Google adds option to edit short name in Search Profiles

Google is adding a new option in Search Profiles that lets users edit their short name. Previously, this wasn’t something users could change once set.

According to Google, if a preferred handle isn’t available, users can link a new social account instead.

Google recently updated its help documentation to reflect this change.

Barry Schwartz spotted this and shared it on Search Engine Roundtable.

Here is what it looks like.

This gives users more flexibility over how their Search Profile appears, rather than being locked into a short name chosen at setup. If a specific handle is already taken or unavailable, linking a different social account offers an alternative path to get a preferred name.