Help Center

Why can't I register certain usernames?

This article outlines the most common issues around selecting a Twitter username:

The username I want is taken!

If you try to select a username and see that it has already been claimed, you will need to select a different one. Remember the following:

  • You can list your real name in your profile to provide more information to your followers.
  • Adding underscores before or after your desired username will help you claim a unique handle on Twitter.
    • Example: if you would like the username @lindsay but it has been claimed, consider selecting a name like @lindsay_ or @_lindsay.

I see an error message when I try to select my username, but I don’t think it’s taken!

Here are the possible reasons why you would be unable to claim a username that seems available:

  • Usernames containing the words Twitter or Admin cannot be claimed. No account names can contain Twitter or Admin unless they are official Twitter accounts.
  • Your username cannot be longer than 15 characters. Your real name can be longer (20 characters), but usernames are kept shorter for the sake of ease.
  • A username can only contain alphanumeric characters (letters A-Z, numbers 0-9) with the exception of underscores, as noted above. Check to make sure your desired username doesn't contain any symbols, dashes, or spaces.
  • The username may be claimed by a suspended or deactivated account. Suspended and deactivated usernames are not immediately available for use, so you’ll need to select a different username.

If you try view a suspended user’s profile by navigating to their profile (by typing twitter.com/[their username] into your browser's URL bar), you’ll see the following message:

 

Trying to navigate to a deactivated user’s profile will return a message like this:

Can I get an unavailable username?

  • Unfortunately, these usernames cannot be released at this time.
  • Please see our Inactive Account Policy help page for more detailed information