When you sign up for TikTok, you need to decide on a username. Don’t worry if you think of something better later, as you can update it. The same applies to your TikTok display name or nickname. This guide explains how to change your TikTok username so that it will suit your current preferences.
Good to know: need to block someone on TikTok? Learn how to do it quickly.
How to Change Your Username on TikTok
Your TikTok username is created when you sign up for an account. It’s the name that appears after @ in your TikTok profile URL or on the right of your profile picture in the browser on your computer. The username also appears at the top of your TikTok profile under your profile picture (on the mobile app).
When changing your TikTok username, keep in mind that usernames are limited to 24 characters. You can only use letters, numbers, periods, and underscores to create your username. Additionally, your TikTok username needs to be unique.
Mobile
Open TikTok and tap on the Profile tab at the bottom of the page.
On your profile page, tap the Edit profile button.
Check the Username section. Tap on your current username.
Delete the existing username, and type the new one. If the new username is not taken by someone else, you’ll see a green checkmark. Tap Save. If the username is already taken, check for suggestions for alternatives at the bottom.
PC
Navigate to TikTok in a browser on your computer, and click on your profile picture in the upper-right corner. Select View profile from the dropdown menu.
Click the Edit profile button underneath your profile picture.
Type in your new username next to Username, and press Save.
Tip: did you know that you can find out who viewed your TikTok profile? Learn how in this guide.
How to Change Your Display Name on TikTok
TikTok also allows you to set a display name, which is separate from your TikTok username. Think of the display name as a nickname. When you first create your account, TikTok will automatically generate a display name for you that has the “user,” followed by a string of random numbers. Unless you manually change that, your TikTok display name is going to stay like that.
Keep in mind that while TikTok usernames need to be unique, display names don’t have to be. So while there can’t be two TikTok accounts with the same username (tony.williams), there can be plenty of TikTok accounts that have the same display name (for instance, “Alice”).
Mobile
In the mobile app, the autogenerated display name is not really visible on your TikTok profile. It does show up when you interact with others on TikTok, however. For instance, when chatting with someone, your autogenerated display name will be visible in the direct message window. Notifications for messages you send will also show the same name. If you want to make your TikTok interactions more personal, change your display name.
In the TikTok app, go to your profile. Go to Edit profile, and edit the Name section. Your nickname can have up to 30 characters. By default, you should see your autogenerated name in that section.
Alternatively, on your profile page, press on +Add name at the top.
Type your nickname, and press Save.
Confirm your choice in the pop-up window, and your nickname will appear at the top of your profile.
PC
If you’re surfing TikTok via a browser on your computer, your display name will be more visible. It usually appears under your username on your profile page. The display name will also appear in your browser’s tab.
To modify it, go to your profile, and tap on the Edit profile button, then change the Name field to include your preferred nickname.
FYI: TikTok also lets you create stories.
What Happens When I Change My TikTok Username or Display Name?
If you decide to change your TikTok username, keep in mind that your profile URL will change to reflect the new status. For example, if you have linked your TikTok profile URL on your website or other social media app, you’ll need to remember to change every instance of the URL, as it will become invalid. Apart from that, you shouldn’t expect any more changes. Your followers list will remain intact, and the rest of the app experience will be the same.
Note that you can only change your TikTok username every 30 days. If you decide before this period runs out that you want to change your username again, you won’t be able to do so. You’ll need to wait. You may want to double-check your username before saving it to ensure it’s free of spelling errors.
When you change your display name, TikTok is a little more permissive, in the sense that you can change it every seven days. When you change your nickname, your TikTok URL isn’t affected. On the other hand, you’ll be able to see the nickname on your browser tab on your computer, and other people receiving messages from you will see it as well.
Tip: learn how to check whether your latest post on Facebook is sharable.
Now that you know how to change your username and profile name on TikTok, you can change it on other platforms as well. Learn how to change your username and nickname on Discord and change your username on Facebook.
Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Alexandra Arici.
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