Twitter is a sensational platform that allows netizens to keep tabs on the most happening events worldwide. It’s a text-based platform designed to promote bite-sized snackable content that usually has a short- life span.
Creating a Twitter account takes just a few seconds. All you need is an email ID, phone number, and username to get started. As the platform is crowded with hundreds of users, the tricky part is selecting a username that your wish to display.
If you’re a brand trying to build your presence on Twitter or an individual aiming to grow your personal brand, by now, you would already know that your username will likely become your brand. Finding the right username is a pain in the neck, irrespective of your purpose on Twitter.
The most annoying realization hits when you know your username is already taken by someone who is not even active on the platform. How frustrating is that? The purpose of this blog is to solve this issue and help you find a way to get your username.
You’ll further read and explore if you can claim inactive usernames on Twitter; if yes, what’s the procedure, and if not, what are other options left to be tried out for? We hope you’ll find the answer you’re looking for. Without any ado, let’s get started.
Can you see the Claim as an Inactive Twitter Username Account?
Well, hear it from Twitter straight away. In their words, you can’t access the Twitter Username even if the account is technically inactive.
However, there are a few methods that ideally work for this issue. Even though these methods aren’t guaranteed to work, they panned out just fine for many Twitter influencers and businesses. So, there is no fun in refusing to attempt them because they’re worth investing your time.
Why is a Username Unavailable to You?
When a username is unavailable on Twitter, it means that someone else has already chosen and registered that particular username. Each Twitter account requires a unique username to identify and differentiate users on the platform. Since usernames are unique, you cannot select an ID that’s already used by someone else.
How to Claim an Inactive Twitter Username
There are a few possible ways to claim an Inactive Twitter Username. We have made a detailed
guide explaining each procedure. You’ll have a few other options, even if one of the solutions below doesn’t work out.
Claim a Domain
If you own a domain name for your business or yourself, you can raise a ticket using Twitter support and get your desired name within a week or so. Here’s a detailed procedure.
Step 1: Find a domain registering service like Godaddy, Hostinger, or Wix to get started. You can easily find your ideal provider with a simple Google search.
Step 2: Register a domain name that matches the desired Twitter username. Your domain name can end with .net, .com, or even .co.
Once you have successfully registered the domain name, you can use it as proof to claim ownership when reaching out to Twitter support.
Step 3: Now, contact Twitter support through their official channels like the Help Center or the designated support form.
Step 4: Explain your situation to Twitter support, stating that you have registered the matching domain name and would like to claim the inactive Twitter username associated with it.
Step 5: Provide all the necessary details and documentation requested by Twitter support to verify your ownership of the domain and demonstrate your legitimate claim to the inactive username.
The process is pretty intuitive, followed by step-by-step instructions at every stage. All you need is to provide evidence as requested. Twitter support will review your claim and analyze your eligibility. If your claim is successful and meets their criteria, they’ll email you about the next steps to claim your username.
Find Inactive Twitter Users
In case you have been denied access to a username, you can manually search and find out if the Twitter account with that username is lastly active.
If the account hasn’t been active for more than six months without actions such as likes, retweets, or comments, you can ideally reach out to the user or fill out the impersonation form to claim the username. Here’s a step-by-step instructions.
Step 1: First, ensure the account you want to claim has been inactive, with no tweets or activity, for at least 6 months.
Step 2: Visit the following link: https://support.twitter.com/forms/impersonation
Step 3: Choose the option “I am being impersonated” from the available selections. This option is commonly used to request the release of an inactive Twitter username.
Step 4: Fill up the form provided by Twitter support, and provide all the requested information. Even though you haven’t technically been impersonated, selecting this option simplifies the process of having an inactive username released.
Note: Fill in the form with a detailed description of why you believe the username should be released.
Choose a Similar Twitter ID
As a final resort, if you cannot claim the username you planned to, it’s better to not fret about it and come up with a username similar to your plan.
When creating a Twitter username, it’s important to stand by certain rules and guidelines set by Twitter. Here are the key tips to remember.
- Length: Your usernames can have a maximum of 15 characters. However, shorter usernames are often more memorable and easier to type.
- Characters: Usernames can include alphanumeric characters (letters A-Z, numbers 0-9) and underscores (_). Special characters, such as @, %, or *, are not allowed in usernames. Or you can use a tag like “official” to differentiate your brand.
- Impersonation: Twitter prohibits using usernames that may lead to impersonation or confusion. This includes usernames that very closely resemble or imitate the names of prominent individuals, organizations, or brands.
- Trademark and copyright: It is advisable to avoid using trademarks or copyrighted terms in your username, as it may violate the intellectual property rights of others.
- Offensive content: Usernames should not contain offensive, obscene, or abusive language. Twitter has policies against usernames that promote hate speech, harassment, or violence.
Those are a few aspects you must remember before choosing your Twitter username.
How to Reach Out to Twitter Support?
If you have never reached out to Twitter support but wondering who to approach, then this step-by-step guide is for you.
Step 1: Open Twitter on your Android or iPhone mobile device.
Step 2: You’ll land on your homepage; tap on your profile icon located in the top left corner of the screen.
Step 3: In the sidebar that appears, scroll down and tap on “Settings and support“
Step 4: From the drop-down menu, select Help Center.
Step 5: You’ll be directed to the Twitter Help Center. Browse the available topics or use the
search bar to find relevant help articles.
Step 6: If you can’t find a solution in the Help Center, swipe up to the bottom of your page and tap on the “Contact Us” option
Step 7: Choose the issue category that matches your concern and select a relevant sub-category.
Step 8: Depending on the category and sub-category you selected, you will be given different options to contact Twitter support, either through the Twitter app or by submitting a form.
You can follow these steps to reach out to Twitter support and get more customized help to guide you with your problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will Twitter release inactive usernames?
Twitter has made it clear that they may not release inactive usernames until the account is completely deleted by the user it has been created.
2. How do I claim my old Twitter account?
To claim your old Twitter account, go to the login page, enter your previous username or the email linked with the account, and follow the steps to reset your password if needed.
3. How to claim an abandoned username?
To claim an abandoned username on Twitter, you can try contacting Twitter support or reach out to the user who owns the account to inquire about the possibility of releasing or transferring the username, or you can raise a request to Twitter support.
Wrapping up
With that, we’ve arrived at the end of this blog. We hope you found this content helpful. Here’s a quick round-up of what we covered so far.
First, we discussed if it’s possible to claim an inactive username and what are the other ways to claim without reaching out to the owner of the username. We hope you found a way or two to claim the username you planned for your Twitter account.
Let us know in the comments if any of the above-mentioned methods helped you.
Also Read:
Why Can’t I See “Last Active” on Facebook Messenger
How To Remove a Connection on LinkedIn?
How to View Old Twitter Profile Picture History
Twitter Email Finder – Find Someone’s Email Address from Twitter
Twitter Username Checker – Check Twitter Username Availability
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