Looking to change your WordPress username? There are several reasons you need to update it after creation. Unfortunately, WordPress doesn’t allow username changes by default. But don’t worry! In this guide, I’ll walk you through various safe methods to change your WordPress username effortlessly.
Whether transferring your site ownership to someone else or fixing a typo, changing your WordPress username is straightforward and hassle-free. If you haven’t started your WordPress journey yet, consider using Template Toaster. It’s a robust platform featuring a drag-and-drop editor and a wide range of free WordPress themes. Register your domain, choose one of the best WordPress hosting providers, and launch your WordPress site today!
Why Should You Change Your WordPress Username?
1. Security Concerns:
If your username is too generic, such as admin, it poses a security risk. Generic usernames are easy to guess, making them a target for hackers. Changing such usernames is a simple yet effective way to enhance your WordPress security.
2. Transferring Ownership or Adding a New User:
You should change your username if you’ve added a new user to your WordPress site or are transferring the site to someone else.
3. Correcting Typographical Errors:
If you made a typo while setting up your username, please update it for accuracy and professionalism.
4. Aligning with Your Site’s Style or Purpose:
You might prefer a username that better reflects the theme or style of your WordPress site.
A username is an essential part of your identity on your website, so it should be chosen thoughtfully. If you’ve made a less-than-ideal choice, there’s no need to worry—it can be fixed. In this article, I’ll explain various methods to change your WordPress username effortlessly.
How to Change Your WordPress Username: 3 Different Methods
Method 1: Update Your WordPress Username Through the Dashboard




Method 2: Changing Your WordPress Username via phpMyAdmin
To use this method, you must access and edit your WordPress database directly. This approach is recommended only for users with intermediate to expert-level experience. If you’re a beginner, consider using a different method. Additionally, it’s highly recommended that you create a site backup before making any changes to your database. If you’re using a web hosting service like Bluehost, you can easily create a full backup with just a few clicks. Alternatively, you can use WordPress backup plugins to back up your site. Here’s a list of some of the best WordPress backup plugins for this purpose.
Now, let’s explore changing your WordPress username using phpMyAdmin. For this method, we’ll assume that you have access to your WordPress database. You can also access your database using the cPanel of your hosting account.
Step 1: Access phpMyAdmin
Log in to your cPanel and scroll down to the Database section. You’ll find the phpMyAdmin option there—click on it to proceed.


Method 3: Changing Your WordPress Username with a Plugin
Another way to change your WordPress username is to use a plugin. This is the easiest method and is ideal for beginners. It is highly recommended if you’re new to WordPress and want to avoid making mistakes. The plugin will handle everything for you, simplifying the process.
However, if you’re comfortable with some technical work, we suggest using the previous methods. It’s better to avoid loading your WordPress site with unnecessary plugins, as this can slow down your site and impact its overall performance. Additionally, premium plugins may require a paid license, and opting for low-quality or untrustworthy plugins can compromise your site’s security.
Recommended Plugin: Username Changer

Several plugins can change your WordPress username, but we recommend the Username Changer plugin. As the name suggests, it is a dedicated plugin designed to change your WordPress username quickly and easily. Before we dive into the steps, here’s a brief overview of this plugin.
The Username Changer plugin is free, so you don’t need to buy a license.
However, it has not received updates for some time. While we typically advise against using outdated plugins, we make an exception here due to the plugin’s simplicity. It only slightly modifies your database, so it’s unlikely to cause conflicts with other plugins or your WordPress site’s functionality. To proceed with this method, install and activate the plugin. You can refer to this article if you’re unfamiliar with installing and activating a WordPress plugin.
Steps to Change Your WordPress Username Using the Username Changer Plugin
Let’s begin by installing and activating the plugin. Once activated, go to Settings > Username Changer in your WordPress admin area.
Here, you can set user roles and grant permission to change usernames. The Allowed Roles section does not include the Administrator role by default, as administrators automatically have permission to change usernames. As a result, there’s no need to enable this role again. You can also set a minimum username length using this plugin. We recommend setting it to at least 5 characters to encourage more unique usernames. Additionally, you can enable email confirmations to alert users when their username is changed. This is useful for informing users and preventing confusion if they think an unauthorized change occurred.
Now, follow these steps to change your WordPress username:
Navigate to Users > Your Profile and scroll down to the Username field.
Click the Change Username link beside the field.
Enter your chosen username and click the Save Username button to apply the change.
That’s it! You’ve successfully changed your username using the Username Changer plugin.