How to Change Your TikTok Username Before 30 Days

Stuck with a TikTok username you regret and don't want to wait a full 30 days to fix it? TikTok has a strict cooldown period on username changes, but there's a simple workaround that lets you bypass the wait. This article provides the exact step-by-step process for changing your TikTok handle early, plus advice on how to pick a username that you won't want to change again.

Why TikTok's 30-Day Username Lock Exists

That 30-day waiting period might feel like a pain, but it's there for a good reason. Social platforms implement these types of locks to foster a more stable and predictable environment for users. Without it, things could get pretty chaotic.

Here’s a quick look at why the rule is in place:

• It Prevents Spam and Bot Activity: Automated accounts often change their usernames frequently to evade detection and suspension. By slowing down the rate at which an account can change its identity, TikTok makes it harder for spammers and bots to operate.
• It Stops User Impersonation: Imagine if a malicious user could quickly bounce between different usernames, impersonating other creators to scam their followers. A 30-day lock makes this kind of identity-hopping strategy much less effective and easier for community moderators to track.
• It Reduces Confusion for Followers: For creators building a brand, consistency is everything. If you changed your username every other day, your audience would have a hard time finding and tagging you. This policy encourages you to pick a handle and stick with it, which helps creators build a recognizable identity and helps followers stay connected to the accounts they love.

While the rule is well-intentioned, everyone makes mistakes. Maybe you made a typo, came up with a better name moments after saving, or you're doing a total rebrand and need to align your handles across all platforms. In those cases, waiting 30 days isn’t ideal. That’s where the workaround comes in.

The Date &, Time Hack: Your Ticket to an Early Username Change

The solution is surprisingly simple and has been a classic trick on different apps for years. You’re going to manually change the date and time on your phone to trick the TikTok app into thinking the 30-day period has already passed. It thinks time has flown by, unlocking your ability to change your username right now.

A Quick Disclaimer Before You Start

This is an unofficial workaround, not an intended feature. It works by exploiting a small loophole in how the app checks the date on your local device. While it has proven effective for countless users, keep a couple of things in mind:

• It Could Be Patched: TikTok could close this loophole at any time with a simple app update. If you’re reading this in the future and it’s not working, that might be why.
• Change The Date Back: After you're done, it's very important to change your phone's date settings back to automatic. Leaving the incorrect date can interfere with other apps, including your calendar, email, and even secure websites that use time stamps for authentication.

Step-by-Step Instructions to Change Your TikTok Username

Ready to give it a try? The process takes less than two minutes. Follow these instructions carefully.

Step 1: Fully Close the TikTok App

This is a small but important detail. Don’t just navigate away from the app, you need to force-close it so it isn't running in the background.

• On iOS (iPhone): Swipe up from the bottom of your screen and hold to open the app switcher. Find the TikTok app preview and swipe it up and off the screen to close it.
• On Android: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or use the multitasking button) to see your recent apps. Find TikTok and swipe it away to close it.

Step 2: Go to Your Phone's Date and Time Settings

Now, you need to navigate into your phone’s system settings to find the date and time controls. The path is slightly different for iPhones and Android devices.

• On iOS: Open the Settings app, then go to General >, Date &, Time.
• On Android: Open your Settings app, and look for a section called System or General Management. Inside, you should find Date &, Time. (You can also typically just use the search bar in your settings and type "Date").

Step 3: Manually Set the Date Forward

Once you’re in the Date &, Time menu, you’ll see an option that says "Set Automatically" or "Automatic date &, time."

1. Toggle this option OFF. This will make the date line manually editable.
2. Tap on today’s date.
3. Change the date to be at least 31 days in the future. Bumping it up by a month and a day is a safe bet. For example, if today is September 15th, set it to October 16th.
4. Save the new date.

Step 4: Change Your TikTok Username

With your phone's time now in the future, reopen the TikTok app. It will operate as if thirty-something days have passed since you last tried to change your name.

1. Go to your Profile page in the bottom-right corner.
2. Tap "Edit profile" right below your follower count.
3. Tap on your current Username.
4. The field should now be editable. Delete your old username and type in your new one! TikTok will tell you if it's available.
5. Once you’ve found an available name you like, tap "Save".

Your username should now be updated across the app!

Step 5: Change The Date Back!

You’re not done yet. As mentioned before, you absolutely must switch your date and time settings back to normal. If you don't, other apps will start to behave strangely. Leaving an incorrect date can mess with everything from your text messages to whether your internet browser will load certain websites correctly.

Simply go back to Settings >, General >, Date &, Time (on iPhone) or Settings >, System >, Date &, Time (on Android) and toggle the "Set Automatically" option back ON. Your phone will instantly sync to the correct date and time.

What to Do If the Time Trick Doesn't Work

In most cases, this process should work smoothly. But if you’re hitting a wall and the username field is still grayed out, here are a few troubleshooting tips:

• Double-check that you forced-closed the app. If the app was just minimized instead of fully closed, it might not re-read your phone’s clock settings when you open it back up.
• Go further into the future. Instead of just 31 days, try setting the date 45 or even 60 days ahead. It's possible your last name change was more recent than you thought, and you just need to jump a little further forward in time.
• Restart your phone. The good old "turn it off and on again" method can sometimes help. After adjusting the date, perform a full restart on your phone before opening TikTok.
• Accept that the loophole may be closed. Tech companies are always updating their apps to close these kinds of unofficial backdoors. If you’ve tried everything and it just won’t work, it's possible TikTok has finally rolled out an update that patches this specific workaround for good.

Choosing the Right Username Once You Can Change It

A strong username is a fundamental piece of your social media brand. It affects how discoverable, memorable, and professional you appear to your audience.

Keep it Consistent with Your Other Socials

The single best thing you can do for your personal brand is have the same username across all major platforms - TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X, and Threads. When a follower on TikTok wants to find you on Instagram, the first thing they'll do is search for your exact TikTok handle. If your username is @BrandName on every platform, you become instantly findable. But if you’re @BrandName on TikTok and @TheRealBrand_Name1 on Instagram, you're just making it harder for your audience to follow you elsewhere. Brand consistency builds trust.

Make it Easy to Say and Spell

Word-of-mouth is still one of the most powerful marketing tools. You want a username that someone can easily tell their friend about. Avoid clever but complex misspellings (like "Kreativ Dezignz" instead of "Creative Designs") or overly long handles filled with numbers and underscores. If people can say it, they can search for it.

Think About Your Niche and Keywords

Including keywords related to your niche can sometimes help with discoverability. If you review tech gadgets, having "tech" in your name isn't a bad idea (e.g., @MikeDoesTech). If you’re a local real estate agent, having your city in the name can help (e.g., @AustinRealtyGuide). Don't force keywords where they don’t fit, but if it sounds natural, it can give new followers a quick idea of what your account is about.

Avoid Random Numbers if possible

Usernames like @JessicaM2451 tend to look less professional and can be perceived as spammy or low-effort. Obviously, on a crowded platform, your ideal name might already be taken. If you absolutely need to add a suffix, try something meaningful, like @JessicaM_Writes or @JessicaMPhoto, instead of a random string of digits.

Final Thoughts

This simple time-and-date trick is your best ticket out of TikTok's 30-day username jail. It’s a fast and effective way to fix a typo or switch to a better handle without waiting around for the official cooldown period to end. Just remember to change your clock settings back to automatic as soon as you're done.

A great username is just one piece of the branding puzzle, consistency across all your platforms is what truly builds an audience. Once you’ve landed the perfect handle, the next challenge is creating great content for all your profiles without spending all day jumping between apps. We actually built Postbase to streamline that exact process. It offers a straightforward visual calendar so that your TikToks, Reels, and Shorts can be planned and scheduled in one place, keeping your new brand identity sharp and consistent.