Roblox display name vs username: the difference
Every Roblox account has two names. The username is unique and is how Roblox knows you. The display name is how other players see you in games, and you can change it for free. Mixing them up is the most common reason people pay Robux they did not need to spend.
The difference in one table
| Username | Display name | |
|---|---|---|
| Unique | Yes, one account per name | No, many players can share it |
| Price to change | 1,000 Robux | Free |
| How often | Any time, if you pay | Once every 7 days |
| Used to sign in | Yes | No |
| Shown in games and chat | Smaller, after the @ | Yes, as your main name |
| Old versions | Stay tied to your account and visible in search | Simply replaced |
Roblox sometimes calls the display name just "Name" in its menus.
The username
The username is your account's unique identifier. It has 3 to 20 characters: English letters, digits and at most one underscore, which cannot be first or last. Capital letters are only for looks: Nova and nova are the same username.
Because it is unique, the username is what people search for when they want to add you, and it is what you type to sign in. Changing it costs 1,000 Robux each time, and your previous usernames stay attached to your account: they appear in your settings, on your profile and in people search, and nobody else can take them. That is why short usernames are so rare, as we explain in rare Roblox usernames.
The display name
The display name is how you appear in experiences and on your profile. It does not have to be unique: a thousand players can all be "Luna". You can change it in settings for free, but only once every seven days.
Where each one shows up
- Above your avatar and in chat inside games: the display name.
- On your profile: the display name in large text, the username under it after the @.
- In friend requests and people search: both, which helps tell apart two players with the same display name.
- On the sign-in screen: only the username.
Check the @username before you trust someone
Because display names are not unique, anyone can copy a friend's display name. The username after the @ is the only reliable way to know who you are talking to.
Which one to change
Change your display name if:
- you just want to look different in games;
- you like a name that is already taken as a username;
- you want to try names often without spending Robux.
Change your username if:
- your current username is embarrassing or contains personal information;
- you found a short or meaningful name that is still free and you want to own it;
- you want other players to find you by a specific name.
Remember that a username change is permanent in one way: your old name stays linked to your account. If you change from an old name you liked, nobody else can take it, and you can switch back later for another 1,000 Robux.
How to change the display name
Open Settings
In a browser, click the gear icon in the top right corner. In the mobile app, tap the three dots icon (More), then Settings.
Open Account Info
Select Account Info. Your display name is at the top.
Press the pencil and paper icon
That is the Change Display Name button. Type the new display name and click Save.
Refresh the page
After a refresh you should see the new display name on your profile, with your username unchanged under it.
For the username itself, follow our guide on how to change your Roblox username.
Common problems
Roblox will not let me change it again
The display name was rejected
Someone has the same display name as me
Questions
Do I sign in with my display name?
No. You always sign in with your username and password. Changing the display name does not affect how you log in.
Can I make my display name the same as my username?
Yes, a display name can match your username.
Will friends lose me if I change my display name?
No. Your friends list, inventory, Robux and game progress stay on the account. Friends will simply see the new display name next to your unchanged username.
Why do I see a name I did not choose?
Some menus call the display name just "Name". If a game shows something else entirely, it is probably a name set inside that experience, which is separate from both.
Want a better username, not just a display name? See how to find available Roblox usernames and check any name against the rules on our Roblox page. Clmify snipes rare Roblox names and alerts you the second one frees up.