Display Name

[Grouser]

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum category for my topic, maybe it should rather be posted in the "Ideas"-section .

I've been unhappy with my Spotify username for a long time because it contains my whole real life name (bad decision when I created the account years ago) but there's never been an option to change one's username as far as I know. But recently I learned that you can change your "display name", which seemed like a good solution to the problem. However, today I discovered that if I link a playlist and then click on the display name, my actual username will show in the address bar of the browser ("open.spotify.com/user/username" I tested in another browser that I don't usually use and I wasn't logged in to Spotify's website there). So the point with a display name is then somewhat moot in my opinion, because you are not able to hide your username. Although I guess it has some use, it will show up in search results and you are able to customize how you want to present yourself, even though the username still is visible. But isn't it possible for Spotify to change the webpage to hide the username somehow in the address field?  I don't really know anything about these kinds of things though and maybe that would be a major update (with all those profiles). To show the username in the address field is logical and good as long as you are using your account username and most people with a display name that is not the username might not care about that. The obvious question though is why not just let us change our account username? Does it create that much of a problem?

The problem for me is that I don't feel comfortable sharing playlists online, although I would like to, since it would reveal my real life name. So I guess the only solution is to make a new account?

[1ak]

Hey there, fellow Spotifier!.

I trust you went to your profile, clicked on your name, and then changed it to something else.

Instead of the hassle of creating a new spotify account and transferring all your playlists, this seems like something you can hit Spotify Support up for. You have a few ways of doing so.

Fill out the form here.

Tweet the team at @SpotifyCares.

E-mail the awesome support team at support@spotify.com.

Thanks. Let me know if you have any further questions.

Thanks,

Axi.

[Grouser]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes I changed the "display name" through the app. As I wrote before, it isn't possible to change the username as far as I know. I went to the page you linked to and clicked Account>I want to change my account details>Username and display name and there it is stated: "Your username is designed to identify you on Spotify, so it can’t change. But you don’t need to remember it to log in, just use your email address and password, or Facebook.". I interpret that as they won't change my username if I request it. Or are you certain that is possible?

[1ak]

Hey-

I'd recommend e-mailing them.

No, there's no guarantee that it'll work, my apologies.

It's worth a try, however. Spotify's awesome customer support will probably be able to do something- never underestimate them.

Explain to them your problem. I'm sure they'll understand. 

I can't make any guarantees, only guesses. Good luck.

[beccadoesmusic]

Hi! 

I changed my display name recently for the same reason as you want to, and it’s very simple using the Spotify app. Click ‘settings’ -> click on your account name/view profile -> click ‘edit profile’ -> click on your display name and your keyboard should appear for you to choose a new name.

I hope this helps! 😊

[Grouser]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I know and that's what I did. As I explained in my first, lengthy post, the issue is that my username can still be seen in the browser's address field if you click on the display name and go to the profile. I want to hide my real username.

[Grouser]

On Youtube you can have an account with several usernames, without revealing the account e-mail or the  username in the address field (they just use some code) if you click on the profile, so Spotify should be able to do it as well. But maybe it would require a lot of work. I guess it's a different system because on YouTube you have several accounts or channels with the same Google-Account.

But I don't really understand why Spotify just won't let you change your username, it causes too much problem for them?

[Jeremy]

Hey there @Grouser,

Thank you for your post here in the Community. We're happy to help you with information about this. 

This currently not possible. We suggest that you head over to this idea. You can leave a +VOTE and Subscribe to the thread for any updates.

If you have any questions we're always one reply away 🙂

Take care!