Change your Telegram username

You can change your Telegram username through Settings and then Username or Edit Profile. Enter an available name and save it. Your account, chats, groups, and contacts will stay as they are. Only your public Telegram address changes. For example, if you used t.me/oldname, you will now share t.me/newname.

A username is not the same as your display name or phone number. That difference matters. With a username, people can find you on Telegram and open a chat right away, without knowing your phone number. A username is optional, but it becomes public once you set it.

Below, you will find the steps for iPhone, Android, and desktop. You will also learn which names Telegram accepts, what happens to old links, and how to fix common problems.

Where to find your Telegram username

Open Telegram and go to Settings. On your profile, you will see your name, photo, phone number, and sometimes a line for your username. A filled-in username usually starts with an @ symbol in the app. In a link, you use the name without the @ symbol, for example https://t.me/examplename.

Telegram sometimes changes small labels or button placement. So look for Username, Username, or Edit Profile. If you only see your display name, first open the edit button in your profile.

How to change your Telegram username on iPhone

Follow these steps in the iPhone app:

1. Open Telegram.
2. Tap Settings in the bottom right.
3. Tap Edit in the top right.
4. Tap Username.
5. Delete the old name and type the new one.
6. Wait until Telegram shows that the name is available.
7. Tap Done to save the change.

Then check your profile again. Also open your new t.me address in a private browser window. That way, you know the link goes to the correct account.

Do you not see Username right away? Then update Telegram through the App Store. Close the app completely and open it again. Also check that you are editing your personal profile and not the profile of a channel or group.

How to change your Telegram username on Android

The layout can vary a little depending on your Android device and app version. The feature is always in your profile settings.

1. Open Telegram.
2. Open the menu and choose Settings, or tap Settings directly.
3. Tap your profile or the pencil to edit your profile.
4. Open Username.
5. Type the new username.
6. Check the message about availability.
7. Tap the check mark to save the name.

After saving, open your profile. Only share the new link once the name appears correctly there. Do you use Telegram on multiple devices? The change should sync automatically within the same account.

Sometimes an old name may still appear for a moment in a notification or in local search history. Close the app, open it again, and test it through another account. The name on your profile matters more than an old suggestion from local storage.

How to change your Telegram username on desktop

In the desktop app, you usually follow these steps:

1. Open Telegram Desktop.
2. Click the menu.
3. Open Settings.
4. Choose Edit Profile.
5. Click Username.
6. Enter the new name.
7. Save the change.

In Telegram Web, the path is similar. The button names may differ by web version. Look under Settings for your profile and the option to edit it.

Does the desktop app not show this setting? Then make the change on your phone instead. The username belongs to your Telegram account, not to one device. That means the new name will also appear on your computer and other signed-in devices.

What is the difference between your username, display name, and phone number?

These three details are often mixed up. But each one has a different role.

What is your Telegram username?

Your username is a unique public name. Other people can use it to find you. It also forms the last part of your t.me address.

A username is not required. If you set one, Telegram says it is public. People can then find you and send a message without knowing your phone number.

What is your display name?

Your display name is the first name and, if you want, the last name you enter on your profile. Many people can have the same display name. A username, on the other hand, must be available and unique.

A contact may have saved a different name for you in their own phone book. That saved contact name can still be visible to that person, even if you change your display name.

What is your phone number?

Your phone number is used for your Telegram account and for signing in. Changing your username does not change your phone number.

You can decide separately who can see your phone number via Settings > Privacy and Security > Phone Number. Telegram says that someone who finds you through your username does not automatically see your number. That only happens if your privacy settings allow it.

Do you want to change the number behind your account instead? Use the separate guide on change your phone number on Telegram.

Which rules must a Telegram username follow?

Telegram accepts letters a through z, numbers 0 through 9, and underscores for regular usernames. Spaces and many other punctuation marks are not allowed.

The name is not case-sensitive. So ExampleName and examplename do not point to two different accounts. Telegram does keep the capital letters you choose for display on your profile.

Choose a name that people can read, type, and remember easily. Avoid a long string of numbers if it adds no value. Also do not use a name that suggests you are officially linked to another brand or person.

How do you choose a good username?

A good username is:

• short enough to type without mistakes;
• recognizable as your name, brand, or topic;
• similar to your name on other social platforms;
• free of unnecessary numbers or symbols;
• still suitable to use a year from now.

For a business, a brand name often makes sense. For a public personal profile, your own name or field of expertise can work well. Do you actually want to be less easy to find? Then you can remove the username and review your privacy settings.

What changes when you update your username?

Your existing Telegram account stays the same. You do not need to create a new account. Your chats, groups, channels, and contacts do not disappear when you only change the username.

There are, however, a few direct effects you should not forget.

Your public link changes

Your old address contains the old username. So share the new address with people who need to find you through a website, profile, email, or document.

At least check these places:

• your own website and contact page;
• your social profiles;
• digital business cards;
• email signatures;
• QR codes;
• pinned posts in communities;
• online profiles and business directories;
• documents that are still shared often.

An old link may stop pointing to your account. Do not assume Telegram will always redirect it to your new name. A freed-up username can also later be used by someone else.

People can find you under the new name

The new username becomes your public search name. Give Telegram and your devices some time to update local search results. Then test the name with another account that has not saved you as a contact.

Do you use Telegram for a community and want to keep growing after the name change? Then, besides a clear username, you can also buy Telegram group followers. First make sure your profile, public link, and info are all correct.

Existing conversations stay

Chats are linked to your account, not just to the text of your username. People you already talk to keep the existing chat. Telegram also says that removing a username does not affect existing conversations.

Your phone number does not change

A new username does not change your number or the privacy of your number. Check those settings separately if privacy is the reason for your change.

How to remove your Telegram username completely

Do you no longer want to be found through a public username? Then open the same field, delete all text, and save the empty field. Telegram will then remove your username. People will no longer be able to find you through that public name.

Your existing chats will still remain. People who already have your number or already chat with you may still be able to reach you. Removing the username is therefore not a block. It also does not delete your account.

After that, check the following points:

1. Is the username field empty?
2. Does the old public link no longer work for your account?
3. Who may see your phone number?
4. Who can add you to groups?
5. Who can see your profile photo?

Why is your desired username not available?

Regular Telegram usernames are generally assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. If someone already has the name, you cannot simply take it.

First try a clear variation. For example, add a fitting word, a location, or a short brand term. Do not make the name needlessly complicated. Also check carefully whether you made a typo.

What can you do if someone is using your brand name?

Telegram says in its FAQ that it may sometimes help with a taken regular username if you own the same name on at least two of these services: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Telegram refers to @Username_bot for this.

This is not a guarantee that every name will be transferred. Gather clear proof and only use the official Telegram account mentioned in the FAQ.

What are collectible usernames?

Telegram also has collectible usernames in addition to regular usernames. These can be bought and sold through Fragment. They work differently from the free regular name you choose in Settings.

For most users, a regular available username is enough. Never just pay someone in a private chat who claims they can arrange a name for you. Check official information and always look closely at the exact platform address.

Which error messages might you see?

The username is already taken

Choose another name or make a short, recognizable variation. Check the spelling first before adding extra numbers.

The username contains invalid characters

Remove spaces, dots, and other characters that are not allowed. Use letters, numbers, and underscores according to Telegram’s message.

The change does not save

Check your internet connection. Update Telegram and close the app completely. Then open the app again and try once more. If the desktop version has problems, test it in the mobile app.

You do not see the setting

Check whether you are editing your personal account. A channel and a group have their own names and can also have their own public username. These are different settings.

If in doubt, also read the difference between Telegram channels and groups. That way, you avoid trying to change the public name of a community instead of your personal profile by mistake.

The new name does not appear in search

Wait a moment and restart the app. Then search through another account and open the new t.me address directly. Old local search suggestions can remain visible for a while.

An old link is still online

Telegram cannot change links on other websites for you. Search for your old username on your own website, profiles, and documents. Update the most important places right away.

How to protect your privacy after the change

A public username makes it possible to contact you without a phone number. That is useful, but it also makes you easier to find.

So check at least the following under Privacy and Security:

• who can see your phone number;
• who can see your profile photo;
• who can add you to groups and channels;
• who can call you;
• which devices are signed in to your account;
• whether two-step verification is active.

Do not use a username with sensitive information on a public profile. For example, do not include your full date of birth or private number in the name.

Are you creating a channel for a brand? Then a separate public channel name can be clearer than sharing everything through your personal username. In the guide on create a Telegram channel, you can read how that publishing space works.

Is your channel ready and does the public name look right? Then you can optionally buy Telegram auto views or buy Telegram post views. Before you share the link, always check that visitors land in the right channel or group.

What should you check before sharing the new name?

Use this short checklist:

• The spelling is exactly right.
• The name is easy to say and type.
• The new t.me address opens your profile.
• The old link is no longer on important pages.
• Your phone number has the privacy setting you want.
• Your profile photo and display name match the purpose of your account.
• A second account can find you as expected.
• Your email signature and QR codes are updated.

Do this check immediately after saving. That way, you avoid sending customers, friends, or community members to an outdated link.

Which screenshots help when changing your username?

Add two clear screenshots with highlights to the guide.

Screenshot one: show the profile menu on iPhone or Android. Highlight Settings, the edit button, and Username. Add this explanation: “Edit your personal profile, not the name of a channel or group.”

Screenshot two: show the field where the new name is checked. Highlight the availability message and the save button. Add this explanation: “Check the name first, then save it.”

Use a test account for this. Hide the phone number, chats, profile photos, and names of other people.

Frequently asked questions about changing a Telegram username

Can I change my Telegram username again later?

Yes. You can go back to the same field and set another available name. Then update all external links again.

Will my chats disappear if I change my username?

No. You are only changing the public username of the same account. Your existing chats and community memberships stay intact.

Can people still use my old username?

An old link does not have to redirect to your new name. If the old name becomes free, someone else may be able to choose it later. So share your new link as soon as possible.

Can someone see my phone number through my username?

Not automatically. Telegram says that someone who finds you through a username does not see your phone number unless your privacy settings allow it. So check the phone number setting separately.

Why can I only change my display name?

You are probably in the first part of Edit Profile. Look for a separate line with Username. Update the app if that line is missing.

Is my username the same for my personal account and channel?

No. A personal account, a public channel, and a public group can each have their own username. So always check which profile you are editing.

What is the best first step now?

Open Telegram settings and first write down your current username and public link. Then choose a short, recognizable, and available name. Save it and test the new address with another account.

Next, update your most important external links. Finally, check the visibility of your phone number. With these three steps, you do more than just change the name. You also prevent people from landing on an outdated link or seeing more personal information than you want.