Alex Ruben
How To Update Your Snapchat Username and Display Name: The Complete Guide
Swapping out your Snapchat username and display name is one of those things that sounds simple, but in reality, it can feel like navigating a maze. Maybe you want to freshen up your profile, hide from an old crowd, or just rebrand yourself, and figuring out where and how to do that isn’t always obvious. This guide is here to cut through the confusion and help you actually get it done without losing your mind in the process. Expect to end up with a new username and display name that actually stick, and hopefully avoid the usual pitfalls that make people frustrated.
Prerequisites
Before diving in, double-check these:
- You’ve got the latest Snapchat app installed on your iPhone or Android device—whatever you’re rocking.
- You’re logged into your Snapchat account—obviously, or not much point in reading this.
How to Change Your Snapchat Username and Display Name
Accessing the Account Settings
Start by opening up the Snapchat app. Once it’s loaded, tap on your Bitmoji icon at the top left corner to head to your profile. Then, tap the gear icon (⚙️) at the top right to get into Settings. On some setups, clicking that gear will take a second, especially if your internet is flaky—just be patient. On some devices, you might have to scroll a bit to find the options you need, but it’s usually in this menu.
Changing Your Username
This is where it gets kinda tricky. Scroll through the Settings menu until you find the Username section. If you don’t see it right away, you might have missed the part about how Snapchat restricts username changes—more on that later. Tap on Username or something similar; it might say Change Username. If that option isn’t there, it’s probably because Snapchat only lets you change your username once a year, so plan accordingly.
This is why a lot of folks get stuck; because Snapchat’s policies are pretty strict here. If it’s available, enter your new username—just keep in mind it can’t be taken already. It’ll show a red warning if someone else took it, which means you’ll have to get creative. Sometimes adding a number or a subtle tweak might be enough to make it unique. Double-check that your desired username conforms to Snapchat’s rules (no spaces, special characters, etc.).
Confirming Your New Name & Updating Display Name
After choosing a new username, tap Continue or Save. To change your display name, head back to your main profile, tap on your current display name, and type in the fresh one. The display name can usually be changed as often as you like, so don’t stress about messing this part up. It’s more about your username and its limited change window.
Refresh Your Profile
Once you’ve made the changes, exit out and go back into your profile after a few minutes. If you still don’t see the updates, try logging out and logging back in—sometimes Snapchat likes to be stubborn. Sometimes just closing the app fully (swiping it away from recent apps) and reopening helps. On some devices, a restart of the phone might nudge things along, but it’s not always necessary.
Important Things to Keep in Mind
Snapchat only allows changing your username once per year, so don’t rush into it. Pick a good one because it’s stuck for a long stretch. Also, your friends won’t get any notification about your username change—so they might be confused if they can’t find you initially, but they’ll notice when they try to search for your new handle or interact with your Snaps.
Other Troubleshooting Tips
If things aren’t working as expected:
- Check your internet connection—unstable Wi-Fi or data can mess with updates.
- Consider reinstalling the app if it’s freezing or acting weird.
- Visit the Snapchat help center for known bugs or policies you might have missed.
Wrap-up
Changing your Snapchat name isn’t super complicated once you understand the restrictions and where to look, but it does require a little patience—especially with the username change frequency limit. On one phone, it might be instant; on another, the app might be stubborn and need a restart or reinstallation. Usually, if you follow the tips above, it all works out. Just remember, pick your username smartly because after changing it, you’re pretty much committed for the next year.
Summary
- Open Snapchat, go to profile, then Settings.
- Find Username and/or edit your display name.
- Keep in mind the one-per-year rule for username changes.
- If stuff isn’t updating, try logging out, closing the app, or restarting the device.
Final thoughts
Fingers crossed this helps someone actually make the change without losing a bunch of time. Snapchat’s policies can be a pain, but knowing where to look makes the process way smoother. Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone trying to rebrand or just update their profile. Good luck, and may your new username be available!