How the TikTok username checker works
Type the name you want. The tool checks it in two steps.
- Format. As you type, it checks the name against TikTok's rules: 2 to 24 characters, only letters, numbers, underscores and periods, and no period at the end.
- Is it taken? When you tap Check username, it looks up the name on TikTok. If an account uses it, you see that account and its follower count.
You get one of three answers. Taken means an account uses the name today. No account found means no active account uses it right now. Not valid means TikTok would not accept the name as typed.
"No account found" does not always mean the name is free
TikTok says a username can be claimed by a suspended or deactivated account, and that such a name may not be available right away. It also says that when someone gives up a name, nobody can add it to an account for a short time.
So the checker says "may be free", not "yours". To be sure, open TikTok, tap Profile, tap Edit profile, then Username, and type the name. If TikTok lets you save it, it is yours.
TikTok username rules
These come from TikTok's username help page.
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Length | 2 to 24 characters |
| Allowed | Letters, numbers, underscores (_) and periods (.) |
| Periods | Allowed, but not at the end of the name |
| How often you can change it | Once every 30 days |
| Your profile link | Changes when your username changes |
Your username is your @tag. It sits on your profile and makes up your profile link. Your nickname is the name people see across TikTok. The nickname can repeat, but each username belongs to one account.
What to do if the username is taken
Small changes usually do it, and they can still look clean:
- Add a period between words: sam.cooks
- Add your topic: samcooks.daily or sam.bakes
- Add a short word in front: its.sam or hey.samcooks
- Use one underscore: sam_cooks
Avoid long number strings. They are hard to remember, and people may mistake the account for a fake. Test each idea in the checker before you commit.
How to change your username on TikTok
- In the TikTok app, tap Profile at the bottom.
- Tap Edit profile.
- Tap Username and type the new name.
- Tap Save.
Two things to know first. You can only change it once every 30 days, so pick carefully. And you cannot change it if TikTok has blocked you from updating your profile. Verified accounts have to contact TikTok for a username change.
If a profile you are looking for says it cannot be found, the name may have changed. Our guide on what "account not found" means on TikTok covers the other reasons.
How to pick a good TikTok username
- Make it easy to say. People hear your @ in videos and type it from memory.
- Keep it short. Short names fit on screen in comments, Duets and Stitches.
- Use the same name everywhere. Check it in our Instagram username checker too, so fans find you on both apps.
- Hint at your topic. A cooking account named after food gets the point across before anyone taps.
Once you are set, the free TikTok counter shows your live follower count, and our guide on getting more followers on TikTok covers what to post.