change, not from the moment you first tried to make it.

Tumblr shows you the exact date and time when you will be able to change your username again. You can see this in your Account settings. If you change your username on a Tuesday at 3 p.m., you will not be able to change it again until the following Tuesday at 3 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my username affect my followers or messages?

Your followers stay with you — they follow your blog, not your username. Your messages and asks will still work normally. However, if someone tries to mention you by your old username in a new post, the mention will not tag you because that username no longer belongs to you.

Can I change my username more than once a month?

No. Tumblr enforces a strict 30-day waiting period between username changes. You cannot pay to change it sooner or request an exception. If you need a different name urgently, your only option is to create a new blog or account.

What if I change my username and then want to change it back?

You can change it back, but only after 30 days have passed since your first change. And if someone else has claimed your old username in the meantime, you will not be able to use it again unless they release it.

Does changing my username delete my blog or posts?

No. Your blog, all your posts, and all your followers remain exactly the same. Only the web address and display name change. Old posts will still show your previous username in the reblog history.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my username?

No. Tumblr only allows letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. Spaces and most punctuation marks will cause an error when you try to save.