Editing Eurovision Wiki:Changing username (section)

== Must read ==
Please read the following carefully before requesting a username change. You must be aware of and understand all the implications of changing your username.
* Your name will be changed to the new one in the [[Help:Page history|page history]] of every page you've edited, and in all [[Help:Log|log entries]].
* Your [[WP:User pages|user pages]], account preferences, and edits will be moved to the new name. Please do not create a new account or attempt to move them yourself.
* Once renamed, you will log in using the same password under the new name.
* Links left by your previous [[Wikipedia:Signatures|signatures]] will still point to the old user page; however, a [[Help:Redirect|redirect]] will be created pointing to your new user page.
* Understand that using your [[Wikipedia:Username policy#Real_names|real name]] as your username may put you at risk of harassment. If you choose to do so, you '''must''' acknowledge the risks in your request.
* Renaming is not guaranteed and may be refused if you have active sanctions or are [[Wikipedia:Blocking policy|blocked]] on any Wikimedia project.

=== Username policy ===
Your new username must follow the [[WP:Username policy|username policy]]. Usernames must:
* Not be [[Wikipedia:Username policy#Disruptive or offensive usernames|inappropriate, profane, or offensive]].
* Not contain [[Wikipedia:Username policy#Usernames with libelous, contentious, or non-public information|libelous, contentious, or non-public information]].
* Not be [[Wikipedia:Username policy#Misleading usernames|misleading by impersonating other users or implying that you have authority]].
* Not be the [[Wikipedia:Username policy#Promotional usernames|name of a company, organization, group]]; or [[Wikipedia:Username policy#Usernames implying shared use|imply that the account is shared with multiple people]].
* Not contain [[Wikipedia:Username policy#Non-script usernames|emoji, emoticons, or non-language symbols]].

=== Limitations and restrictions ===
There are technical limitations and restrictions to the username change process.
* Accounts cannot be merged or deleted. They can only be renamed.
* [[Wikipedia:Temporary accounts|Temporary accounts]] cannot be renamed.
* Edits made while logged out—identified with an [[Wikipedia:User access levels#Unregistered (IP or not logged in) users|IP address]] or temporary account—cannot be re-assigned to a different username or merged with another account.
* Usernames are subject to [[Wikipedia:Naming conventions (technical restrictions)#Restrictions_on_usernames|technical restrictions]]. Specifically, they cannot:
** contain the <code># < > [ ] | { } / @ : =</code> characters.
** start with <code>~2</code>, as this is reserved for [[Wikipedia:Temporary accounts|temporary accounts]].
** contain various control characters, unusual whitespace, or [[Private Use Areas|Private Use Area]] characters: U+0080–U+009F, U+00A0, U+2000–U+200F, U+2028–U+202F, U+3000, or U+E000–U+F8FF.
** be an IP address or resemble an IP address (for example, "564.348.992.800" is not a valid IP address, but since it looks like one, it is an invalid username).
** be on the list of [[Wikipedia:Reserved usernames|reserved usernames]] (e.g. [[User:MediaWiki default|MediaWiki default]]).
** be more than 85 bytes long.
* Usernames should contain at least one letter, and may not consist of only numbers and punctuation.
* Usernames may not contain characters from unusual scripts, or contain characters from multiple non-Latin scripts. [[Wikipedia:AntiSpoof|Learn more about these restrictions]].
* Usernames may not look too similar to existing usernames. You will be notified if the username you requested is too similar to an existing one.
* Usernames cannot begin with a lowercase letter. The first letter of a username is always capitalized.
* Underscores and spaces are considered identical by the MediaWiki software, so ''Jimbo Wales'' and ''Jimbo_Wales'' are considered to be the same username.
* {{anchor|transparent}}Renames are recorded publicly in the [[Special:Log/renameuser|user rename log]] and [[m:Special:log/gblrename|global rename log]]. This is done in the interest of transparency.

=== Alternatives to a username change ===
Consider the following alternatives to a username change.
* If you would like your username to begin with a lowercase letter, place {{tl|lowercase title}} on your user and user talk pages, and change your [[Wikipedia:Signatures#Customizing your signature|signature]] to reflect your preference.
* If you simply want to change your "public appearance" on talk pages, you can change your [[Wikipedia:Signatures#Customizing your signature|signature]]. Note that this is not an acceptable alternative to changing your username if the name is in breach of the [[Wikipedia:Username policy|username policy]].
* If you want to retire from Wikipedia, place {{tl|retired}} or a similar declaration on your userpage. A request for a rename to something like ''RetiredUser123'' will be declined. Users in good standing [[Wikipedia:Courtesy vanishing|wishing to vanish completely]], perhaps by way of a rename to a random character string, are an exception to this rule.

=== Other things to consider ===
* Your previous username will not be available for re-registration, so other users will not be able to impersonate you by using your old username. If you want to recreate an account under your old username, you can [[Wikipedia:Request an account|request an account]].
* You may wish to inform others of previous username(s) via a simple statement on your user page, or by using the {{tl|user changed username}} template.
* If you have customised your [[Wikipedia:Signatures|signature]] you will need to alter it to use your new username, otherwise it will remain linked to your old user pages.