How to Use Usernames and Handles

Can Users Change a “Handle” Later?

• Users can change their “handle” (nickname) anytime/anything they want, but usernames (can be used in login) will not be changed once set.

Does WP Reject a “Handle” in Dashboard if it Exists?

• If it means “handle” as the username, then it will not be recognized once changed. As mentioned in the answer above, usernames can be used to log in and are not changeable. For “handle,” however, it can be changed to anything the member wants (to be used for tagging, mention on activities).

Do You Lose Any Other Functionality Doing It This Way?

• Just the login capability using the changed “handle”.

Can You Avert the Automated “Request to Join” a Sub-Group if You Assign the Group and Sub-Group Inside the Dashboard?

• You can use the BP Auto Group Join plugin: https://wordpress.org/plugins/bp-auto-group-join/

Any Downside to Us Doing it This Way?

• For the plugin to be used, said plugin will no longer be updated; hence, compatibility is not assured. For using an autojoin functionality, there isn’t a downside except if you will be catering paid content, which will be visible to all members joined.
  

Note: The usernames (nicknames) are unique and cannot be duplicated; thus, handles cannot be duplicated.