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Notes on handles

How X / Twitter usernames free up, the rules around them, and how to claim the one you want first.

  1. Thinking of buying a handle? Read this first

    Paying someone for an X username breaks the platform's rules and is a favorite setup for scams. Here's what goes wrong, and the legitimate alternatives.

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  2. Daily or instant monitoring? How to choose

    HandleLord can check a handle once a day or every minute. Here's how to decide which one each handle on your watchlist needs.

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  3. Your name is taken. Now what?

    A practical guide to choosing a strong alternative handle, without giving up on the one you actually want.

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  4. The rules of X usernames, in one page

    Length limits, allowed characters, case, reserved words, and what happens when you rename. A quick reference for anyone hunting for a handle.

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  5. How X usernames actually become available

    Handles don't free up on a schedule. Here are the ways a taken username on X / Twitter gets released, and why the first person to notice usually wins.

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