Have you ever tried to change your Twitter username only to find the option grayed out?
Not being able to edit your Twitter handle can be frustrating.
In this article, we’ll explain exactly why you can’t change your Twitter username and provide fixes to resolve the issue.
Understanding Twitter Usernames
Your Twitter username, also known as your handle, is the unique identifier that comes after the “@” symbol, like @example. It’s different than your display name, which can be changed freely.
Usernames on Twitter must be between 4-15 characters long and can only contain alphanumeric characters (letters A-Z, numbers 0-9) and underscores. Twitter does not allow special characters in usernames.
Your username is what other Twitter users need to mention or message you. It also forms the URL of your Twitter profile page.
Why You Can’t Change Your Twitter Username
There are a few common reasons why you may be prevented from changing your Twitter username:
- You’ve already changed your @username in the past 90 days
- The new username you want is already taken
- Your account is too new (created within the last 30 days)
- Your account is temporarily locked for suspicious activity
These restrictions are in place to ensure usernames remain unique identities and aren’t misused. Let’s look at solutions to get around the limitations.
Waiting Out the 90-Day Limit
If you already changed your Twitter handle in the last 90 days, you’ll have to wait until the limit resets. You can only alter your @username once per 90 days.
Be patient and try again after 90 days if you recently changed your Twitter handle. This restriction is unavoidable.
Finding a New Unique Username
Often the “Change username” option is grayed out because the new @handle you want is already taken. Twitter usernames must be unique.
Try variations by adding extra characters or numbers until you find an available username that hasn’t already been claimed. You can check availability by typing in potential names without confirming.
Waiting Out the 30-Day New Account Limit
If your Twitter account is less than 30 days old, you may be prohibited from changing your username temporarily.
Wait 30 days from account creation to change your handle. This prevents abuse from brand new accounts.
Unlocking a Temporarily Locked Account
If Twitter locked your account due to suspicious behavior like spam, you’ll be unable to access certain features including changing your username.
You can unlock your account by confirming your phone number with a code Twitter sends. Or you may need to delete any flagged tweets that violated rules before your access is restored.
Claiming an Inactive Username
If the Twitter username you want belongs to an inactive account, you can attempt to claim it through Twitter’s inactive account reclamation process.
Just make sure you actually have rights to use that name, brand, or identity to avoid trademark issues.
Registering a New Twitter Account
As a last resort, you can always create an entirely new Twitter account with the preferred username. Just make sure to delete or deactivate your old account.
This fresh start ensures you get the exact @handle you want for your new Twitter profile. Just be aware you’ll be starting your followers list from scratch.
Conclusion
Not being able to change your Twitter username is often temporary and related to recent changes or account locks. Try again later or find an available unique handle. With a little patience and the right fix, you can modify your Twitter @username successfully.
