Can I Move My Mastodon Username to Another Server?

A Mastodon username search checks a name on a supported server. Before joining, also look at that server’s rules and availability. If you later move, Mastodon offers an account-migration process, subject to server support.

Your server choice is not final, but a move changes your full address and may require follow-up work.

How Mastodon Account Migration Works

Mastodon’s move feature can transfer many follower relationships to a new account when the servers involved support it. Read the current Mastodon move guide before starting.

The process involves four steps:

Step 1 — Create your new account: Register on your destination instance with your desired username. Your old and new accounts will exist simultaneously during the transition.

Step 2 — Set an account alias: In your new account's settings, link back to your old account by setting it as an "alias." This establishes the link Mastodon requires between the old and new accounts.

Step 3 — Initiate migration from the old account: In your old account's settings, go to "Account" → "Move to a different account" and enter your new account address. Confirm the migration.

Step 4 — Check the result: The old profile points visitors toward the new one. Verify the public redirect and follower transfer; unavailable or incompatible servers may prevent some relationships from moving.

What the Migration Transfers and What It Does Not

What moves with you:

• Many follower relationships, subject to server support and availability
• Your following list can be exported and imported separately; check Mastodon’s current migration guidance for other account data

What stays behind:

• Posts and media from the old account do not appear automatically on the new profile
• Other settings and relationships may need separate export, import, or manual recreation

Think of a move as a new address with a possible follower transfer, not a copy of the old account. Keep an archive of old posts and media if you need one, and check the old server’s export options before you move.

Plan the move before announcing it

Before moving, list what your audience uses to find you: your full Mastodon address, profile links, website, and pinned posts. Create the destination account and alias it as Mastodon instructs. Announce the change on channels you control, then verify the old profile link and update your website and signatures. Do not assume every follower or old post will appear on the new account.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I keep my exact username when I migrate? You can keep the first half — the local username (e.g., john) — provided that name is not already registered on your destination server. The second half (the instance domain) will always change to reflect your new server. If the specific username you want is already taken on the destination instance, you will need to choose a variation or select a different server.

What happens to my old posts after migration? Your old posts do not move automatically. Whether they remain visible depends on the old server and account settings. They do not transfer to your new account. Your new profile starts with an empty post history. Check the export options if you need a personal archive of prior posts.

Can I migrate back to the original server after moving? A later move requires an available destination account and the current move steps. Do not assume the old address or old posts will be restored; check the accounts and servers involved.

What exactly is a "tombstone" account? It is the old profile’s moved-account state, which points visitors toward the new address while the old server remains available. Check the public page after migration.

Choose a server you trust now and keep a plan for updating your links if you move.