How to Change Your Username on Spotify (And What's Actually Possible)
Spotify is one of the most widely used music streaming platforms in the world, but it has one quirk that regularly frustrates users: your username isn't as easily changed as you might expect. Understanding why — and what you can actually do — requires knowing how Spotify handles identity under the hood.
What Spotify Calls a "Username" vs. a "Display Name"
Spotify uses two distinct identity fields, and most users mix them up:
- Username — This is your unique account identifier, often a string of letters and numbers (e.g.,
31abc7xyz). If you signed up via Facebook or had an older account, this may look like a random hash. It's used internally and in profile URLs. - Display Name — This is the name other users actually see on your profile, in playlists, and in friend activity. It's editable and functions like a public-facing nickname.
The confusion usually comes from the fact that Spotify does not allow users to change their username — the underlying account ID — through any standard setting. This has been a known limitation for years and remains the case as of current platform behavior.
Can You Change Your Spotify Username?
No — not directly. Spotify's username is assigned at account creation and is permanent. There is no in-app option, no web setting, and no support ticket process that changes it. If you signed up through a third-party login like Facebook, your username was auto-generated at that point and is now fixed.
However, what most people actually want to change is their display name — and that is fully editable.
How to Change Your Spotify Display Name 🎵
Your display name is what friends, followers, and playlist collaborators see. Here's how to update it:
On Mobile (iOS or Android)
- Open the Spotify app
- Tap Home, then tap your profile icon in the top-left corner
- Tap View Profile
- Tap Edit Profile
- Update the name field under Display Name
- Tap Save
On Desktop (Windows or Mac)
- Open Spotify
- Click your profile name in the top-right corner
- Select Profile
- Click Edit Profile
- Update the Display Name field
- Click Save
Via the Spotify Web Player
- Go to open.spotify.com
- Click your profile icon in the top-right
- Select Profile
- Click Edit Profile and update the name
- Save changes
Changes sync across all devices relatively quickly, though it may take a few minutes to propagate everywhere.
What Happens to the Old Username?
Your original username doesn't disappear — it still exists as your account's backend identifier. Shared playlist links and your profile URL may still reference it. Only the visible display name changes across the social features of the app.
This distinction matters if you share playlists publicly or collaborate with others, since your profile URL (open.spotify.com/user/[username]) reflects the original username — not your display name.
Variables That Affect What You Can and Can't Change
Not every Spotify account behaves the same way. A few factors influence your options:
| Account Type | Username Format | Display Name Editable? |
|---|---|---|
| Email sign-up | Random alphanumeric string | ✅ Yes |
| Facebook sign-up | Facebook-linked ID | ✅ Yes |
| Google sign-up | Auto-generated ID | ✅ Yes |
| Apple sign-up | Auto-generated or email-based | ✅ Yes |
The display name is editable regardless of how you signed up. The username is fixed in all cases.
What If You Want a Completely Fresh Start?
Some users who are unhappy with their username structure consider creating a new account entirely. This is technically possible, but comes with real trade-offs:
- Playlists don't transfer automatically between accounts
- Followers and followed artists don't migrate
- Listening history and recommendations reset completely
- Spotify Premium subscriptions are tied to the original account
If you're on a free account and don't have much history built up, starting fresh has lower cost. If you've accumulated years of playlists, personalized mixes, and followers, losing that data is a significant consideration. 🎧
The Gap That Matters
Whether the display name change is enough — or whether the limitations around usernames actually affect how you use Spotify — depends entirely on your situation. Someone who uses Spotify solo and just wants their profile to look right will have a different experience than someone running a public playlist, a podcast, or a collaborative account where the profile URL and identity matter more.
The platform's constraints are the same for everyone. What changes is how much those constraints actually matter for the way you use it.