Wikipedia:Changing username/Front matter

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This page should not be confused with requests for checkuser or documentation about the renaming of pages.

This page is a forum in which users can request, and bureaucrats can consider and carry out, username changes. It is usually only possible to rename an account to a name which is not yet taken. Renaming is carried out in accordance with the username policy.

[edit] Instructions

  • First, take a look at the username policy to make sure the username you are requesting is appropriate. Also, please note that for technical reasons, your username cannot begin with a lowercase letter, nor can it contain any underscores.
  • Check to make sure the username you are requesting is not already taken. Do this by searching for the name in this list. If the name appears in the list, even if the link is red, it is taken. Do not create an account under the new name. We'll do that for you.
  • Log in to your present username in order to place your request.
  • Click here to place a request.
    • Replace the text "CURRENT" with your present username.
    • Replace "NEW" with the username to which you wish to be renamed.
    • Fill in a reason where indicated but do not add anything in the "subject/headline" box.
If that doesn't work, simply copy the following text to your computer's 'clipboard':
{{subst:Renameuser|CURRENT|NEW|3=Reason for requested renaming.}} ~~~~
Go to the "Requests" section of this page, click the "edit" link, and paste the text at the very bottom. Modify it as indicated above.
  • Make sure that you have spelled both names correctly. Save the page.
  • Check back periodically to answer any questions that may arise regarding your request. Do not be surprised if you suddenly cannot log in to your old account; this merely indicates that you should log in under your new name as the request has been fulfilled.
  • Please be patient. It may take a few days for your request to be completed.


Effects of a username change
  • When the rename has been completed, your account will have been renamed, and any contributions you have made (including deleted contributions) will be reattributed to your new account as a background process. Your account preferences, watchlist contents, password, etc. will all be preserved, and your user and user talk pages will have been moved to the new name.
    Note: The process responsible for reallocating old contributions is currently dependent upon the job queue mechanism. As such, you may find old contributions do not immediately appear under your new account; this is perfectly normal. Updates should take at most a day to complete, although the length of time will vary according to the size of the job queue on this wiki, and the status of the server processes which process this queue.
  • The change will appear in the user rename log and the request will be moved to the archives in the interest of transparency. It is not possible to rename accounts without an entry being created in the log.
  • This change will not affect signatures you have already left on talk pages, or other places where you signed your username with ~~~~. Those pages will continue to display your signature (including the link to your old username) unless edited manually.
  • Be aware: Once you have been renamed, your old account will no longer exist and may potentially be recreated by a third party. This is true even if your old account pages have been redirected towards your new account. To guard against impersonation, you may wish to recreate the old account yourself.

Contents

[edit] Notes

  • It is not possible for bureaucrats to merge two accounts, or to reattribute edits from IP addresses. Only registered accounts can be renamed.
  • This page is for requests on the English Wikipedia only. To change your username on another Wikimedia project, please ask a bureaucrat on that project or make a request on Meta.
  • As an alternative, please consider changing your signature. This will change your "public appearance" on talk pages and other places where you sign your username with ~~~~.
  • If you have not made very many edits, it may be easier for you simply to create a new account. You can then discontinue use of the old one. It does not need to be deleted; disused accounts are harmless and may be safely ignored. This will save you the trouble of submitting a request and waiting around for it to be fulfilled.
  • Account names requested here are regarded as being "reserved" until the request is accepted or rejected. If someone else registers the account while the request is here, it will be renamed if necessary to allow for the requested move.
  • Usernames cannot start with a lowercase letter or contain underscores; the first letter will be automatically capitalized and underscores replaced with spaces. However, you can change your signature to say whatever you like, within reason of course.
  • Of possible interest: the Wikimedia Foundation privacy policy; "Right to vanish".

Several users provide assistance with the mechanics of this process. If you wish to help please read the linked page carefully.


[edit] Archives