I seriously thought that once you have chosen a username on twitter, it cannot be changed at all. I was wrong. If you would like to change your username on twitter (often called your twitter handle or nickname) this is what you need to do.
Make sure you are logged in and go to the twitter homepage. In the top right you will see your user logo.
Hover your mouse over it and then click this logo. You will see the following dropdown menu appear.
Click on the settings menu here. It will take you to the following URL -
https://twitter.com/settings/account
(Alternately you can skip the above two steps and go directly to the URL above. You can click the above link to open the edit page in a new window.)
Your twitter handle will be seen. All you need to do is put in your new desired twitter handle here. When you finish typing it in this box you will get a small note on top stating if the username is available.
Keep trying till you get the message "Available!".
Now scroll down and hit save. You will get a prompt for your password. Enter it and click OK. Your username and twitter handle and your twitter URL is now new!
Now go to your new twitter URL - https://twitter.com/newhandle
In the right you will see an edit profile option - click it.
This is where you can change your twitter name (Full name as it is displayed) and your description. You can also change your header image and logo / profile picture to reflect your new handle. Hit save and you are good to go with your new handle.
All your tweets are preserved and your followers will still see your tweets.
However there are some downsides in changing your handle:
1. Your twitter URL will change to reflect your new handle. So all old weblinks, bookmarks, etc will not work. I assume that this means that your embedded tweets will also not work.
2. Your old handle will be available for other users to claim. Its a good idea to create a new twitter account and claim that username so that you can redirect users to your new account just in case. Click here to see how you can create another twitter ID with the same email ID!
Did you change your twitter ID? Let me know!
Make sure you are logged in and go to the twitter homepage. In the top right you will see your user logo.
Hover your mouse over it and then click this logo. You will see the following dropdown menu appear.
Click on the settings menu here. It will take you to the following URL -
https://twitter.com/settings/account
(Alternately you can skip the above two steps and go directly to the URL above. You can click the above link to open the edit page in a new window.)
Your twitter handle will be seen. All you need to do is put in your new desired twitter handle here. When you finish typing it in this box you will get a small note on top stating if the username is available.
Keep trying till you get the message "Available!".
Now scroll down and hit save. You will get a prompt for your password. Enter it and click OK. Your username and twitter handle and your twitter URL is now new!
Now go to your new twitter URL - https://twitter.com/newhandle
In the right you will see an edit profile option - click it.
This is where you can change your twitter name (Full name as it is displayed) and your description. You can also change your header image and logo / profile picture to reflect your new handle. Hit save and you are good to go with your new handle.
All your tweets are preserved and your followers will still see your tweets.
However there are some downsides in changing your handle:
1. Your twitter URL will change to reflect your new handle. So all old weblinks, bookmarks, etc will not work. I assume that this means that your embedded tweets will also not work.
2. Your old handle will be available for other users to claim. Its a good idea to create a new twitter account and claim that username so that you can redirect users to your new account just in case. Click here to see how you can create another twitter ID with the same email ID!
Did you change your twitter ID? Let me know!
