Short answer
Go to Settings and privacy > Your account > Account information > Username, type a new handle of 4 to 15 letters, numbers or underscores that isn't taken, and save; your followers, posts and messages stay with the account.
Key takeaways
- Usernames are 4 to 15 characters: letters, numbers and underscores only.
- Your old username becomes available to anyone right away, and old links to it stop pointing at you.
- Premium subscribers may lose the checkmark temporarily while X reviews the change.
Your username (the part after the @) can be changed at any time without losing followers or posts. The catch is what happens to the old name and to links that used it.
How do I change my username?
In Settings: Your account > Account information > Username.
On the web:
- Click More > Settings and privacy.
- Choose Your account > Account information and confirm your password if asked.
- Click Username, type the new one and click Save.
In the app: tap your profile photo, then Settings and privacy > Your account > Account information > Username, enter the new name and tap Done.
X tells you instantly if the name is taken or invalid.
What makes a valid username?
4 to 15 characters, using only letters A to Z, numbers 0 to 9 and underscores.
No spaces, dots or dashes. It can't contain "Twitter" or "Admin" in some forms, and X blocks names that impersonate others. Case doesn't matter for uniqueness: @JuniperLane and @juniperlane are the same handle.
What happens to my old username?
It's released immediately and anyone can claim it.
That has consequences:
- Links to x.com/oldname stop reaching you. If someone takes the name, they reach the new owner.
- Old mentions in other people's posts still read @oldname, and tapping them goes to whoever holds it now.
- Scammers watch for released handles of known accounts.
If your old name has value (a brand or a well-known name), create a second account with it right after the change, or don't change it at all.
Will I lose my checkmark?
Premium subscribers may: a username change can put the checkmark under review again until X confirms the account still meets the rules.
The same applies to display name and profile photo changes. Plan the change for a quiet week if the badge matters to you.
What else should I update?
Every place that links to your profile: your website, email signature, other social profiles, business cards and QR codes.
Also update any embedded timelines or "follow" buttons on your site. Your numeric account ID never changes, which is why apps that store it keep working; see how to find your X account ID.
Questions people ask
How often can I change my username?
X doesn't publish a fixed limit, but frequent changes can trigger security checks and, for Premium accounts, repeated checkmark reviews. Change it when you need to, not weekly.
What's the difference between username and display name?
The username (@handle) is unique and used in links and mentions. The display name is the bold name shown above it; it can include spaces and emoji and doesn't have to be unique.
Can I get a username someone else is using?
Not while it's in use. X has a process for trademark holders whose marks are used to mislead, but inactive handles aren't released on request.