How to Change Your Name on TikTok (Nickname and Username)

Rebranding a side hustle, dropping the joke handle you picked years ago, or finally matching your TikTok to your business name: changing your name on TikTok is quick, but there are two different names on every account, and mixing them up is where people get stuck.

TikTok has a nickname, which is the display name people see, and a username, which is your @handle and your profile link. They have different rules and different waiting periods. I'll walk through both using TikTok's own help pages.

Nickname or username: which TikTok name do you want?

	Nickname (Name)	Username (@handle)
Purpose	The name shown on your account	Your @tag and profile link
Where people see it	For You feed, comments, messages	Your profile and link; how people tag or find you
Length	Up to 30 characters	2 to 24 characters
How often you can change it	Once every 7 days	Once every 30 days
Allowed characters	Must follow the Community Guidelines	Letters, numbers, underscores and periods (no period at the end)

If you only want a friendlier name to show up beside your videos, change the nickname. If you want a new @handle and link, change the username.

For most small business owners, the nickname is the quick win. It's the name people see in comments and in the For You feed, so it can carry your name and what you do, while your username stays the same and your existing links keep working. Change the username only when you're ready to update every place you've shared it.

Changing your display name on TikTok

In TikTok's help this is called your nickname, and the field in the app is labelled Name:

1. Open the TikTok app and tap Profile at the bottom.
2. Tap Edit profile.
3. Tap Name.
4. Type your new nickname. You can use up to 30 characters.
5. Tap Save.

Your nickname has to follow TikTok's Community Guidelines, and TikTok says you can only change it once every 7 days. So check spelling before you hit Save.

Changing your TikTok username in the app

1. Tap Profile at the bottom of the app.
2. Tap Edit profile.
3. Tap Username.
4. Enter the username you want.
5. Tap Save.

Before you tap Save, say the new handle out loud and type it once on another device. If you stumble over it or mistype it, your customers will too, and you'll be waiting 30 days to fix it.

TikTok's rules for usernames are strict: 2 to 24 characters, using only letters, numbers, underscores and periods, and a period can't be the last character. You can change it once every 30 days.

Changing your TikTok username on a computer

TikTok's help also describes a desktop route:

1. Go to tiktok.com and sign in.
2. Click your profile picture in the top corner and choose View Profile.
3. Click Edit profile.
4. Click your username and type the new one.
5. Save your changes.

TikTok notes this isn't available on TikTok Mobile Web, meaning the website opened in a phone browser. Use the app or a computer instead.

What happens after you change your TikTok username

Make a quick list before you switch: your website, link-in-bio page, email signature, printed materials, other social profiles and any brand-deal contacts who tag you. Then work through it the same day.

This part matters if you've shared your link anywhere. According to TikTok, changing your username also changes your profile link. Any old link on your website, business cards, email signature or other social profiles will point to your old handle, so update them straight away.

TikTok also says that if you give up a username, you won't be able to add it to an account for a short period. Don't drop a handle you might want back. And remember that your name and username stay visible to anyone, on or off TikTok, even if your account is private.

Choosing a TikTok name that works for your business

• Match your other platforms where you can, so people find you easily.
• Keep the username short and easy to say out loud. You'll be telling people it in person.
• Use the nickname for something descriptive, like your name plus what you do.
• Avoid underscores and periods in awkward places; they're easy to forget when someone's typing your handle.

Stuck for ideas? My free TikTok username generator suggests handles that are easy to remember.

Changing the username on a verified TikTok account

If your account has a verified badge, don't change the username yourself. TikTok's help directs verified accounts to contact TikTok to change the username. Its verification rules say it may remove a badge if the username is changed without a username update request. My guide to getting verified on TikTok explains how the badge works.

If TikTok won't let you change your name

1. Check the timer: 7 days between nickname changes, 30 days between username changes.
2. Check the username rules: 2 to 24 characters, letters, numbers, underscores and periods only, no period at the end.
3. The handle may be unavailable. TikTok says usernames taken or claimed by suspended or deactivated accounts may not free up immediately.
4. You may be blocked from updating your profile, in which case TikTok won't allow the change.
5. Using a phone browser? Switch to the app or a computer.

Some details on an account can't be changed freely at all. If you're also trying to fix your birthday, see what TikTok allows when you change your age.

Frequently asked questions

How do I change my name on TikTok?

Tap Profile, then Edit profile, then Name, type your new nickname (up to 30 characters) and tap Save. You can change it once every 7 days.

How often can I change my TikTok username?

TikTok says once every 30 days. Your nickname can be changed once every 7 days.

What's the difference between name and username on TikTok?

Your nickname is the name people see across TikTok. Your username is your @handle, used to tag or find you, and it forms your profile link.

Does changing my TikTok username break my link?

Yes. TikTok says changing your username also changes your profile link, so update it wherever you've shared it.

Why can't I change my TikTok username?

You may be inside the 30-day wait, the name may break the 2 to 24 character rules or be unavailable, or your account may be blocked from profile updates. Verified accounts need to contact TikTok.