Global renamers/FAQ
Policy related questions
[edit]Is UsernameRobot as username ok?
[edit]No. Such requests will generally be declined because the word is only allowed for bots in some wikis.
Can I ignore the Name too close than... warning?
[edit]You can ignore the warning in special cases. For example when a requested username contains some special characters the output of AntiSpoof might be wrong, see phabricator:T105626.
How to handle multiple rename requests
[edit]The policy only allows name changes if there is a good reason to do a rename.
- If the rename happened a long time back (say a few years), treat it as a first-time request.
- If the rename happened within 6 months, the request should generally be refused (example, example).
There will be situations where you will need to use your discretion - for example, where a user needs to be renamed again because their first rename ended up with a username block, or where it's clear that the user made a typo in their initial request. There will also be cases where the user, for example, pleads for a re-rename saying that they really don't like their current username. In that case, notify them that this will (likely) be the last time we change the username.
If a user keeps on requesting renames or there is evidence that they are abusing the system, they can be placed on the global rename blacklist (example, mailing list example).
Are zero edit-renames allowed?
[edit]They are allowed. Some users use Wikipedia accounts for saving articles to reading lists on Wikipedia apps and they hardly make any edits. Earlier such requests were rejected with a claim that they save server resources, but that's no longer true [1] and we shouldn't be worried about server resources.
However, usurp and cases where antispoof override is required should normally be refused.
Can inappropriate username be renamed?
[edit]The policy does not allow such renaming. Apart from that, it would be a lot of work to hide all rename logs globally. Such usernames should be globally hidden by a steward. You can file a request at SRG or email stewards
wikimedia.org (especially for user name that should be suppressed).
Users wanting to change to their real name
[edit]If a user asks for a rename to their real name, their application should explicitly confirm the risks of using their real name. If this is not the case, reject the request asking them to confirm explicitly if they want their real name to be used. Example requests: this and this
Handling rename requests for violating username policy
[edit]Check the block logs and the talk page of that user. If there is evidence that the username is not the only reason for the block (for example the user was blocked for spamming), decline such requests and ask the user to resolve the block first (example).
If in doubt, leave it to someone who's familiar with that wiki.
Technical questions
[edit]Is there a limit of edits for accounts which are getting renamed?
[edit]No, there's no such limit. Earlier there used to be a limit of 100,000 edits after which we had to coordinate with sysadmins, but after technical improvements it is no longer necessary. We even renamed an account with 1,000,000+ edits [2] after these improvements.
The rename takes longer than usual?
[edit]Yes, It might be possible that a rename job runs for hours. If the job runs for more than 3 hours, it is suggested to file a report on Phabricator.
The upload logs on commons are not updated?
[edit]This is a cache issue and should be solved after some hours. You can purge them by hand if you like.
Is login during the rename progress possible?
[edit]During the rename progress it is not possible to login. Users who attempt to login will see a warning.
Can I rename myself?
[edit]No. You can break your account by doing so.
Other common questions
[edit]Name too similar to existing accounts or used to username of someone who got renamed
[edit]In cases of similar usernames it's best to follow ACC's similar usernames flowchart.
In case of similar usernames, it's also useful to check if the username requested was username of someone else. This can be done by going to Global rename logs and entering the username in "Previous username:" field. If username is found to be name of someone else who got renamed then such request should be declined unless it's the same user.
Technically unacceptable accounts
[edit]To know technical restrictions on usernames, please see this guide. Also MediaWiki doesn't allow registration of number only or mixed script username but antispoof will not show warning in such cases, so it's best to check them by going to Sign up page.
Vanishing
[edit]Please see Right to vanish for such cases. It's best to leave such requests for someone who's well aware of local policies or practices and can read the language since such requests are often used to hide or obfuscate bad conduct.
Requests should generally not be denied if the requester does not providing a reason, although renamers may inquire at their discretion - such as in cases where the requester may be confused. Vanish requests processed through the queue will also further deactivate the account, preventing this process from being reversed by renamers.
Similarly, don't worry about vanish requests with just one or two edits - they should normally be approved. See this page on the mailing list for more details.
Many users confuse vanishing with a clean start and say in their vanishing request that they intend to create a new account. Such requests should be declined (example).
Promotional and shared accounts
[edit]Some project allow such names (e.g. Wikimedia Commons) some even don't allow names like "John at XYZ company" (e.g. Italian Wikipedia) so again it's best to leave them for local renamers.
Requests with no reason provided
[edit]They should be rejected and the user asked to provide a reason (example, example). This does not apply for requests to vanish.