Change your Twitter name from your account settings

To change your Twitter name, open Twitter on your phone or computer, go to your account settings, find the "Account information" section, and edit the name field. Twitter calls this your "display name" — it is the name that appears at the top of your profile and in replies, not your @username. The change takes effect immediately and is visible to everyone who follows you.

You can change your display name as often as you want, and Twitter does not limit how many times you do it. There is no waiting period between changes, and no approval process — the new name appears right away. If you change your mind, you can change it back the same way.

Key Takeaways

  • Your display name is what appears at the top of your profile; your @username is separate and has different rules for changing.
  • Display name changes take effect immediately and are visible to all users.
  • You can change your display name as many times as you want with no waiting period.
  • Display names can include spaces, numbers, and most special characters, while @usernames cannot.
  • If you change your name, people who follow you will see the new name the next time they refresh their feed.

Where to find the name field on desktop

On a computer, click the three-dot menu icon in the top left corner of Twitter (or the "More" option if you are using the sidebar). Select "Settings and privacy," then choose "Settings." Click on "Account" in the left menu, then find "Account information." You will see a field labeled "Name" — this is your display name. Click into it, delete the old name, type the new one, and click "Save."

The name field accepts up to 50 characters, including spaces. You can use letters, numbers, emoji, and most punctuation marks. Twitter does not require your display name to match your legal name or your @username.

Where to find the name field on mobile

On your phone, tap the three-line menu icon (called a hamburger menu) at the top left of the screen. Tap "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." Scroll down and tap "Account," then "Account information." Tap the "Name" field, clear it, type your new name, and tap "Save" at the top of the screen.

The process is the same on both iPhone and Android. If you are using the Twitter app, make sure you are logged into the account you want to change. If you have multiple accounts, switching between them requires logging out and back in.

The difference between display name and @username

Your display name is what people see when they look at your profile or read your tweets. Your @username (also called a handle) is the unique identifier that starts with the @ symbol — for example, @jamesrodriguez. You can change your display name whenever you want, but changing your @username has restrictions.

If you change your @username, your old username becomes available for someone else to claim after 30 days. Any links to your old @username will stop working. For this reason, most people change their display name instead of their @username. If you do need to change your @username, you can do so from the same "Account information" section, but you can only change it once every 30 days.

What happens when you change your name

When you change your display name, everyone who follows you will see the new name the next time they refresh Twitter or open the app. Your old tweets do not change — they still show your new name, not the old one. People who have you muted or blocked will see the new name as well.

Changing your name does not affect your follower count, your tweets, your direct messages, or any other part of your account. It is purely a cosmetic change. If you had a verified checkmark before the change, you keep it after.

Troubleshooting if the change does not save

If you type a new name and click "Save" but the change does not appear, try logging out and logging back in. Sometimes Twitter's servers take a moment to sync the change across all devices. If you are still seeing the old name after logging back in, try clearing your browser cache or closing and reopening the app.

If the "Save" button is grayed out or does not respond, make sure you have actually changed the text in the name field. Twitter will not let you save if the new name is identical to the old one. Also check that you are not using characters Twitter does not allow — though this is rare, as Twitter accepts most punctuation and emoji.

Changing your name on a suspended or locked account

If your account is suspended, you cannot change your name until the suspension is lifted. If your account is locked (which happens when Twitter detects unusual activity), you can still access your settings and change your name, but the change may not be visible to other users until you unlock the account by verifying your phone number or email.

If you believe your account was suspended or locked by mistake, you can request a review through Twitter's help center. The review process can take several days.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. There is no limit on how many times you can change your display name or how quickly you can change it back. You can revert to an old name immediately if you change your mind.

Will changing my name affect my followers or my tweets?

No. Your follower count stays the same, all your tweets remain on your account, and your direct messages are unaffected. Only the name displayed at the top of your profile changes.

What if someone else is using the name I want?

Display names do not have to be unique on Twitter — multiple people can have the same display name. You can use any name you want, even if someone else is already using it. The @username is what makes each account unique.

Can I use special characters or emoji in my display name?

Yes. Twitter allows letters, numbers, spaces, emoji, and most punctuation marks in display names. The only limit is 50 characters total. Your @username, however, can only use letters, numbers, and underscores.

How long does it take for the new name to show up everywhere?

The change is immediate on your account, but it may take a few minutes to appear on other people's feeds and in search results. Refreshing the page or closing and reopening the app usually speeds this up.