You can change your TikTok username directly in the app settings, and the change takes effect immediately

Open TikTok and go to your profile by tapping the person icon at the bottom right. Tap the three horizontal lines (menu) in the top right corner, then select "Settings and privacy." Choose "Account," then "Username." Delete your current username and type in the new one you want. TikTok will tell you right away if the name is taken or if it breaks their rules. If it's available, tap "Save" and you're done — your new username is live.

The whole process takes less than a minute. Your followers stay with you, and all your videos keep their view counts. People who had your old username saved as a link will see an error, but anyone who follows you will see your new name automatically.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your username through Settings and privacy > Account > Username, not through your profile edit page.
  • TikTok usernames can be 2 to 24 characters long and can include letters, numbers, periods, and underscores, but no spaces.
  • The change happens instantly, and your follower count and video history do not move with you — they stay attached to your account.
  • You can change your username as often as you want, but TikTok may temporarily block you from changing it again if you do it too many times in a short period.
  • If someone else takes your old username after you change it, you cannot get it back — usernames are first-come, first-served.

What characters and length TikTok allows in usernames

TikTok usernames must be between 2 and 24 characters long. You can use letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers, periods, and underscores. You cannot use spaces, special characters like @, #, or !, or most punctuation marks. Usernames are case-insensitive, meaning @MyName and @myname are treated as the same account.

TikTok will reject a username if it's already taken, if it violates their community guidelines (for example, if it contains slurs or hateful language), or if it impersonates a public figure or brand. The app tells you which rule you've broken when you try to save it, so you'll know what to change.

How often you can change your username

There is no official limit to how many times you can change your username. However, if you change it repeatedly in a short time — for example, five times in an hour — TikTok may temporarily prevent you from changing it again for a few hours or a day. This is a spam-prevention measure.

If you get locked out of changing your username, wait a few hours and try again. The restriction lifts automatically. If you're locked out for longer than a day, contact TikTok support through the app's help center.

What happens to your account when you change your username

Your follower count, videos, likes, and comments all stay with your account. Your profile picture, bio, and all your content remain exactly as they were. The only thing that changes is the name people see and use to find you.

Anyone who follows you will see your new username in their feed and follower list. However, if someone saved a direct link to your old username — for example, tiktok.com/@oldname — that link will no longer work. They'll get a "user not found" error. The safest way to share your profile is to use the share button in your profile, which creates a link that works no matter what username you have.

What happens to your old username after you change it

Once you change your username, it becomes available for anyone else to claim. If another user takes it within minutes or hours, you cannot get it back. TikTok does not reserve old usernames for previous owners.

If you think you might want to use an old username again in the future, do not change to a new one. Instead, consider changing your display name (the name that appears above your username on your profile) while keeping your username the same. Display names can be changed without limit and do not affect how people find you.

The difference between username and display name

Your username is what appears after the @ symbol and is how people search for and tag you. Your display name is the text that shows above your username on your profile and in comments. You can change your display name as often as you want without any restrictions, and it does not affect your username or how people find you.

If you want to rebrand without losing your username, change your display name instead. For example, you could keep your username as @jane2019 but change your display name to "Jane's Art Studio." People will still find you by searching @jane2019, but they'll see your new display name when they visit your profile.

Troubleshooting: username change not working

If you tap "Save" and nothing happens, or if you get an error message, the most common reasons are: the username is already taken, it contains characters TikTok does not allow, it violates community guidelines, or you've changed your username too many times recently and hit the temporary lock.

Try a different username to test whether the problem is with that specific name or with your account. If every username you try gets rejected, log out of TikTok completely, close the app, wait five minutes, and log back in. If the problem persists after that, go to Settings and privacy > Help > Report a problem and describe what's happening. TikTok support will respond within a few days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username back to what it was before?

Only if no one else has claimed it. Once you change your username, it enters a pool of available names. If someone else takes it, you cannot reclaim it — TikTok does not hold old usernames. If you want to keep a username, do not change it.

Does changing my username affect my TikTok Creator Fund earnings?

No. Your earnings are tied to your account, not your username. If you're in the Creator Fund, your payments will continue to your linked bank account or payment method regardless of what username you have.

Will my followers see a notification when I change my username?

No. Your followers will not get a notification. They'll simply see your new username the next time they visit your profile or see you in their feed. If you want to tell them about the change, you can post a video or add a note to your bio.

What if TikTok says my username violates community guidelines?

TikTok will not let you save a username that contains slurs, hateful language, or impersonation. Choose a different username that does not reference those things. If you believe TikTok made a mistake, you can report it through Settings and privacy > Help > Report a problem, but TikTok's decision is usually final.

Can I use special characters like hyphens or apostrophes in my username?

No. TikTok only allows letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. Hyphens, apostrophes, and other punctuation marks will be rejected. If you want to separate words, use an underscore or period instead.