When you opened your Twitter account more than a decade or so ago, you probably thought that funny usernames were nice and smart. However, you now find it embarrassing and you want to change it. Well, good news you can. Here’s how to change your official Twitter handle without your followers even realizing you did it.
Read more: Top 10 Twitter Apps for Android
Quick answer
To change your Twitter handle on the web and Twitter app, go to Settings -> Your Account -> Account Information -> Username. Type and click the username you want to keep Save. If a username is available, your profile URL will be automatically updated with the new handle.
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How to change your Twitter handle on the web
To change your Twitter handle on the web, go Settings–> Your Account–> Account Info–> Username.
After clicking Username, You will be presented with a text box for typing in the new handle of your choice. Twitter will also give some suggestions. After typing in the handle you want, you will be asked if it is available. If it is, click Save To secure the handle.
How to change your Twitter handle in mobile app
This is the same file path in the Twitter mobile app, to go to settings you first need to tap on your profile photo in the top corner.
When the sidebar menu opens, scroll down Settings and privacyThen tap Your Account -> Account Information -> Username.
Enter the username you want and save it if available.
How to change your Twitter profile name
There is a big difference between handle and profile names. The handle is the one you sign in to on Twitter, and it’s the unique name in your Twitter profile URL.
The name of the profile on the other hand is what you put in your profile and it may be completely different from your handle.
To change your profile name, click CV Editing On the right, and you will now be able to edit different areas of your profile – including your profile name.
Twitter does not currently release inactive or suspended Twitter handles to other people. Therefore, if your desired Twitter handle is unavailable, try adding numbers or underscores to it instead to create a unique version.
If I change my Twitter handle, will I lose followers?
Changing your Twitter handle will not delete any followers or tweets. The whole naming process is uninterrupted, so don’t miss your followers either. However, if you also change the name of your profile, they may not immediately recognize you or remember why they first followed you. As a result, some confused people may unfollow you.
If I have a blue verified Twitter tick badge, will I lose it if I change my handle?
Yes, changing your handle will cause your verified tick badge to be lost immediately. You need to start the whole application process from scratch, without any guarantee that you will get back the verified badge.
How many times can I change my Twitter handle?
Twitter does not publicly state that there is a limit, so we can assume that you can change it as many times as you want. However, in order not to confuse your followers, you should not do this too often.
A Twitter handle seems to be available but I can’t get it. What?
There are several reasons why you can’t find a username that seems to be available
Username containing the word Twitter Or Admin Can’t claim, because Twitter uses them for official accounts. Your username cannot be longer than 15 characters and can only contain AZ, numbers 0-9 and underscores. No other characters allowed. Finally, the username may be claimed by a suspended or inactive account, which is not given to anyone else.
Can I buy a Twitter handle from someone?
Officially, Twitter prohibits the sale of usernames and says anyone who does so will face a permanent ban from the platform. However, in reality, there is a rich underground black market among the usernames of buying and selling. In some cases, big companies and celebrities have either paid huge sums of money or pressured Twitter to transfer usernames against the consent of the username owner.