Medium Username Checker
Your Medium username is the @name in medium.com/@name. You can also show it as a subdomain, name.medium.com, or point a custom domain at your profile. Enter a name below to see whether Medium shows a profile for it, then read how Medium's username policy works.
Medium username rules
| Uniqueness | First come, first served. A username can belong to one account or publication at a time. |
|---|---|
| Length and characters | Medium's help center does not publish length or character limits; the settings form tells you when a name is not accepted. |
| Profile URLs | medium.com/@name by default, or name.medium.com if you turn on the subdomain, or a custom domain. |
| Renames | Your old profile link stops working. Old story links redirect, and earlier @mentions still reach you. |
| Inactive names | Medium may reclaim usernames after 6 months of inactivity, but it does not take requests for them unless you hold a registered trademark. |
Sources: Medium Help: your profile page URL, Medium Policy: username and publication name policy. Last reviewed 2026-10-14. Platforms change their rules; the linked help pages are the final word.
How to check a Medium username
- Enter the username without the @. Our check loads medium.com/@<name>/about and looks for the "member since" line that only real profiles show.
- Writers who switched on a Medium subdomain or a custom domain get redirected away from that address. Our check does not follow the redirect, so it reports Unknown for them: open the link to see where it lands.
- Check by hand at medium.com/@<name>. Medium's "page not found" screen suggests no profile uses that username.
- The real test is the Username and subdomain field in Settings. If someone holds the name, even without a public profile, Medium will not let you save it.
Medium username taken? What you can do
- Add a short topic or role: miawrites, mia.design or mia_on_data. Readers see the username in every story link, so a descriptive one helps.
- Medium may reclaim names after six months of inactivity, but it does not act on requests. Check again later instead of writing to support.
- If the username matches your registered trademark, Medium's policy lets you ask for it. A personal name on its own does not qualify.
- If an account pretends to be you, report it. Medium's policy bans usernames that impersonate a person or organization in a way likely to deceive.
How to change your Medium username
- On the web, open Settings and find Username and subdomain. In the app, go to Settings, Account, then Username and subdomain.
- Type the new username and save.
- Update links in your bio and on other sites. Your old profile URL stops working, though links to your stories redirect.
Reserved and restricted names
Medium does not publish a list of blocked usernames. Its username policy prohibits names that impersonate people or organizations, and names that misuse a trademark in a way likely to confuse readers. Parody and fan accounts are allowed, but the username cannot exactly match the person it parodies and should include a word such as parody or fan.
Tips
- Turning on the name.medium.com subdomain redirects your @ link there, and you can switch it off again later.
- Medium's Mastodon server, me.dm, uses a separate username that cannot be changed, so choose that one carefully.
- Because your old profile link breaks after a rename, change your username before you share your profile widely.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a Medium username from an inactive account?
Not by request. Medium may reclaim usernames after six months of inactivity, but it only takes requests from registered trademark owners.
What happens to my old Medium link after I change my username?
Your old profile link stops working. Links to your stories redirect to the new URLs, and old @mentions still point to you.
Why does the checker say Unknown for a Medium writer I know exists?
They probably use a name.medium.com subdomain or a custom domain, so Medium redirects their @ address. Open the link and you will reach their page.
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WhatsMyName Apps is an independent tool, not affiliated with or endorsed by Medium, the WhatsMyName project, Sherlock or Maigret. Results are leads to verify.