Key Takeaways

• Reddit generally does not allow username changes, except for Google or Apple sign-ups.
• Once you manually select a username on Reddit, it's permanent and you cannot change it.
• Deleting a Reddit account does not make usernames available to use on a new account. Rather, usernames remain permanently unusable.

Does Reddit allow you to change your username? Only in very specific cases. Here's a look at the rules for changing your username on Reddit and whether it's possible for most users.

Reddit's Rules for Changing Usernames

Reddit generally does not allow you to change your username. There is one exception though: if you signed up with a Google Account or Apple ID and have not yet finalized your username.

If you signed up with your email address or with a username and password, you can't change your username. It's also important to keep in mind that once a username has been used, no new account can use that name. This is even the case if you delete the old account—the old username remains unusable.

If you really want to change your username, there are only two ways to do so. If you signed up with Google or Apple in the last 30 days, you can finalize your username. But if you used another sign up method or you're past the time limit to change your name, you will need to create a new account with a new username.

If you want a new username and are willing to delete your Reddit account to create a new one, you don't have to sign up with your email address. If you select Continue on the Reddit sign-up page without adding a Google/Apple account or email address, you can still set a username and password to sign up.

How to Change Your Reddit Username (Apple/Google Accounts)

Reddit assigns a random username when you sign up using your Google or Apple account. After you log in for the first time, you will see a pop-up asking if you want to change or keep your randomly assigned username.

You have 30 days to change your automatically assigned username. But if you use your account to comment or post under that username, you will not be able to change it according to Reddit's support site page.

If you have already signed up using a Google or Apple account, but you're not sure whether you can change your username, there is a way to trigger the popup if the opportunity is still there.

You can do this by logging into your Reddit account with your Google or Apple account, clicking on your profile avatar dropdown menu in the top-right corner, then selecting Settings. The popup should then appear if you can change your username.

To change your assigned username, follow these steps:

1. In the popup window, click on Change Username.
2. Choose a valid username and then click on the Continue button.

   

3. Click Save Username in the confirmation box. This will assign your permanent username.

   

You can also keep using the randomly assigned username by clicking on Keep Username and confirming it.

Once you set up your username, you won't be able to change it again.

The same rules apply to changing the username on the Reddit app as well. Additionally, the process for changing the username is nearly identical.

How to Set Up Your Reddit Username While Creating a New Account

If you want to sign up with an email address (or skip the email address altogether), Reddit allows you to set your username during the process.

Here are the steps to set up a Reddit username when creating a new account:

1. Visit the Reddit sign-up page and enter your email address (or leave it blank). Then select Continue.
2. Enter a unique username and password.

   

3. Click on the Sign Up button.

You cannot change the username once you have added it, so make sure it's something you want to use on the site.

How to Change Your Reddit Display Name

You can also change or set up your display name on Reddit. This is just another name Reddit displays on your profile. However, all of your interactions on Reddit, including posts and comments, use your Reddit username.

To set up a display name, follow these steps:

1. In the top-right corner, click the profile avatar dropdown menu.
2. Go to Settings and on the next page select the Profile tab.
3. You will see an option to set your Display name. Type in your desired display name and then switch tabs. This will save the changes

   

In contrast to Reddit usernames, you can change your display name at any time. Likewise, if you want to change your Reddit profile picture or avatar, you can do that.

Hopefully you have some clarity on when you can and can't change your Reddit username. For most users, your username is already set in stone. But if you have signed up with a Google or Apple account in the last 30 days, you still have a chance to change it.