You can change your Twitter handle anytime, and it takes about two minutes

Your Twitter handle — the @username that appears in your profile — can be changed whenever you want, as many times as you want. Twitter does not charge a fee or require you to wait between changes. The old handle becomes available for someone else to claim after you change it, so if you want to keep using it, you will need to create a separate account or ask someone to hold it for you.

The process is the same whether you use Twitter on a phone, tablet, or computer. You go into your account settings, find the username field, type in your new handle, and save the change. It takes effect immediately.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Twitter handle from the Settings and Privacy menu under Account, then Username.
  • Your new handle must be between 4 and 15 characters, use only letters, numbers, and underscores, and not already be taken by another account.
  • The change takes effect right away, and your old handle becomes available for others to use.
  • Changing your handle does not affect your followers, tweets, or any other part of your account — only the @username changes.

Steps to change your handle on any device

Open Twitter and tap or click the three-dot menu icon in the top left corner (on phone) or top right corner (on computer). Select Settings and Privacy from the menu.

Tap or click Settings and Privacy again, then choose Account. Look for the field labeled Username. Click or tap in that field and delete your current handle, then type your new one. Twitter will show you whether the name is available as you type.

Once you have entered a handle that is available, look for a Save button (on computer) or swipe to confirm (on phone). The change takes effect immediately. You will see your new handle in your profile right away.

Rules for what your new handle can be

Your handle must be between 4 and 15 characters long. You can use letters (A–Z, a–z), numbers (0–9), and underscores (_). You cannot use spaces, hyphens, periods, or other punctuation marks. Twitter does not allow handles that are only numbers.

The handle you choose must not already be in use by another account. If you try to save a handle that someone else has, Twitter will tell you it is unavailable and ask you to pick a different one. If you want a handle that is currently taken, you would need to contact the person using it and ask them to change theirs — Twitter does not reassign handles.

What happens to your old handle

When you change your handle, your old one does not stay reserved for you. It becomes available for any other Twitter user to claim immediately. If you want to keep using that handle later, you will need to change back to it before someone else does — and if someone else has already claimed it, you cannot get it back.

If you want to preserve your old handle, you have two options. You can create a separate Twitter account and use that account to claim your old handle so it stays in your control. Or you can ask a trusted friend or colleague to create an account and hold the handle for you, then transfer it back to you later if you change your mind.

How changing your handle affects the rest of your account

Changing your handle does not delete or change anything else about your account. All your tweets stay exactly as they are. Your followers do not go away. Your direct messages, likes, retweets, and follower list all remain the same. The only thing that changes is the @username that appears next to your name.

People who were following you before the change will still be following you after. If someone had bookmarked your profile or saved a link to your old handle, that link will no longer work — it will either show an error or take them to a different account if someone else has claimed your old handle in the meantime.

If you cannot find the username setting

Make sure you are logged into the account you want to change. If you are using Twitter through a third-party app (not the official Twitter app or website), the settings menu may look different or the username option may not be available. Log into Twitter.com or use the official Twitter app instead.

If you are on a computer and the Settings and Privacy menu does not appear, try refreshing the page or clearing your browser cache. If you are on a phone and the three-dot menu is not visible, make sure you are on your own profile page, not someone else's.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Only if no one else has claimed it. If you change your handle and then want to switch back, you can do so as long as your old handle is still available. If someone else has taken it, you cannot get it back — Twitter does not hold handles or prioritize previous owners.

How many times can I change my handle?

You can change your handle as many times as you want. There is no limit on the number of changes you can make, and you do not have to wait between changes. Each change takes effect immediately.

Will my followers see my old handle anywhere after I change it?

Your followers will see your new handle in your profile and next to all your tweets going forward. Old tweets and messages will show your new handle, not your old one. If someone has a screenshot or saved link with your old handle, that will still show the old name, but clicking it will either show an error or take them to whoever has claimed that handle now.

What if the handle I want is taken but the account looks inactive?

Twitter does not reassign handles based on inactivity. Even if an account has not posted in years, if the handle is still registered to that account, you cannot claim it. Your only option is to choose a different handle or contact the account owner directly and ask them to change theirs.