Username Rules by Platform (Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube & More)

• Characters Allowed: Only letters, numbers, periods (.), and underscores (_).
• Dot Rules: Cannot start or end with a dot, and cannot have consecutive dots (..).
• Numbers: Cannot consist entirely of numbers (purely numeric names are typically not accepted).
• Length: Maximum of 30 characters. Typically, names of 1–3 characters are already taken.
• No Spaces: Spaces are not permitted.
• Uniqueness: Must be unique and not currently in use.
• Case Insensitivity: Capitalization doesn't matter (Username is the same as username).
• Changing Usernames: You can change your username at any time, but it changes your profile URL.
• Limitations: Avoid using excessive periods or underscores, as they make accounts harder to search.

• Allowed Characters: Letters, numbers, underscores (_), and periods (.).
• Restrictions: No spaces or special symbols. Usernames cannot end with a period and cannot consist entirely of numbers.
• Length: Between 2 and 24 characters.
• Frequency: You can change your username once every 30 days.
• Verification: If you are verified, changing your username may result in losing verification.
• Inactive Accounts: TikTok may reclaim or reset usernames for accounts that have been inactive for over 180 days.

X (formerly Twitter) usernames (handles) must be 4–15 characters long, contain only alphanumeric characters (A-Z, 0-9) and underscores (_), and cannot include spaces or special characters. Usernames must be unique, cannot impersonate others, and cannot violate X’s safety policies.

Core Rules

• Length: Between 4 and 15 characters.
• Characters: Letters, numbers, and underscores (_) only.
• Spaces: No spaces are allowed.
• Uniqueness: Must not already be in use.
• Restrictions: Usernames cannot contain "admin" or "twitter" (unless for official accounts).
• Impersonation & Policy: You cannot impersonate individuals or brands. Using a username to engage in harassment or hateful conduct is prohibited.

Key Considerations

• Availability: If a desired username is taken, it is likely not available. X does not release inactive usernames except in cases of trademark infringement.
• Changing Usernames: You can change your username in settings. Once changed, your old username is immediately available to the public.
• Reclaiming Usernames: X reserves the right to reclaim usernames, particularly for trademark violations, as they are considered the property of the platform.
• Buying/Selling: Attempting to sell, buy, or trade usernames is strictly prohibited.

YouTube uses handles (formatted like @username) that are tied directly to your channel URL. Standard alphabet handles must be between 3 and 30 characters long. They can include alphabet letters, numbers, underscores (_), hyphens (-), periods (.), and Latin middle dots (·).

Handles cannot begin or end with punctuation, cannot be formatted to look like a URL or a phone number, and must follow YouTube's Community Guidelines. Length limits vary slightly for non-Latin scripts (e.g., Hangul handles can be 1-10 characters).

• Length: 3 to 20 characters.
• Characters: Letters, numbers, dashes (-), and underscores (_).
• Permanence: Once you create an account and finalize the username, it cannot be changed. However, accounts created via Google or Apple can change their auto-assigned username within 30 days.
• Uniqueness: Usernames cannot be reused by anyone, ever, even if the account is deleted.
• No Impersonation: You cannot use a username to impersonate, threaten, or harass others.
• Automatic Selection: If you do not choose a username during sign-up, Reddit may assign a random one.

Usernames for user accounts on GitHub can only contain alphanumeric characters and dashes ( - ).

They can be up to 39 characters long. You cannot have multiple consecutive dashes, and the username cannot begin or end with a dash. Since GitHub is a professional developer platform, a clean variation of your real name or brand is highly recommended.

Your Pinterest username is used to create a unique web address for your profile (e.g., www.pinterest.com/username). To ensure your handle is accepted, it must follow these specific requirements:

Composition Rules

• Allowed Characters: Usernames can be made up of just letters or a combination of letters, numbers, and underscores ( _ ).
• Length: Must be between 3 and 30 characters.
• Prohibited: You cannot use spaces, punctuation marks, or special symbols.

Identity and Discovery

Usernames on Pinterest are unique identifiers. Once you choose a handle, it defines your brand's presence on the platform. If you are a business, using your exact brand name is critical for SEO and cross-platform consistency.

Threads is deeply integrated with the Meta ecosystem. Most importantly, your Threads username is your Instagram handle. If you change your handle on one platform, it automatically updates on the other.

Core Composition Requirements

• Length: Must be between 1 and 30 characters long.
• Allowed Characters: You can use letters (a-z), numbers (0-9), periods (.), and underscores (_).
• Formatting: Multiple consecutive periods (e.g., hello..world) are strictly prohibited.

Rules for Discovery

Unlike some other platforms, Threads usernames do not allow spaces or special symbols beyond the dot and underscore. Your handle is the primary way people find you in the @username format, so consistency with your other social profiles is highly recommended for brand building.

Why is my username not available even though the account does not exist?

It is possible that the platform has reserved the username even though the account does not exist.

Why does one platform allow my username while another platform does not?

The rules for the length and content of the usernames may be different for different platforms.

• Keep it short and easy to remember
• Avoid complex symbols
• Stay consistent across platforms
• Check availability before committing