Editing Eurovision Wiki:Changing username

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{{Warning|This page details the guidelines and information relating to changing a username. '''Do not edit this page to request a username change.'''{{br}}Once you have read this information, select an appropriate [[#Venues|request page]] to submit your request.}}
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Users may request that their username be changed. Usernames are global;{{Efn|Usernames have been global since 2014, when Wikimedia implemented [[Help:Unified login|single user login]] (SUL) over the entirety of Wikimedia projects, including the English Wikipedia.}} a username change will change your username on all Wikimedia projects. Username changes are handled by [[m:global renamers|global renamers]] and [[m:stewards|stewards]], not by local [[WP:Administrators|administrators]] or [[WP:Bureaucrats|bureaucrats]], and are governed by the [[m:global rename policy|global rename policy]] and local [[WP:Username policy|username policy]].

== 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.

== <span class="anchor" id="Venues"></span><span class="anchor" id="Request pages"></span> Requesting a username change ==
{{shortcut|WP:UCREQ|WP:UCREQUEST}}
If you are certain you want to change your username, use the appropriate request page linked below.

=== Simple requests ===
The following venues are for renames to usernames that are not already taken. Check the [[toollabs:uv2|username validator]] to see whether the username you want is available. If it is already taken on any Wikimedia project, it is not available for use.

* '''[[Special:GlobalRenameRequest|Global user account rename request form]]''' (email address required; see [[Help:Email confirmation]])
* '''[[Wikipedia:Changing username/Simple|Simple account rename request page]]''' (no email address required)

=== Usurpation requests ===
If you are an established user who wants to use a username that is already taken but has never been used for editing, you may request usurpation. The target account must have made ''no significant edits or log actions'' on any Wikimedia wiki; use the [[Special:CentralAuth|global account information page]] to check. The target account is renamed to a different username, and your account is renamed to the target username.

* '''[[meta:Steward requests/Username changes|Steward requests for username changes page]]'''

=== Vanish requests ===
While accounts cannot be deleted, users wishing to permanently leave Wikipedia and remove their traces may request [[WP:Courtesy vanishing|courtesy vanishing]]. Usernames are changed to a randomly generated username and redirects to the new name are not created. Vanishing does not remove edits or log entries, and may be reversed if you return. Vanishing is not guaranteed and may be refused or reversed if you are in poor standing.

* '''[[Special:GlobalVanishRequest|Global vanish request form]]'''
* You may also use the '''[[meta:Special:EmailUser/Wikimedia_Global-renamers|email form]]''' or email '''{{no spam|renamers|wikimedia.org}}''', using the subject line "Request for courtesy vanishing".

== Archival of requests ==
* Requests made privately on the [[Special:GlobalRenameRequest|Global user account rename request form]], [[Special:GlobalVanishRequest|Global vanish request form]], or by email are archived privately and are only visible to global renamers, stewards, and Wikimedia Foundation staff.
* Requests made publicly on the [[Wikipedia:Changing username/Simple|Simple account rename request page]] are archived into [[Wikipedia:Changing username/Archives]].
* Requests made publicly on the [[meta:Steward requests/Username changes|Steward requests for username changes page]] are archived into [[meta:Steward requests/Username changes/archives]].

Remember that, regardless of how a request was submitted, a log of the actual renaming is always publicly visible in the [[Special:Log/renameuser|user rename log]] and [[m:Special:log/gblrename|global rename log]].

== History ==
Initially, usernames could only be changed by [[mw:Developers|developers]]. In 2005, [[WP:Bureaucrats|bureaucrats]] were given the ability to rename users using the [[mw:Extension:Renameuser|Renameuser]] extension. Before 2008, users had to create separate user accounts on each Wikimedia wiki, meaning that the same username could be used by different people on different wikis. Username changes could only be done locally, and a user who had accounts on other wikis would need to request a username change on each individual wiki.

The [[Wikipedia:Unified login|unified login]] system was introduced in 2008 to make accounts and usernames global, meaning that the same username could only be used by the same person on all Wikimedia wikis. In 2014, the [[m:global renamers|global renamer]] user group was created that allowed for username changes to be done globally, simplifying the renaming process; consequently, bureaucrats were no longer responsible for renaming accounts. In 2015, as part of [[mw:SUL finalisation|SUL finalisation]], all unattached local accounts were attached to global accounts, eliminating the need to perform local renames entirely.

From 2007 until 2014, the [[Wikipedia:Changing username/Usurpations]] page was used to request usurpation of local accounts on the English Wikipedia. It was also used to request usurpation of unattached local accounts blocking SUL unification by other accounts. Following the creation of the global renamer user group, the page was used as an alternative way to request usurpation of accounts whose home wiki was the English Wikipedia. It was closed in February 2025.<ref>[[Special:PermanentLink/1275463643#RfC:_Should_all_future_username_usurpation_requests_be_directed_to_Meta-Wiki?|RfC: Should all future username usurpation requests be directed to Meta-Wiki?]]</ref>

From 2008 until 2010, the [[Wikipedia:Changing username/SUL]] page was used for username changes related to the initial migration to the unified login system. It was closed in April 2010, and its functions merged with the usurpation requests page.<ref>[[Wikipedia_talk:Changing_username/Archive_3#On_the_merit_of_SUL_requests|Wikipedia talk:Changing username/Archive 3 § On the merit of SUL requests]]</ref>

==See also==
* [[meta:Changing username]]

==Footnotes==
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==References==
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{{Wikipedia accounts|collapsed}}
[[Category:Wikipedia usernames|{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Wikipedia noticeboards]]