Cannot change username to deleted account

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  jlangewi · Member · Dec 12, 2015 at 12:27 am

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  I’m having some problems changing my username. In the past I deleted an account and created a different account. Now I would like to change my username on the new account to the username associated with the deleted account. When I attempt this, it says the username already exists. Is there any way to change my username to the deleted username?

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  mgalbritton · Member · Dec 12, 2015 at 3:00 am

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  Hi there. Thinking about your question, I think the easiest method would be to make your old username an admin of the new blog. Does that make sense? On blog A, with Admin account A, make Admin account B an administrator. Then Admin Account B can administer both blogs. You’ll need staff intervention to delete admin account A, but it’s not necessary; just don’t sign in as A anymore.

  Let me know if this helps. Happy Friday and have a great weekend.

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  jlangewi · Member · Dec 12, 2015 at 5:14 am

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  Unfortunately I’m unable to add the deleted username as an administrator. It says that the user name does not exist. (Which seems contradictory to the message displayed when I try to change usernames. ..)

  In short, no dice. Thanks for the suggestion though.

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  jlangewi · Member · Dec 12, 2015 at 7:22 am

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  I think I may be a bit SOL on this one. I found out the email I had associated with the old account no longer exists (a student email when I was in college). So any password reset is lost to the void and I have no proof of ownership. Guess I’ll have to settle for a prefix or suffix… unless the wordpress staff are willing to explicitly free up the old user name (which I doubt).

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  mgalbritton · Member · Dec 12, 2015 at 1:35 pm

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  I just tagged this for a moderator to look at. I am sure they will be able to look into it further and come up with a resolution that works for you. Have a great weekend.

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  timethief · Member · Dec 12, 2015 at 5:07 pm

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  Hi there,
  Read this support doc please:

  Once you change your username you will not be able to change it back and the old name will not be available for you or anyone to use. If you just want to show your name differently please only change your Display Name. https://en.support.wordpress.com/change-your-username/

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  kokkieh · Staff · Dec 12, 2015 at 5:46 pm

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  @whalebot
  As the support doc @timethief linked above explains, there is no way to get back a username once it has been deleted. Deleted usernames are permanently removed from the system and can’t be used by anyone else again, including the original owner.