Spotify is one of the world’s biggest music streaming services. For many music fans, it is their go-to for new tunes, old classics, and everything in between. The service currently allows users access to 70 million songs and 2.9 million podcasts.
One of the things that make Spotify great is that it allows artists to share and distribute their music. Also, users can share music.
Personalized Spotify playlists have become very popular. So much so that the app can now integrate with other social networking platforms like Facebook and Tinder. Therefore, you can share your music tastes everywhere at once.
But that’s not all…
Furthermore, sharing music via Spotify is a great way to market and promote music if you are an upcoming artist. Many people will ask you what your Spotify handle when you tell them you make and release music or podcasts.
Therefore, it’s frustrating when you have a Spotify username you don’t like, or it is just plain random. Or, perhaps you opened the app recently and found that your Spotify username has been changed to a bunch of random letters and other characters.
No worries! I’ve decided to take a look at how to change Spotify username. This will help you make your account more appealing and your playlists easier to access for others. So, let’s get started with…
Can I Change My Spotify Username?
The short answer, unfortunately, is a straight-up no. However, it is possible to get a custom Spotify username. I’ll get to that in a bit. You see, new Spotify accounts are assigned account ID/names automatically. This automatic system was implemented back in 2018. According to Spotify, it would “improve the overall Spotify experience.”
It works by assigning a unique combination of letters and numbers to every account at the moment of creation. This means a Spotify account, and therefore, the user can be identified using this number.
Sort of “set in stone”…
I’m afraid if you’re a new Spotify user, it’s unavoidable. However, this system was only implemented back in 2018. So, if your account was created before then, you may have a cool and catchy Spotify username. This depends on how you signed up and how creative you were at the time.
How Can I Check My Current Spotify Username?
So, you want to find out what your Spotify username is at the moment. Well then, there are easy steps you can follow to do this, no matter what platform you’re on.
Computer/Laptop
- Simply click on the profile button at the top right of the Spotify interface and then select Account.
- Once you’ve done this, the software will automatically open your browser and direct you to your Spotify account page.
- Your username will be displayed on the left-hand side next to “username.”
Spotify Mobile App
- Start by opening settings and tapping on View Profile.
- Tap on the dropdown symbol (the ⋮ icon ) and then tap on Share.
- Tap on Copy Link.
- Open the text editor of your choice and paste the copied link there. It will look something like this: “https://open.spotify.com/user/sdf7823kl4j349087sd-0f034578ghfjkd?…”
- Your username is all the text between the word “user” and the question mark “?”. In this case, it’s sdf7823kl4j349087sd-0f034578ghfjkd.
Okay, we can’t change that handle. But what about the other one? Yes, the one that displays on the top right of the screen. This is known as your “display name,” and I’m happy to report that it’s a whole different story there.
The Difference
Your Spotify username isn’t customizable, but it’s also not visible to the people you are sharing your music with. It’s only used as a unique account ID so that Spotify can keep track of your account and preferences.
The display name is self-explanatory. This name is what gets displayed to the outside world as your Spotify name. This name can be changed freely as you wish.
On a desktop or laptop, it will be displayed at the top right of the interface. On the mobile app, you can view your display name by going to the settings menu and looking in the top right corner. Now, let’s have a look at customizing your Spotify display name.
Changing Your Display Name on Spotify
As mentioned, Spotify is integrated with other platforms. This includes social networking apps like Facebook and Instagram. It is possible to sign up via your Facebook or Instagram account and have your account created without the need to manually sign up.
When you sign up in this way, Spotify will automatically adapt your chosen Facebook, Instagram, or Google name as your display name. While this feature is very convenient for most users, it might not be what some people want.
Having a name that sticks makes it more memorable…
So, having the ability to customize your Spotify display name makes a big difference. You may have built your following on Instagram but created your Spotify account manually.
Therefore, matching the two names would be very beneficial if you want your Instagram followers to find you on Spotify. There’s no method to change your Spotify username, but here’s how to change your Spotify display name.
Android or iOS App
- Start by opening the Spotify app and navigating to settings by tapping on the gear icon at the top right.
- Now, tap on View Profile.
- Next, tap on Edit Profile in the middle of the screen and then customize your display name.
- Finally, tap on Save in the top right of the corner, and you’re done.
Desktop PC or Laptop
- From the main screen of the interface, click on the profile icon at the top right. Select Profile from the drop-down menu.
- Your current display name will be shown there; click on it.
- A pop-up window allowing you to make your change will appear.
- When you are done, click on the white Save button, and you’re done.
One more thing…
If you want to change your Spotify profile picture, simply click on the currently selected one while you are in the profile menu, and you can select another picture.
If this method is not enough for you, there are other workarounds that you can try. They may or may not work, depending on what your goal is. So, let’s have a look at some of the other ways to customize your Spotify name.
How to Change Spotify Username – Workarounds
In my efforts to find a way to create a custom username on Spotify, I tried quite a few things. Mostly, I tried to see if signing up in different ways will allow me to work around this random name generator.
But, despite signing up to Spotify via Google, Facebook, Apple, and personal phone numbers, I was not able to get around the random username assignment.
I settled on two main “alternatives,” for lack of a better word. One or both of these methods may be successful for you depending on what it is you want to achieve. Let’s have a look at each.
Simplify Your Sign-In – Use Google or Facebook
Something that a lot of users are fond of doing is creating a separate email address for their Spotify account. This might seem a bit stupid since having more than one email creates more room for confusion. But it’s useful if you don’t want spam and promotions sent to your primary email.
In these cases, it is very handy to have an easy-to-remember username. The name can even be a bit strange or absurd since your not using this as your personal email. This will make logins much simpler, especially if you need to log in to a new device and remember the username and password.
To make this possible…
The best way is to first create a Facebook or Google account using that particular name. Once you’ve done this, use that account to sign up for Spotify. This will make it easier to gain access to the account, and your memorable name will be used as a default when you create the Spotify account.
Existing Spotify Account – Link to Facebook
If you have an existing Spotify account, you might want to consider linking it to a Facebook account. If there isn’t an account you’d like to link it with, then create a new Facebook account.
This will ensure that you retain your Spotify account and its playlists while adding another level of access to your account via Facebook. Simply open Spotify, go to settings, find Social, and then tap on Connect with Facebook.
There is one final benefit of linking Spotify to a Facebook account. You can easily share all your new Spotify content with Facebook friends already attached to the account.
Used Google to Sign Up? – Make Sure you’re not Paying Double
If you signed up for Spotify manually and decided to create a new Google account, remember to cancel your Premium subscription to avoid paying for two accounts. And, if you have decided to get rid of an account and start fresh with Spotify, you can delete the obsolete account to avoid confusion.
A More Memorable Link – Sptfy
As mentioned before, Spotify accounts that were created before 2018, are lucky enough to retain their original usernames. These accounts have links that look nicer because they are easier to remember. For example, open.spotify.com/user/chriss.
Unfortunately, accounts created after 2018 have links that display like this: open.spotify.com/user/x7y53UzxyV
Not very memorable, is it?
Enter a wonderful service called Sptfy. This amazing website will allow you to create customized links for your Spotify pages and playlists. The service works by manipulating the original link to your Spotify profile as it currently displays.
I would recommend creating an account with Sptfy first, then make sure you are logged in before you customize your Spotify links. The customization will not work if you are not logged in with Sptfy.
- Start by copying your Spotify profile link.
- Open your browser and navigate to the Sptfy website.
- Paste your Spotify profile URL in the available field.
- Create a custom URL; you can view the end result at the bottom.
- Click on Create URL.
- The new custom Spotify link is now live.
Take note: If your custom URL is already in use by another user, you will not be able to use it. So, if you’ve got one that you think really pops, best to get in there and register it as soon as possible.
Curious About How Spotify Compares to Other Streaming Services?
Well, then take a look at our detailed articles on YouTube Music vs Spotify, Spotify vs Pandora, Apple Music vs Spotify, Spotify vs Deezer, and Tidal vs. Spotify for more information.
Of course, you will want to listen to Spotify. So, check out our in-depth reviews of the Best Party Speakers, the Loudest Portable Bluetooth Speakers, the Best Smart Speakers, the Best Wireless Outdoor Speakers, and the Best Waterproof Speakers you can buy in 2023.
How to Change Spotify Username – Final Thoughts
Whether it has made things easier for Spotify or the users is debatable. But, one thing is certain. The random name generator has made sharing music and content on Spotify a bit harder for normal users and artists.
Unless you have an account created before 2018…
Then you are stuck with having a random sequence assigned to your account upon creation. Luckily, it is possible to change your display name by following some simple steps.
But, there are also some other workarounds for the name generator. This is thanks to the integration of Spotify with other social platforms. It is worth creating an account with one of these platforms and then linking it to a Spotify account if you want a memorable username from the get-go.
There is also the SPtfy platform online. Just make sure to sign up for Sptfy before you make your custom Spotify links. This tool is well worth investing in, as having memorable Spotify links can make all the difference in being remembered and/or forgotten.
Until next time, good luck, and happy listening.