Show warning that usernames can't be changed

[rinkuyadav999]

When we install WordPress, it says "Please provide the following information. Don't worry, you can always change these settings later."

But When we want to change username, WordPress does not allow. See screenshots.

[danieltj]

Agreed that the wording could be better here. Will look into this.

[SergeyBiryukov]

It's true that usernames cannot be changed easily, but that's why we have a separate Display Name setting.

Let's see if we can come up with a better wording.

[danieltj]

I've added a patch that says some fields can be and also some bold text that explicitly says usernames can't be. Will upload a screenshot of an example in a second.

[SergeyBiryukov]

you can change some of these settings later

How about "most of these settings"? Site Title, Password, Email, Site Visibility can all be changed, only username cannot.

[danieltj]

Patch refresh

[danieltj]

Thanks for the suggestion @SergeyBiryukov.

I've refreshed the patch to include the wording you mentioned in 42008.3.diff​.

[Presskopp]

I don't like the wording of "most..", because it makes it a game of chance if I can change st. or not. Why not be explicit and spread the truth and tell the world that

"you can change these settings later except the username"

[rinkuyadav999]

Yes, and bold text will be better for 'except the username'.

[Presskopp]

another patch

[afercia]

Instead of adding HTML (<strong>) in a translatable string, I'd suggest to use printf() with placeholders.

[pento]

Practically speaking, the username can be changed: create a new user, delete the old one, re-assign any existing posts to the new user.

Altering this text is just papering over the problem that changing a username is a difficult process, and putting stress back on the person installing the site. The vast majority of people never want to change their username, so they don't need to see this message.

I'm inclined to close this issue as a duplicate of #39123.

[afercia]

Not putting stress on users is a valid point. However, the install page is still giving users some misleading information. I'd like to see #39123 addressed soon but, in the meantime, I'd be in favor of this change because it gives users a more correct information.

Worth noting the wording "cannot be changed" is already used in other places in the admin. For example, in the edit user screen, in the Help, and for the site domain on multisite > site registration. If the aim is to not put stress on users, then maybe a better wording should be used across all the admin.

Informing users the username cannot be changed only after they've chosen their username doesn't seem particularly helpful to me.

Edit user screen:

The related Help: sounds a bit ironical users are informed only here they can't change their username:

I'd like to propose to hear other opinions.

Re: the patch, I'd propose to consider to remove the sentence Please provide the following information. Don’t worry, you can always change these settings later. entirely because at that point it would be a bit pointless. It would be implied all provided data can be changed, except the username. Reducing the amount of non relevant text in this screen would probably help better in reducing stress for users.

[pento]

I don't think the install flow and that help screen can really be compared. I agree that the message next to the username on the user edit screen is suboptimal.

However, this problem has existed for years, it's a fairly minor thing. Punting to Future Release, maybe we'll have better words for this in the future.