How to Change Your Twitter Handle and Name on X (2026)
To change your Twitter (X) handle, go to Settings and privacy → Account → Username, type your new @handle and tap Done. To change your display name (the bold name above your handle), go to your profile, tap Edit profile and edit the Name field. Both are free and take a minute. Your followers, Direct Messages and replies stay with you.
Handle vs display name: what’s the difference?
X uses two names, and they’re changed in two different places:
| Username (@handle) | Display name | |
|---|---|---|
| Example | @yourname | Your Name |
| Where you change it | Settings and privacy → Account → Username | Profile → Edit profile → Name |
| Length | More than 4, up to 15 characters | Up to 50 characters |
| Allowed characters | Letters, numbers and underscores, no spaces | No character rules listed by X |
| Unique | Yes, one account per handle | No, anyone can use the same name |
| Used for | Logging in, your profile URL, mentions, replies, DMs, search | Shown next to your @handle |
Source: X Help (How to change your username).
If you only want people to see a new name, change the display name and leave the handle alone: it’s quicker, and nothing that points to your account breaks.
How to change your Twitter handle (username)
X’s help center gives the same steps for the iPhone app, the Android app and desktop:
- Open Settings and privacy and tap Account.
- Tap Username and replace the username in the Username field. If it’s taken, X prompts you to choose another one.
- Tap Done.
To reach Settings and privacy, tap your profile photo in the top menu on iPhone, the navigation menu or profile icon on Android, or click More in the left menu on x.com.
Your new handle has to follow X’s rules: more than 4 and up to 15 characters, only letters, numbers and underscores. A handle that breaks a rule, is already taken, or belongs to a suspended account won’t save. For each cause and its fix, see why you can’t change your username on X.
How to change your display name on X
- Go to your profile.
- Tap or click Edit profile.
- Edit the Name field (up to 50 characters).
- Save your changes.
X says you can update your display name at any time. The Edit profile screen is also where you change your photo, header, bio, location and website (X Help: customize your profile). If you’re picking a new name, our guide on how to create the best Twitter profile name helps you choose one people remember and can search for.
What happens when you change your Twitter handle?
According to X:
- Your followers, Direct Messages and replies don’t change. Followers simply see the new @handle next to your profile photo.
- Your old handle is released immediately. Anyone can claim it as soon as you switch.
- Your profile URL changes. Your handle is part of your profile URL (x.com/yourhandle), so links to the old one no longer lead to you.
- People need your new handle to mention or message you. X suggests warning your followers before you change, so they can direct replies and DMs to the new one.
- Premium subscribers temporarily lose the blue checkmark. Changing your profile photo, display name or username removes it until X validates the account again, and “no further changes will be allowed during this review period” (X Help: X Premium).
Before you change your handle: a quick checklist
- Check that the new handle is available by visiting x.com/newhandle. If an account shows up, the handle is taken.
- Post a heads-up to your followers with the new @handle.
- Update every link that points to your old profile: your website, newsletter, email signature, link-in-bio pages and other social profiles. Then check your own Twitter profile website field and bio.
- Decide what to do with the old handle. Since anyone can take it, consider claiming it with a second account so nobody can impersonate you with it.
- If you’re on Premium, make all your profile changes at once, because nothing else can be changed during the checkmark review.
Can’t change your handle?
X refuses a new username when it’s taken, held by a suspended or deactivated account, breaks the character rules, or when your Premium checkmark is under review. You might also see error 131 or a rate limit. Each case, with the exact message and the fix, is in our guide to why you can’t change your username on X. For other messages, see the X troubleshooting hub.
If you’re changing your name to get a fresh start, you can also make your account private so only approved followers see your posts.
Frequently asked questions
Can you change your Twitter handle?
Yes. Go to Settings and privacy, then Account, then Username, type the new handle and tap Done. If it’s taken, X asks you to pick another one. Your followers, Direct Messages and replies stay with your account.
How do I change my name on Twitter?
Your name (display name) is separate from your @handle. Go to your profile, tap or click Edit profile, change the Name field and save. You can update it at any time, up to 50 characters.
How many characters can a Twitter handle have?
More than 4 and up to 15 characters, using only letters, numbers and underscores, with no spaces. Your display name can be up to 50 characters.
Will I lose followers if I change my Twitter handle?
No. X says changing your username doesn’t affect your followers, Direct Messages or replies. Your followers simply see the new @handle. Links to your old profile URL, though, stop pointing to you.
Can someone take my old Twitter handle?
Yes. X says your previous username becomes available to anyone immediately after you change it. If you want to keep it, don’t change, or claim it with a second account right away.
Will changing my handle remove my blue checkmark?
If you subscribe to X Premium, yes, temporarily. Changing your profile photo, display name or username removes the checkmark until X reviews the account again, and you can’t make other changes during the review.
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