How to Change Your Spotify Username (Display Name Steps)

If your Spotify profile still shows a string of random letters and numbers, or the nickname you picked as a teenager, you're probably wondering how to swap it. I looked at what Spotify's help centre says, and the answer comes in two parts. One is good news and one needs a bit of honesty.

Here's the short version. Spotify separates your username from your display name. The name people see is the display name, and that one you can edit. The username behind the scenes is a different thing, and Spotify's help page doesn't offer a way to change it.

Spotify username and display name: what's the difference

Spotify's help describes the username as designed to identify you on Spotify, and says you don't need it to log in. The display name is the name that appears on your profile, in the app and on your playlists. It replaces the username wherever people would otherwise see it.

Name on Spotify	What Spotify's help says
Username	Identifies your account; you don't need it to log in
Display name	Shows on your profile and playlists; you can edit it
Log in with display name?	No, you can't use it to log in

So when people ask how to change a Spotify username, they nearly always mean the visible name, which means the display name route below does the job.

Changing your Spotify display name on your phone or tablet

These are the steps in Spotify's help for the mobile app on iPhone, iPad and Android:

1. Tap your profile picture at the top of the app.
2. Tap View profile.
3. Tap Edit.
4. Tap your display name and type the new one.
5. Tap Save.

The new name should show on your profile and playlists. Menus change between app versions, so if a button sits somewhere slightly different, look for the edit option on your profile page.

Changing your Spotify display name on a computer

On the desktop app or web player, the route is shorter:

1. Click your profile picture at the top and select Profile.
2. Click your profile name and edit it.
3. Click Save.

If your profile page also lets you change your picture, do both in one go. A clear photo and a sensible name make a profile look cared for, which matters if people follow your playlists.

What if your Spotify username won't change

Here's the honest part. Spotify's help article on usernames and display names doesn't describe any way to change the username itself. I'd rather say that plainly than send you hunting through menus for a button that isn't there. If the username matters to you, for example because it's showing somewhere you can't live with, use Spotify's contact options on its support site and ask what's possible for your account type.

In the meantime, remember the username isn't what people normally see. Your display name is, which is why editing it fixes most embarrassing profiles.

Spotify display name and Facebook: which name wins

If you connected Facebook to log in, you may see your real name on your profile. Spotify's help says that when you add a Spotify display name, it shows instead of your Facebook name. That's useful if you'd rather not have your full name appear on playlists you share with clients or followers.

It also works the other way round for privacy: set a display name you're comfortable with before you share a playlist link anywhere public.

Changing your artist name on Spotify is a different job

Musicians and podcasters sometimes mix this up. Spotify's artist help says an artist name can't be edited directly in Spotify. The change goes through your label or distributor, who ask Spotify to update the details on your releases. So if you're an artist wanting a new stage name, start with whoever delivers your music, not with your listener profile.

Your listener display name and your artist name are separate, so changing one won't touch the other.

If your new Spotify display name doesn't show up

Sometimes you save the edit and the old name still lingers on a screen or two. Work through these simple checks before you worry:

• Close Spotify fully and open it again, then look at your profile.
• Update the app from your app store, since older versions can show out-of-date screens.
• Check the name on a different device, such as the web player, to see whether it's just one screen that hasn't refreshed.
• Look at the spelling you typed. A stray space or a missing letter is easy to miss on a small keyboard.

If the name still won't stick after that, Spotify's support site is the next stop, because its team can look at your account when you can't.

Choosing a Spotify display name for a brand or creator profile

If you share playlists for your business, a consistent name matters. Use the same spelling as your other channels so people recognise you, and keep it short enough to read on a phone. I wrote about why familiar names work in my guide on using podcasts to increase brand awareness, and the same thinking applies to your playlist profile.

If you're curious how Spotify itself thinks about branding and features, my breakdown of its marketing strategy is worth a read.

Frequently asked questions

Can you change your Spotify username?

Spotify's help page describes the username as an identifier and doesn't give steps to change it. What you can edit is your display name, which is the name people see.

How do I change my Spotify display name?

On mobile, tap your profile picture, View profile, Edit, change the name and tap Save. On a computer, click your profile picture, select Profile, edit the name and click Save.

Can I log in to Spotify with my display name?

No. Spotify's help says you can't use your display name to log in.

Why does Spotify show my Facebook name?

If you connected Facebook, Spotify shows your Facebook name until you add a Spotify display name, which then shows instead.

How do I change my artist name on Spotify?

Artist names can't be edited directly in Spotify. Your label or distributor makes the request to Spotify on your behalf.