You change your Overwatch 2 username through Battle.net, not through the game itself

Your Overwatch 2 username is tied to your Battle.net account, so any change you make there shows up in the game automatically. You cannot change it from inside Overwatch 2. Instead, you log into your Battle.net account on the web, go to your account settings, and update your Battle.net username — that becomes your Overwatch 2 name.

The process takes about five minutes and costs nothing. You can change your username once every 30 days, so if you make a mistake or change your mind, you have to wait a month before trying again.

Key Takeaways

  • Log into your Battle.net account at account.battle.net and navigate to the Account Settings page to find your username option.
  • Your new username appears in Overwatch 2 within a few minutes, but other players may see the old name briefly while the change syncs across servers.
  • You can change your username once every 30 days, and the change is permanent until you change it again.
  • If your desired username is already taken, Battle.net will tell you when ready and you will need to choose a different one.
  • Changing your Battle.net username does not affect your account security, password, or any of your game progress.

Step-by-step: changing your username on Battle.net

Go to account.battle.net in your web browser and sign in with your email and password. Once you are logged in, look for "Account Settings" in the left menu — it is usually near the top. Click it.

On the Account Settings page, find the section labeled "Battletag" or "Username" (Battle.net sometimes uses these terms interchangeably). You will see your current username displayed. Click the pencil icon or "Edit" button next to it.

Type your new username into the text field. Battle.net usernames can be 3 to 12 characters long and can include letters, numbers, and hyphens. As you type, the system checks whether that name is available. If it is taken, you will see a red X and a message saying the name is unavailable. If it is available, you will see a green checkmark.

Once you have a name that is available and you like it, click "Save" or "Confirm". Battle.net will ask you to re-enter your password to confirm the change. Type it in and click the final confirmation button. Your new username is now active.

When your new username appears in Overwatch 2

The change usually shows up in Overwatch 2 within a few minutes. If you are already in a game when you change it, you may need to restart the game client for the new name to appear on your screen. Other players will see your new name almost when ready, though there can be a brief delay of a few minutes while Blizzard's servers sync the change.

Your rank, competitive points, cosmetics, and all other progress stay exactly the same. Changing your username does not reset anything or affect your account in any way except the name that displays.

What to do if your chosen username is taken

Battle.net tells you when ready whether a username is available as you type. If the name you want is taken, you have two options: choose a different name, or try adding a number or hyphen to your preferred name (for example, "Soldier-76" instead of "Soldier76").

There is no waitlist for usernames, and you cannot reserve a name. If someone else has it, it is unavailable to you. Many players add numbers or special characters to make their preferred name unique — this is common and does not affect how the name displays in-game.

The 30-day waiting period between changes

After you change your username, you cannot change it again for 30 days. This limit exists to prevent spam and account abuse. If you change your mind when ready after making a change, you will have to wait the full 30 days before you can change it again.

Plan your username change carefully, especially if you are not sure about it. If you realize you made a typo or chose a name you do not like, you still have to wait 30 days. After that waiting period ends, you can change it as many times as you want, as long as you wait 30 days between each change.

Usernames versus display names: what is the difference

Your Battle.net username (also called your Battletag) is what shows up in Overwatch 2 and all other Blizzard games. This is the name you change through account settings. It is permanent until you change it yourself, and it is the same across all Blizzard games you play.

Some games let you set a separate "display name" that is different from your account username. Overwatch 2 does not have this feature — your Battle.net username is your display name. What you see in your account settings is what everyone else sees in the game.

Troubleshooting: your username did not change

If you changed your username but it still shows the old name in Overwatch 2, restart the game client completely. Close Overwatch 2 entirely, then close Battle.net, then open Battle.net again and launch Overwatch 2. This forces the game to fetch your updated account information from Blizzard's servers.

If the old name persists after a restart, log out of your Battle.net account on the web, wait a few minutes, and log back in to check that the change was actually saved. Go back to Account Settings and confirm your new username is showing there. If it is, restart Overwatch 2 again. If your username in Account Settings still shows the old name, the change did not save — try the process again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Overwatch 2 username without changing my Battle.net username?

No. Overwatch 2 pulls your name directly from your Battle.net account, so they are the same thing. If you want a different name in Overwatch 2, you must change your Battle.net username.

What happens to my rank and cosmetics when I change my username?

Nothing happens to them. Your rank, competitive points, skins, emotes, and all other progress stay on your account. Changing your username is purely cosmetic and does not affect your account data in any way.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my Overwatch 2 username?

Battle.net usernames can include letters, numbers, and hyphens only. You cannot use spaces, underscores, periods, or other special characters. Hyphens are the only punctuation allowed.

If I change my username, will my friends still see me on their friends list?

Yes. Your friends list is tied to your account, not your username. When you change your username, you stay on all your friends' lists, and they will just see your new name instead of the old one.

How long does it take for other players to see my new username?

Usually a few minutes. In rare cases it can take up to 15 minutes for the change to sync across all of Blizzard's servers, but most of the time other players see your new name almost when ready after you change it.