How to change your username on 54 platforms

Most social apps let you change your username, some with limits on how often. Domains, code packages, Web3 names and trademarks can't be renamed, so you register a new one.

Instagram TikTok X YouTube .com GitHub

Checked 26 Oct 2026, 09:15 UTC

How do you change your username?

On most apps, open Settings or Edit profile, select Username, type a new name that's available, and save. The tables below show each platform's limits and what happens to your old name.^{[1, 3, 10, 11, 13]}

What should you check before you change your username?

Check that the new name is available on every platform you use, then change them all the same day.

Check the new name above on every platform you use, so you don't end up with different names. If it's taken, see what to do when your handle is taken.
Mind the limits: TikTok allows one change every 30 days, Kick every 60 days and Snapchat once a year.
Change them all on the same day. X, GitHub and GitLab release your old name at once; YouTube holds it 14 days.
Update your bio links, email signature and anywhere you share your profile address.^{[2, 3, 4, 10, 17, 29, 30]}

Which social and messaging apps let you change your username?

Of these 18 social and messaging apps, all but Reddit and LINE let you change your username. Several limit how often, from Discord's 2 changes a week to Snapchat's once a year.

Platform	How often	Old name
Instagram	No limit given	Others can claim it
TikTok	Once every 30 days	Blocked briefly
X	No limit given	Anyone can take it at once
YouTube	Twice in 14 days	Held for you 14 days
Facebook	No limit given	May not come back
LinkedIn	Page URL once in 30 days	Redirects until another Page claims it
Threads	No limit given	Not stated
Bluesky	No limit given	Latest .bsky.social kept
Reddit	Never	Never reused
Snapchat	Once a year	Not stated
Pinterest	No limit given	Not stated
WhatsApp	Limited, no number given	Not stated
Telegram	No limit given	Not stated
Messenger	On Facebook, no limit given	May not come back
LINE	Never	Not stated
Viber	Business name only	Not stated
Discord	2 times a week	Not stated
Kick	Once every 60 days	Not stated

Sources ^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17]}

Can you change a creator page or store address?

Patreon, Substack, Vimeo, Behance and Shopify all let you change your page or store address, Vimeo on paid plans only. Patreon and Behance links stop working, and Substack's redirect works only once.

Platform	How often	Old name
Patreon	No limit stated	Old URL stops working
Substack	Redirect works once	Old links break without it
Vimeo	Paid plans only	Not stated
Behance	No limit stated	Old URL stops working
Shopify	Name any time; address once	Old address redirects

Sources ^{[18, 19, 20, 21, 22]}

Can you change an app's name in the app stores?

Yes, through an update the store reviews. On the App Store, the name changes with a new version.

Platform	How often	Old name
App Store	With a new version	Not stated
Google Play	Any time, reviewed	Not stated
Galaxy Store	With a reviewed update	Nothing held
Amazon Appstore	With an approved update	Not stated
Xiaomi GetApps	With a reviewed update	Not stated
Huawei AppGallery	Partly: unless read-only	Not stated

Sources ^{[23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28]}

Can you change a developer username or package name?

GitHub and GitLab usernames can change; npm, PyPI and crates.io package names and Docker IDs can't.

Platform	Change it?	Limit, or what to do	Old name
GitHub	Yes	No limit stated	Anyone can claim it
GitLab	Yes	No limit stated	Others can claim it
npm	No	Publish a new package	Deprecate the old one
PyPI	No	Start a new project	Archive the old one
crates.io	No	Publish a new crate	Stays taken unless deleted
Docker Hub	No	Make a new account	Never reused if deactivated
Hugging Face	Partly	One change, reported by users	Not stated

Sources ^{[29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, reported]}

Can you change a domain name?

No. You register the new domain, redirect the old one to it and keep renewing the old one so nobody else takes it. Each ending's page has the steps: .com, .net, .org, .co, .io, .ai, .xyz, .app, .dev, .store, .tech.^[36]

Can you change a Web3 name?

No. You register a new name and set it as your primary name. The old one stays yours until you transfer or sell it, but yearly names like ENS and Basenames lapse unless renewed. Steps: ENS, Basenames, SNS, .sol, .bnb, .trx.^{[37, 38, 39, 41]}

Can you change a trademark?

Not in substance. A registered mark can take only minor corrections, so a new name needs a new application (steps on our trademark page).^[40]