Wikipedia:Changing username
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- 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.
- Requests to "usurp" an existing username should be made at Wikipedia:Changing username/Usurpations, not here.
- SUL notice:
- If your request has to do with the recently enabled unified login feature, it probably belongs at Wikipedia:Changing username/SUL, not here.
- If you already made a request here and it has vanished, we have probably moved it to Wikipedia:Changing username/SUL.
- Please read the instructions carefully before making your request.
[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 with your present username in order to place your request. Renames will not be approved if the requester is not logged in.
- 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.
- Replace the text
-
- 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.
[edit] Instructions for other Wikipedias
To request a namechange or usurpation on another language Wikipedia, consult the Index of pages where renaming can be requested on Meta-Wiki and make a request to the appropriate page on the project concerned.
If the wiki does not appear to have such a page, you can try contacting a local bureaucrat directly (bureaucrats are users who can rename users). To identify who is a bureaucrat on any given project, go to the Special:ListUsers of that project and select bureaucrats from the right menu as the permission you wish to sort by.
If the project does not have bureaucrats, you should contact a steward on Meta-Wiki (stewards are users who manage user rights on all Wikimedia wikis). To request one or multiple name changes, go to Steward requests/Username changes. For general requests about SUL accounts, go to Steward requests/SUL requests.
[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. You can also place a {{lowercase}} on your userpage, talk page, and subpages to make them be displayed with an initial lowercase letter.
- Of possible interest: the Wikimedia Foundation privacy policy; "Right to vanish".
- Please monitor your CHU request. Clerks and bureaucrats may have questions for you. Your request may be delayed pending your answers. Your request may be rejected if questions go unanswered.
Several users provide assistance with the mechanics of this process. If you wish to help please read the linked page carefully.
- It is also possible to copy one's watchlist to a new username. (See Wikipedia:Copying watchlist to new username).
Archives: See: Wikipedia:Changing username/Archives
[edit] Current requests
[edit] Hendrick4life → Dynex
- Current name: Hendrick4life (talk · contribs · logs · block log)
- Requested name: Dynex (SUL reports: old & new) (rename user)
- Reason: Username has caused conflict on other sites I use it on, People are commenting on my edits. I did not realize how important it is. 76.17.31.1 (talk) 14:01, 2 January 2009 (UTC)
SoxBot VI has analyzed this request, and a problem(s) was found. Target username exists, and while it has no edits, the user requesting it is too new to usurp an account. SoxBot VI (talk) 14:03, 2 January 2009 (UTC)
Bureaucrat note: Please confirm that you are Hendrick4life. Kingturtle (talk) 16:09, 2 January 2009 (UTC)
[edit] Alexlazar → Alex Lazar
- Current name: Alexlazar (talk · contribs · logs · block log)
- Requested name: Alex Lazar (SUL reports: old & new) (rename user)
- Reason: to have the same username across wikipedia in other languages Alexlazar (talk) 17:26, 3 January 2009 (UTC)
SoxBot VI has analyzed this request, and renaming appears to be possible. SoxBot VI (talk) 17:27, 3 January 2009 (UTC)
Bureaucrat note: Can you please confirm that you're the same person on the other Wikis? The Russian Wikipedia "Alex Lazar" has more edits than you do here, though they haven't created a SUL yet. EVula // talk // ☯ // 19:37, 4 January 2009 (UTC)
[edit] Dannybrattan → Higgles
- Current name: Dannybrattan (talk · contribs · logs · block log)
- Requested name: Higgles (SUL reports: old & new) (rename user)
- Reason: More anonymity required. Dannybrattan (talk) 09:34, 4 January 2009 (UTC)
SoxBot VI has analyzed this request, and a problem(s) was found. Target username exists, and while it has no edits, the user requesting it is too new to usurp an account. SoxBot VI (talk) 09:36, 4 January 2009 (UTC)
Bureaucrat note: Is there another username that you'd like? As the bot pointed out, Higgles is already taken. EVula // talk // ☯ // 19:47, 4 January 2009 (UTC)
Not done Please choose a different name. bibliomaniac15 17:32, 7 January 2009 (UTC)
[edit] Pschology101 → Psychology101
- Current name: Pschology101 (talk · contribs · logs · block log)
- Requested name: Psychology101 (SUL reports: old & new) (rename user)
- Reason: Reason for requested renaming: Misspelled Pschology101 (talk) 20:50, 6 January 2009 (UTC)
SoxBot VI has analyzed this request, and a problem(s) was found. Target username exists, and while it has no edits, the user requesting it is too new to usurp an account. Requesting user has 1 edit, to this page only. SoxBot VI (talk) 20:51, 6 January 2009 (UTC)
Bureaucrat note: Although the name psychology101 (talk · contribs) is already taken, as the account has no edits, it can be usurped; to do so, place a request at Wikipedia:Changing username/Usurpations. Kingturtle (talk) 13:24, 7 January 2009 (UTC)
[edit] Idirect → IDirect
- Current name: Idirect (talk · contribs · logs · block log)
- Requested name: IDirect (SUL reports: old & new) (rename user)
- Reason: Corporate branding. Idirect (talk) 21:39, 7 January 2009 (UTC)
SoxBot VI has analyzed this request, and a problem(s) was found. Requesting user has 1 edit, to this page only. SoxBot VI (talk) 21:42, 7 January 2009 (UTC)
Not done, violation of username policy regarding self-promotion. Andre (talk) 01:57, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
[edit] Ilovetoberandom → Andrew James Richards
- Current name: Ilovetoberandom (talk · contribs · logs · block log)
- Requested name: Andrew James Richards (SUL reports: old & new) (rename user)
- Reason: Reason for requested renaming. Immature and childish username. Ilovetoberandom (talk) 04:37, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
SoxBot VI has analyzed this request, and renaming appears to be possible. SoxBot VI (talk) 04:39, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
Clerk note: Are you aware of the possible implications of using your real name on Wikipedia? Matt (Talk) 06:02, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
[edit] Halila74 → Kathrina Ferminton
- Current name: Halila74 (talk · contribs · logs · block log)
- Requested name: Kathrina Ferminton (SUL reports: old & new) (rename user)
- Reason: because I want them to know my real name. Halila74 (talk) 09:17, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
- Are you aware of the implications of using your real name on Wikipedia? Angela. 11:33, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
SoxBot VI has analyzed this request, and renaming appears to be possible. SoxBot VI (talk) 11:36, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
[edit] Jagwar twin → Jagwar
- Current name: Jagwar twin (talk · contribs · logs · block log)
- Requested name: Jagwar (SUL reports: old & new) (rename user)
- Change Jagwar twin to Jagwar because of unification of accounts, it's OK everywhere except here and at es.wiki, po.wiki, no.wiki. Best regards, 83.199.66.126 (talk) 13:33, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
SoxBot VI has analyzed this request, and a problem(s) was found. Target username exists, and while it has no edits, the user requesting it is too new to usurp an account. SoxBot VI (talk) 13:36, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
Bureaucrat note: Are you Jagwar at mg.wiki? bibliomaniac15 18:10, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
[edit] RJBergman → RJ Bergman
- Current name: RJBergman (talk · contribs · logs · block log)
- Requested name: RJ Bergman (SUL reports: old & new) (rename user)
- Reason: Didn't realize you could have spaces and I would like it with a space so it can work on my user page. RJBergman (talk) 14:35, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
SoxBot VI has analyzed this request, and renaming appears to be possible. SoxBot VI (talk) 14:36, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
Clerk note: I gave this request a minor formatting fix. Original post can be found here. Useight (talk) 16:57, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
Clerk note:This is his only undeleted edit ever, advising that he simply create a new account. His deleted edits are ones trying to create RJ Bergman.---Balloonman PoppaBalloonCSD Survey Results 17:01, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
Done old name and new name are so similar, RJ would not be able to do it her/himself. Kingturtle (talk) 17:25, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
[edit] ChrisHH → ChrisHamburg
- Current name: ChrisHH (talk · contribs · logs · block log)
- Requested name: ChrisHamburg (SUL reports: old & new) (rename user)
- Reason: new username @ de.wikipedia.org, I'd like to have my account renamed here as well. --ChrisHH (talk) 16:55, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
SoxBot VI has analyzed this request, and renaming appears to be possible. SoxBot VI (talk) 16:57, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
Clerk note: Can you confirm that you are the same user on the de.wiki?---Balloonman PoppaBalloonCSD Survey Results 17:11, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
- Yes, I can :-) --ChrisHH (talk) 17:47, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
Done Kingturtle (talk) 18:03, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
[edit] Alexandre Grogg → Scelsi1837
- Current name: Alexandre Grogg (talk · contribs · logs · block log)
- Requested name: Scelsi1837 (SUL reports: old & new) (rename user)
- Reason: From now on, I need an anonymous user name. Alexandre Grogg (talk) 22:14, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
SoxBot VI has analyzed this request, and renaming appears to be possible. SoxBot VI (talk) 22:15, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
[edit] Urbanknowhow → Karlstar
- Current name: Urbanknowhow (talk · contribs · logs · block log)
- Requested name: Karlstar (SUL reports: old & new) (rename user)
- Reason: Easier for me to remember and is a username I use on alot of things. Urbanknowhow (talk) 23:04, 8 January 2009 (UTC)
SoxBot VI has analyzed this request, and renaming appears to be possible. SoxBot VI (talk) 23:06, 8 January 2009 (UTC)

