TikTok has quickly become one of the world’s most popular social media platforms, with millions of users creating and sharing short videos daily. A username is one of the most important parts of your TikTok identity. It is how people recognize you, tag you, and search for your content. However, many users sometimes regret their chosen username or want to rebrand their account.
By default, TikTok only allows users to change their username once every 30 days. This rule is designed to prevent misuse and impersonation. But what if you urgently want to change your TikTok username before the 30-day waiting period is over? Fortunately, there are a few workarounds.
Why TikTok Restricts Username Changes
TikTok has the 30-day restriction to:
- Prevent spam accounts from frequently changing names.
- Protect users from impersonation attempts.
- Maintain stability so followers can easily identify accounts.
Despite this rule, some users may genuinely need to change their username before the waiting period—especially if they made a typo, want a professional username, or are shifting their brand identity.
Methods to Change TikTok Username Before 30 Days
- Adjust Your Device Date and Time
One of the most common tricks involves changing your device’s date and time settings to “skip ahead” in time.
- Go to Settings on your phone.
- Disable Automatic Date & Time.
- Manually set your device’s date to more than 30 days in the future.
- Open TikTok, go to your profile, and attempt to change your username.
This method works for some users, though it may not always succeed due to TikTok’s updated security measures.
- Create a New TikTok Account
If the date-change method doesn’t work, another option is to create a new TikTok account with the username you want.
- Sign up using a new email or phone number.
- Immediately choose the preferred username when setting up your profile.
- You can later merge content or direct your old followers to your new account.
This may not be ideal for everyone, especially if you already have a large following, but it ensures you get the username you want without waiting.
- Use a Slight Variation of Your Username
If you can’t bypass the 30-day limit, consider modifying your username slightly instead.
- Add underscores (_), periods (.), or numbers.
- Rearrange words in your username.
- Use creative abbreviations.
For example, if @cooldancer is taken or locked by the 30-day rule, you could try @cool_dancer or @thecooldancer.
Step-by-Step: How to Normally Change TikTok Username
If your 30 days have passed or the tricks work, here’s the process:
- Open TikTok app.
- Tap Profile at the bottom.
- Tap Edit Profile.
- Select Username.
- Enter your new preferred username.
- Tap Save.
TikTok will immediately update your username if it is available.
Important Things to Keep in Mind
- A username must be unique—if someone already has it, you cannot use it.
- Once changed, your profile link also updates automatically.
- If you used the time-trick method, remember to reset your phone’s date to the correct time.
- Avoid frequent username changes to maintain recognition among followers.
Also Read: How to Add Captions to TikTok
