Screen Name Search: Find Where a Username Is Used

A screen name is the name people see on a site: your handle, gamer tag or @username. A screen name search takes one of those names and shows you which sites have an account with it. People use it to find a friend's other profiles, to check what is public about their own handle, or to see if a name is still free.

Screen name, username, handle: same thing?

Mostly, yes. "Screen name" is the older word, from AIM and early chat rooms. Today most sites say username or handle. On a few platforms the name you see and the name in the profile link are different: Discord and Roblox both have a display name on top of the real username. A username finder only matches the unique username, so search that one if you can. Our guide to what a username is explains the difference with examples.

How to look up usernames in three steps

1. Get the exact name. Copy it from the profile link, not from the bold name on the page. Periods and underscores count: mia.bakes and mia_bakes are different accounts.
2. Run one search. Paste it into the username search. You can enter up to five names at once if you know a few versions.
3. Check each hit. Open the profiles. Same photo, same bio links or the same writing style are good signs it is one person. A match on name alone is not proof.

Reading the results

• Found: a public profile answered for that exact name.
• Not found: no public profile answered. The name may still be reserved, private or banned.
• Check by hand: the site blocked the automated check. Open the link to look yourself.

Find someone by username: what works and what does not

A username search finds accounts that share a name. It cannot read private profiles, see deleted accounts or tell you who owns a name. If you only have a real name, a username finder is the wrong tool; try a few likely handles instead, such as first name plus last name, or a nickname plus a number. For a single site, our platform username checkers give the rules and a direct lookup.

Starting from a handle you already know is called a reverse username lookup. For case work with exports and a verification method, use the OSINT username search.

Use this for safety and for your own accounts. Do not use it to follow, harass or expose someone. Our post on the ethics of searching social profiles covers where the line is.

Search your own screen name

Running your own handle is the fastest way to see your digital footprint. You will often find old accounts you forgot about. Lock down or delete the ones you no longer use, and see our guide to finding old accounts for the next steps. Forgot the name itself? Start with how to find your username.

Quick answers

Is a screen name search free?

Yes. Ours is free, needs no sign-up and does not store the names you search.

Can I search a username on my phone?

Yes. The site works in any mobile browser, and there is a free Android app too.

What is the best username finder?

The one that checks the most sites and is honest about blocked checks. Our comparison of username search engines tests the main options.