Why Can't I Change My Username on X (Twitter)? Fixes

If X (formerly Twitter) won’t let you change your username, the handle you want is almost always taken, reserved or against X’s rules. Usernames must be more than 4 and at most 15 characters, use only letters, numbers and underscores, and can’t contain the words “X” or “Admin”. Handles held by suspended or deactivated accounts aren’t available either. If the name is valid and free, try again on x.com in a browser after a short wait.

First, make sure you’re changing the right thing. Your username (or handle) is the @name in your profile URL. Your display name is the name shown in bold above it. They follow different rules, and the fixes below cover both. For help choosing a good name, see our guide to the best Twitter profile name.

What are X’s username rules?

These are the rules from X’s help center (change your username, username registration):

	Username (@handle)	Display name
Length	More than 4 and up to 15 characters	Up to 50 characters
Allowed characters	Letters A–Z, numbers 0–9 and underscores only: no spaces, dashes or symbols	Free text
Reserved words	Can’t contain “X” or “Admin” unless it’s an official X account	Not stated
Must be unique	Yes	No
How often you can change it	Not stated by X	“You can update your name at any time”

Why can’t I change my username on X?

Go through these causes in order.

The username is already taken

Every handle is unique. If someone holds it, X asks you to pick another one. X suggests adding an underscore before or after the name (for example @lindsay_ or @_lindsay), and putting your real name in your display name instead (X Help).

A suspended, deactivated or inactive account holds it

A handle can look free (no profile you can visit) and still be unavailable. X says usernames of suspended and deactivated accounts aren’t immediately available, and that it can’t release inactive usernames at this time (X Help). Paying someone who claims to “unlock” a handle won’t change that.

The username breaks a rule

Check the table above. The usual culprits are a 16th character, a dash, a dot or an accented letter. X also blocks usernames “containing the words X or Admin”, unless they belong to official X accounts.

You tried too many names in a row

Each attempt counts. After a series of tries, users report seeing “Sorry, you are rate limited” instead of the usual message. Stop for a while before trying again. See rate limit exceeded on X.

Your Premium checkmark is under review

If you subscribe to X Premium, changing your profile photo, display name or username removes the blue checkmark until X validates the account again, and “no further changes will be allowed during this review period” (X Help: X Premium). Wait until the checkmark comes back before changing anything else.

The app doesn’t offer the option or keeps failing

X’s current help page gives steps for iOS, Android and desktop. An earlier version of its help center said changing your username wasn’t supported in the mobile apps and sent people to x.com (X Help, 2025 archive). If the app gives you trouble, use a browser.

Your account is locked or limited

A locked or limited account can lose access to some features until you verify it. If X shows a verification prompt, deal with it first: see account suspended or locked on X.

What is error 131 when you change your display name?

On the iPhone app, some people get this message when they edit their display name:

The operation could not be completed. (com.twitter.HTTPRequestActionResponseError error 131)

Code 131 isn’t specific to names. X’s API documentation lists it as “Internal error”: “an unknown internal error occurred”, matching HTTP 500 (X API error codes, 2024 archive). Try these fixes:

1. Make sure the display name is 50 characters or fewer. Some emoji count as more than one character.
2. Remove unusual symbols or “fancy font” letters and type the name by hand.
3. Wait and retry later, in case X is having a server issue.
4. Try on x.com in a browser.

Other limits circulate online, such as “two name changes per 24 hours” or “48 hours after a password change”. X doesn’t document them, so treat them as reports rather than rules (roboin).

If the error mentions your bio (“Description can’t include invalid characters”), the fix is different: see the X troubleshooting hub.

How do you change your username on X?

1. Go to Settings and privacy, then Account.
2. Select Username and type the new handle. If it’s taken, X asks you to choose another.
3. Tap Done to save.

Before you do it, keep in mind what X says happens next (X Help):

• Your followers, Direct Messages and replies stay with your account.
• Your old username is free immediately, and anyone can claim it. If you’re moving a handle between two of your own accounts, do both changes back to back.
• Because your old @name is released, links and mentions that use it stop pointing to you. Tell your followers and update your links elsewhere. Our guide to the profile website field covers where to put them.

Frequently asked questions