How to set or change your Telegram username

A username is your public name in the form @name, by which people find and message you without a phone number. You can set or change it in a minute. Here's how, step by step, for phone and desktop.

On phone (Android and iPhone)

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Edit profile (or the Username item directly).
3. Type the username you want in the Username field.
4. Telegram checks it: green "available" means it's free, red means taken.
5. Tap the check mark to save. Done — people can now find you by @name and via t.me/name.

On computer (Telegram Desktop)

1. Open Settings → Edit profile.
2. Enter the name you want in the Username field.
3. Wait for the availability mark and save.

Username rules

• Length — 5 to 32 characters.
• Only Latin letters (a–z), digits (0–9) and the underscore "_" are allowed.
• Can't start with a digit or underscore, or end with "_".
• Two underscores in a row are not allowed.
• Case-insensitive: @MyName and @myname are the same.

Why a username is "taken" and what to do

If a name shows red "taken", it's already in use by someone. Options: pick another variant (add a word, not a digit — digits make a name cheaper), or, if you really need that name, check whether it's for sale on Fragment. How to check availability before buying is in "How to check if a username is available".

How to pick a good username

A short, meaningful and easy-to-read name is more convenient and more valuable. Avoid digits and underscores — they make a name less "clean". If you're thinking about a future resale, it helps to know the name's value up front.