Update your Autodesk Community username | email communication | FAQ

[amanda.k]

If you have received an email with the subject line "Update your Autodesk Community username," please see below for more information on the request.

FAQ:

• Is this email from Autodesk?

Yes, this email was sent by the Autodesk Community Team. The subject line will read “Update your Autodesk Community username” and was sent from Autodesk@autodeskcommunications.com

• Why do I need to change my username? Is there something wrong with my existing username?

As the Autodesk Community has been connecting customers for over 15 years, there has been an accumulation of duplicate usernames that can lead to confusion within the community. With this username update, we can ensure that each user has a unique identifier so you can reach the right person every time.

• If I change my username, will it have an impact to me accessing other Autodesk systems or portals?

If you use your username to log into any other Autodesk portals, you will need to log in with your new unique username there as well. Otherwise, you can continue using your original email that you created the account with. This only effects the username. 

• I've had my username for decades; changing my username could be confusing for other users on the forums.

We want to make sure that the users that know you can reach out to you – and not someone that has the same username as you. By changing your username slightly, adding a number or series of numbers – you will be able to keep your reputation and ensure all communications and questions that are directed at you, reach you – and not someone else.

• What happens if I don't change my username by May 12, what will happen?

While we recognize that this IS an issue we have to deal with, we will no longer be requiring users to change their usernames by May 12^th.  

• When I change my username, must the new username be used when accessing Autodesk licenses?

You should use your updated username when logging into any Autodesk portal, or your original email address.

• Where do I go to change my user name and what are the steps I must take?

Check out the step-by-step guide here or follow these steps:

1. Login to https://profile.autodesk.com
2. Navigate to "My Profile and Settings”
3. Select "Security”
4. Click the pencil in the Username field. *
5. Enter your chosen Username and Save. *

To see the change, you need to sign out and sign in again

*Please note that this may prompt you to sign in again before you are able to complete the edit and save.

• What's the difference between Autodesk Community Profile and profile.autodesk.com?

The Autodesk Community Profile is your unique identifier for asking questions, learning, and contributing on the Autodesk Community. This information is part of profile.autodesk.com.

Below this line FAQ questions were added 4/21/2023:

• If an user changes their username, will their badges / contributions be automatically assigned to their new username?
  • Yes, everything (post history, kudos, tags, roles, badges, etc.) – remains the same. Only the username is changed.
• If a user changes their username, does their user ID remain the same?
  • Yes, user ID remains the same.
• What will happen when someone searches on the previous username, e.g., @Anonymous? Will it find a record and display their archived profile and contributions?
  • Everything is updated with the new username, as if the previous username did not exist. For example, if @Anonymous is updated to @Anonymous, anywhere where @Anonymous was previously tagged will appear as @Anonymous, and any links will remain unbroken.
• Will a user’s Community contributions automatically carry over to their new username?
  • Yes, the only thing that changes is how the username appears.
• If a user changes their username and changes it back, and the system allows it, does that mean that they can continue using that username, or will it be changed on May 12?
  • If you have changed your username and then changed it back to the original username, and the system allowed it, then it was no longer a duplicate and it is available to be claimed. As long as it was accepted when you changed it back, it was available as the other owners of that name have changed theirs, and you may continue using it. We will no longer be requiring users to change their usernames by May 12^th.  
• What if I really do not want to change my username?
  • We will no longer be requiring users to change their usernames

Update 4/25/2023 8PM:

If you use Revit Worksharing (Cloud, local, or Revit Server) or non-workshared Revit Cloud
Models, changing your username may cause workflow failures. These include:
• Not being able to open models.
• Not being able to Sync with Central (for workshared models) or save a non-workshared
model to the cloud.
• Elements that cannot be modified by anyone because the elements are checked out to
the prior (and now unavailable) username.

Please refer to this article to determine the appropriate solution.

Update 4/28/20223 3PM PST:

If you are using Collaboration for AutoCAD Plant 3D, changing your username may cause issues
in the collaboration workflows as the new username will need time to take effect. You may
experience not being able to:
• Open a collaboration project from cloud if there is no local cache.
• Check in project settings that have been checked out.
• Check in files that have been checked out.

If you are experiencing these issues, please refer to the use cases here to determine the
appropriate solution.

[Christiaan_de_Wit]

I wish that was possible for me. My old user name was my email address, and for new user names email addresses are not accepted. So I'm f*cked. I can't sync back my work, because I changed my user name last friday and somehow Revit kept using the old username today until I wanted to sync. 

@#$%@#$%@#$%T

[Christiaan_de_Wit]

And why can't I Save my project As a new central model now that my user name has changed? This is waaaay too intrusive in my opinion!

[stefanome]

Autodesk's primary focus is clearly on desktop software products, rather than online services.

Consider a scenario where Facebook, Amazon, or Twitter sends an email that appears to be a phishing attempt, requesting all users to change their usernames without providing any explanation. Moreover, assume that there are duplicated usernames. They would send the email to all users, including those unaffected, asking to change their usernames, even if they use their email address as their username. If Amazon were to undertake such actions, they would likely lose a substantial number of users.

Dear Autodesk, as users, we understand that your core business revolves around your software products, and we are willing to overlook the frequent changes and inefficiencies in your customer service portal as long as your software products function properly. However, it would be appreciated if your customer care were managed more professionally.

Although this may come across as a rant (yes, I had to get it out), it is also a genuine plea. Please Autodesk, improve your services. It's time for you to seek assistance from experts in companies like Facebook, Amazon, or Twitter to help you address your long-standing issues.

[Christiaan_de_Wit]

Same here, I can't synchronize to cloud models either. Not even directly after opening the model, when I haven't even checked out any element from the central. It still shows the same message about a local file being saved by my old user name. I have closed and re-opened Revit. I have checked if Revit shows my new email address before opening the model. Nothing helps. I've downloaded the source model from ACC and now I'm working on it locally. I'll think twice before taking it back to the cloud. I'm now like the result of a sheep and a cow having a baby: in a baaaaaad moooood!

[jamisonj1998]

I have the same problem, i did sign out and back in as well as delete collaboration cache which allowed me to sync my model. However this has now caused an issue as some elements are still owned some how(even after relinquishing ownership) to my "old" username and now I am not able to regain ownership of these items, even though I am the same user!!! Again another poorly thought out change by Autodesk!!!

[tim.childs]

Will this affect SSO access for my customer? 

[Ben_Gallaher]

I can't sync in any models since i updated my username and it wont let me change my name back to my email. Does anyone have a fix for this?

[Ben_Gallaher]

Did you find a fix for this? I'm having the same issue....

[BillAllenSE]

Amada K. - Please allow users to change their username back to their email address.

Thank you.

[CMacias_PLMP]

I've had to deal with this in the past. so i knew what to do when changing my username. make sure the "old username" is synced and you close file. you'll have to delete local copy of model (c/user/appdata/local/revit/version/) you'll have to find the guid file and add "old_" as a prefix so it's not recognized by revit. once you do that open the model straight from the cloud path to create a new local with your new username. hope this helps. 

[CMacias_PLMP]

you have to delete your local copy.

(c/user/appdata/local/revit/version) i usually add a prefix to the main folder and start with a fresh new copy.

if your old user name still has possession of views/elements, you'll have to go to collaborate/manage cloud models and force a relinquish on your old username.

[CMacias_PLMP]

@amanda.k this affect revit users the most being that revit uses your username to keep element ownership. not sure why this information was not part of the rollout. everyone should know to sync/relinquish before doing this, and even after doing this the local copy should be discarded and create a new one.

[Christiaan_de_Wit]

Just to be clear: the correct file path for you local cached cloud models is:

C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Autodesk\Revit\<Autodesk Revit Version>\CollaborationCache

Rename or remove all the subfolders and their files in this folder to clear out all cached models from the cloud.

To force relinquish elements that are owned by your old user name in Revit 2023, you will have to go to the Revit Home screen, browse to the folder that contains your cloud model, hit the dots at the right side of the row and choose 'Relinquish'. See this article for the official guide: https://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-A65C9B9D-CB0B-4678-B02B-80BA8164B38F 

I've just tested whether clearing out the cache works for me. I had to be patient, because downloading all models from scratch takes a while... But I can confirm that it does work indeed.

[jamisonj1998]

thank you, I knew there was a way to force the relinquish but forgot where I need to go! Thanks for the info.

[CMacias_PLMP]

yeah, that's the way to do it. I ended up scrapping all those folders cause i have about 50something projects im involved in. first open is gonna drag lol

[AlexFielder]

I have had this same account for a VERY long time, and, whilst I did dabble with UsernameYearOfBirth briefly after switching jobs more than a decade or so ago, I have stuck with this same handle ever since. AFAICT there is only one other account with an identical username as mine, an account which has never posted in more than a decade.

It may well belong to an old email address of mine but I have no way to check. Unless of course @amanda.k I can pm you a list of possible email addresses so that account can fall into the archived accounts list if it matches an old email address of mine?

[joc]

A suggestion:

I assume you (Autodesk) have computers and databases with the usernames for each user.

Then you can use a little time on checking for duplicated usernames and act accordingly.

Action could be asking users with the same name to rename (perhaps allowing the user with older registration date to keep it).

Most users have unique names (i.e. email addresses) and therefore would need no action.

Please, consider this advice so most users can have some peace of mind. 

[Sean_Page]

I am in the same boat at @AlexFielder in that my email address is my current username, and AFAIK I am the only 'spage' out there, but I can't change to that because it is already taken, by me. I did PM @amanda.k, but thought it may be easier to post here on how I may get my username changed away from my email, but keep it as my username I have had for many years.

[stigla]

After reading the explanation, I'm no smarter what the hell is going on.
If I have more then one user name, that is because AREA FORCED me to do so. So I have two user names BECAUSE of the AREA which is now totally useless for users and can only impress uninformed students.
This is great move by some administrator and excellent idea to push people to give up on ADSK all together.
I was forced to change my user name by facebook, we know how great that paid off.
I can kill that user name, but why I have to lose the one I have for 20 years ?
After reading your "explanation" I still have no clue what you want me to change it into ?
Do I need to send a passport picture to prove my user name like in facebook ? Are native american names excepted ?
Drop this PR disaster nonsense please.
AREA is already dead, do you want to kill a little number of users left on forums ?
I'm user of MAYA since version 1. Maya was a number one 3D software and it's not anymore due to political decisions which costed a lot. Why you are forcing people to leave ?
This is completely wrong move.

[Anonymous]

I've deleted the other user account I had, which I created because I couldn't log in into AREA with this user name.
I hope that all the answers are gave are also deleted, which will greatly benefit the community.
I will be more then happy to do the same to this user name and cancel my subscriptions.
I spend two hours on that account trying to figure out how to change the user name to actually be accepted.
That's it. I have no idea how I'm supposed to change my present user name.
I'll be happy to make your administrator happy and delete myself from this community if that is your wish.
Then without users, you will have no problems at all.