I’ll introduce how to request the release of a GitHub username that’s not being actively used.

Background Knowledge: GitHub Usernames Can Be Released

Name Squatting Policy

GitHub prohibits account name squatting, and you may not reserve account names for future use that are not currently in use. Accounts that appear to be inactive may be renamed or removed at GitHub staff’s discretion. Please note that not all activity on GitHub is publicly visible, and staff will not remove or rename active accounts.

Source: GitHub ユーザ名ポリシー - GitHub ヘルプ

How to Request GitHub Username Release

To request GitHub staff to release a GitHub username, simply fill out and submit a form at https://support.github.com/contact with the following content:

Organization

My personal account

Subject

I want to use the account @new_username

How can we help? Sample

Hi,

My name is ◯◯.
I have a GitHub account @old_username, but I want to use the account @new_username.

I see the profile page https://github.com/new_username, and I found the account @new_username is inactive.
Can you release this account for me to use this?

Thanks.

Reply Email from GitHub Staff

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out. You’re in luck — we have classified the @new_username account as inactive and released the username for you to claim! Be quick, as the username is now publicly available and out in the wild. Once it’s claimed, we won’t be able to release it again.

For more information on how to make the update, and what the change will mean for your existing account and content, the following guide is a great resource:

https://help.github.com/en/articles/changing-your-github-username

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Kind regards, ◯◯

How to Change GitHub Username

Once GitHub staff releases the GitHub username, anyone can immediately claim @new_username. As soon as you receive a reply email from GitHub staff, go to https://github.com/settings/admin and Change username.

That’s all about requesting the release of an inactive GitHub username and changing to that username from the Gemba.