How to Change Your Snapchat Username

How to Change Your Snapchat Username in 6 Steps, With Photos

When you change your Snapchat username, you bring an improved sense of privacy to your account. You demonstrate a bold personal rebranding to your followers. Plus, you enhance your overall Snapchat experience with a username that better reflects who you are today. Whether driven by privacy concerns, a desire for self-expression, or simply a preference for a new username, knowing how to change your Snapchat username can be a hugely beneficial thing. The process is incredibly straightforward, just as long as you know what to do. Follow along with our walkthrough below.

Why Change Your Snapchat Username?

Let’s say you’re a longtime Snapchat user who has stuck with the same username for years. There are a few good reasons to change your Snapchat username at this point. From privacy to rebranding to shifting interests, changing up your Snapchat username can be an incredibly practical thing for long-standing users of the app. Let’s go over three popular scenarios to consider switching up your username on this popular social media platform. Understanding these common motivations behind a username change can help you decide on your own username.

Needing More Privacy

One of the biggest reasons to change your Snapchat username is to improve your online privacy. Over the years, your Snapchat may have become inundated with users you no longer want to share your snaps with. You may have even encountered some unwanted attention from strangers on your profile who added you via username. As such, changing your username can provide you with some much-needed privacy. This way, you can remove unwanted users with little risk of them adding you again on the platform without your disclosure.

Rebranding Your Socials

As the years go on, you might want to rebrand yourself on Snapchat to better reflect your new phase or period of personal growth. This reflection might necessitate a change of username. For example, say you made your Snapchat username when you were much younger. Or, perhaps your username isn’t the most appropriate for someone entering into the professional world. A new username can signify a new beginning, allowing you to rebrand your Snapchat presence in alignment with your evolving personal or professional life.

Interests Have Changed

It doesn’t have to be as serious as a need for more privacy or a desire to get rid of a childish or unprofessional username. Sometimes, you might simply dislike your current username and want a change to something more appealing to you. Maybe you based your original username on a movie, show, or artist you no longer care for. Or, your username could be a reference to an outdated or irrelevant meme. Whatever it may be, changing your Snapchat username is a quick and easy way to reflect your changing interests.

How to Change Your Snapchat Username

Now that you know the advantages of giving yourself a new Snapchat username, let’s walk through the steps required to do so. These steps will work on both iPhone and Android devices — it doesn’t matter which brand of smartphone you have. However, you should know that Snapchat only lets you change your username once per year. What’s more, your username goes up for grabs after two years. You need to keep these two important factors in mind before you decide to carry on with a username change. Here’s how it’s done.

Step One: Open Snapchat

First, open the Snapchat app. The app will open to the camera feature by default. Tap your profile icon in the top left corner of the screen (next to the search button). If you have a Bitmoji, you’ll see it displayed here.

Step Two: Go to User Settings

After tapping your profile icon, you’ll be taken to your profile page. This screen displays your Bitmoji, your Snapchat score, your astrological sign, your Snap Map, and more. We’re looking for the gear icon in the top right corner of the screen. This takes us to your user settings.

Step Three: Hit Username

Once you’ve tapped the gear icon, look for the tab that reads “Username” on the following page. You should see it second from the top under the “My Account” heading. Select it to proceed to the next part of the process.

Step Four: Hit Change Username

Fourth, after selecting the “Username” tab, tap the button that reads “Change Username.” It’s in blue, right underneath the text box that displays your current username. Start thinking of some possible usernames, because you’ll need them shortly.

Step Five: Select Continue

Next, you’ll see a popup informing you that you can only change your username once a year. Additionally, your username will be made available to the public if left unclaimed by you for two years. Hit the “Continue” button if you still want to proceed. If you choose not to, you’ll be stuck with your current username.

Step Six: Change Username

Lastly, it has come time to change your Snapchat username. Start typing the new username you want in the text box provided. Snapchat will tell you whether or not the username is available. Once you’ve settled on an available username, follow the remaining on-screen prompts by hitting “Next” and completing the process. Your username is officially changed! Only 365 days remaining until you can change it again.