Where to Find the Username Change Option

Reddit lets you change your username once every 30 days through your account settings. The option is in the same place whether you use the website or the mobile app, though the exact path differs slightly between them.

On the website, click your profile icon in the top right corner, then select "User Settings." On mobile, tap your profile icon at the bottom right, then the three-dot menu, then "Settings." In both cases, look for a section labeled "Account" or "Username" — the exact wording varies by app version.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Reddit username once every 30 days through User Settings on either the website or mobile app.
  • Your new username must be between 3 and 20 characters, contain only letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, and cannot be already taken by another account.
  • Changing your username does not affect your account history, karma, or saved posts — everything stays attached to your account.
  • If you have not changed your username before, you may see the option labeled "Set Username" instead of "Change Username."

What Happens When You Submit a New Username

When you enter a new username and confirm the change, Reddit updates it immediately. Your old username becomes available for other users to claim after a short delay, usually within a few hours. All your posts, comments, and saved content remain under your account — the change is purely cosmetic from the perspective of your account history.

Other users who mention your old username in comments (using the @ symbol) will see a notification that the account no longer exists under that name. Any direct messages you received under your old username stay in your inbox and remain associated with your account, not the old username itself.

Rules for Choosing a New Username

Reddit enforces specific rules about what characters and length your username can have. Your new username must be between 3 and 20 characters long. You can use uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores — nothing else. Spaces, periods, and special characters like @ or # are not allowed.

The username you choose cannot already be taken by another active account. If you try to use a name that exists, Reddit will tell you immediately and ask you to try another one. Usernames are not case-sensitive, so "RedditUser" and "reddituser" are treated as the same name.

The 30-Day Waiting Period Between Changes

After you change your username, you must wait 30 days before you can change it again. This timer starts the moment you confirm your new username. If you try to change it before 30 days have passed, Reddit will show you a message telling you when you will be able to change it next.

The 30-day rule applies whether you change your username once or multiple times. Each change resets the timer. There is no way to bypass this waiting period or change it more frequently.

What Does Not Change When You Update Your Username

Your Reddit karma, awards, saved posts, subscribed communities, and account creation date all stay exactly the same. Changing your username is purely a display change — it does not reset your account or create a new one. Your email address, password, and two-factor authentication settings remain unchanged.

If you have a custom profile picture or banner, those stay in place. Your profile bio and "About" section are not affected. The only thing that changes is the name that appears next to your posts and comments going forward.

Troubleshooting: Username Change Option Not Showing

If you do not see a username change option in your settings, the most common reason is that you are still within the 30-day waiting period from a previous change. Check the message Reddit shows in that section — it will tell you the exact date you can change your username again.

If you have never set a username before (some older accounts defaulted to a random number string), you may see "Set Username" instead of "Change Username." The process is identical — enter your desired name and confirm. If the option is missing entirely and you have not changed your username recently, try logging out and back in, or clearing your browser cache if you are on the website.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, but only after 30 days have passed since your last change. If you change from "OldName" to "NewName," you can change back to "OldName" after the waiting period, as long as no one else has claimed it in the meantime. Once your old username becomes available, it can be taken by any other user.

What if someone else takes my old username?

Reddit does not reserve old usernames for previous owners. If you change your username and someone else claims your old one before you change back, you cannot reclaim it. If this happens and you want that name back, you would need to contact the person who took it and ask them to change theirs — Reddit support does not intervene in username disputes.

Does changing my username affect my saved posts or subscriptions?

No. Your saved posts, upvoted content, subscribed communities, and all other account data remain attached to your account regardless of what your username is. The change is only visible to other users when they look at your profile or see your posts and comments.

Can I use spaces or special characters in my username?

No. Reddit only allows letters (A-Z, a-z), numbers (0-9), hyphens (-), and underscores (_). Spaces, periods, and symbols like @, #, or $ are not permitted. If you try to use them, Reddit will reject the username and ask you to choose a different one.