How to change your Snapchat username

Snapchat is one of the most popular social media platforms to build your online presence. Having an attractive and unique username on Snapchat is a crucial part of your online identity and plays a significant role in how others perceive you on the platform. You might want to update your username on Snapchat if it doesn’t accurately represent you, is hard to recall, if you’ve rebranded yourself, are experiencing harassment, or merely desire a new beginning. 

Everything you need to know about Snapchat usernames

The username is a unique identifier for a Snapchat account that shows as greyed-out text below your display. You primarily use your username to log into your Snapchat account and directly add friends by searching for their usernames. The display name, on the other hand, is the name that prominently shows on your profile page and chats. 

You can change the display name on Snapchat as frequently as you like, but you can only change the username once a year. Snapchat username guidelines require a minimum of three characters and prohibit certain special characters when creating a new username.

How to change your Snapchat username

Here are the steps to change your Snapchat username on your smartphone: 

1. Open the Snapchat app and tap on your profile icon or Bitmoji in the upper-left corner. 

2. Tap on the gear-shaped Settings icon and scroll to “My Account,” and then tap on “Username.” 

3. Tap on “Change Username” and enter the desired username, then tap on “Next.” Make sure you adhere to Snapchat’s guidelines while choosing a username. 

4. Snapchat will check whether your new username is available. If it is available, a green checkmark will appear beside it. Once you find an available username, you can tap “Next.” 

5. Enter your Snapchat password to confirm the change and tap “Confirm.” 

The new username will immediately appear on your Snapchat profile page. There is a possibility that your contacts may still see the old username for a while. However, it will not take too long for them to see your new username.

Some tips to remember

Choose a unique and easy-to-remember username that not only reflects your interests but also your personality. Avoid including personal information in your username, such as your full name or birthdate. If you want your new username to be similar to the existing one, you can try variations by adding numbers or underscores. Your Snapcode is a one-of-a-kind QR code that allows others to easily add you. Changing your username will also change your Snapcode. If you’ve shared your Snapcode widely, consider whether you want to create a new one and distribute it. 

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As seen above, changing your username on Snapchat is a very simple process. However, since it is a significant decision to change your username on Snapchat, make sure to consider the above tips. Ultimately, the username you choose should align with your personal brand and help you connect with your friends and followers effectively.