Username Changer

Allow users to change their username directly from their profile page. No more creating new accounts just because someone made a typo during registration or wants to rebrand their identity.

Use Cases#

• Fix typos in usernames created during rushed registrations
• Update unprofessional usernames on business sites
• Rebrand user accounts to match new business names
• Handle name changes (marriage, legal name change)
• Clean up imported users with system-generated usernames

How It Works#

1. A “Change Username” section appears on user profile pages
2. Enter the new desired username
3. Save the profile
4. The username is updated instantly across WordPress
5. User can immediately log in with the new username

Where to Find It#

After enabling this module, go to Users → Your Profile (or edit any user). You’ll see a “Change Username” section with a text field for the new username.

Changing a Username#

For Yourself#

1. Go to Users → Your Profile
2. Scroll to the “Change Username” section (marked with SWITCHBOARD badge)
3. Enter your new username in the “New Username” field
4. Scroll down and click Update Profile
5. Your username is now changed

For Other Users (Admins)#

1. Go to Users → All Users
2. Click Edit on the user whose username you want to change
3. Scroll to the “Change Username” section
4. Enter the new username
5. Click Update User

Username Requirements#

The new username must:

• Be unique (not already used by another user)
• Follow WordPress username rules (letters, numbers, underscores, hyphens, periods, @ symbol)
• Not be empty

Invalid usernames are automatically sanitized. If the username is already taken, you’ll see an error message.

Settings#

This module has no configuration options. It works automatically once enabled.

What Gets Updated#

When you change a username:

• Updated: The user_login field in the database
• Unchanged: User ID, email, display name, posts, comments, and all other data

The user keeps all their content, settings, and relationships. Only the login credential changes.

Who Can Change Usernames#

Any user with profile editing capability can change their own username. Only users with edit_users capability can change other users’ usernames.

After Changing#

Once changed:

• The user must use the new username to log in
• Old username is completely removed - it won’t work
• The old username becomes available for other users to register
• Email login still works if your site supports it

FAQ#