Change your Overwatch 2 name through your Battle.net account settings

Your Overwatch 2 username comes from your Battle.net account name, not from a separate game setting. To change how your name appears in Overwatch 2, you log into Battle.net, go to your account settings, and change your Battle.net name itself. The change takes effect in Overwatch 2 within a few minutes.

You can change your Battle.net name once every 30 days at no cost. If you change it again before 30 days have passed, Battle.net will ask you to wait. This limit exists to prevent confusion in competitive rankings and friend lists.

The process is the same whether you play on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch — the name change happens on Battle.net's website, and all your linked accounts see the new name when ready.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to account.battle.net, sign in, and select your account name from the top menu to reach the name-change page.
  • You can change your Battle.net name once every 30 days for free; attempting a second change within 30 days will show you a countdown timer.
  • The new name appears in Overwatch 2 within minutes and applies across all games linked to that Battle.net account.
  • If your desired name is taken, Battle.net will tell you when ready and suggest alternatives or let you try a different name.

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

Open a web browser and go to account.battle.net. Sign in with your email address and password. If you use two-factor authentication, enter the code from your authenticator app or phone.

Once you are logged in, look at the top right of the page. Click on your current Battle.net name (it appears next to a small profile icon). A dropdown menu will open. Select Account Settings.

On the Account Settings page, find the section labeled Battletag or Account Name. Click the pencil icon or Edit button next to your current name. A text field will appear where you can type your new name.

Type your new name and click Save or Confirm. Battle.net will check whether the name is available. If it is, the change saves when ready. If the name is taken, you will see a message saying so, and you can try a different name.

What happens if your desired name is already taken

Battle.net shows you a message that says the name is unavailable. You can then type a different name and try again. There is no waiting period between attempts — you can keep trying different names until you find one that is free.

Some players add numbers or special characters to make a name unique. For example, if "ShadowHunter" is taken, you might try "ShadowHunter42" or "ShadowHunter_". Battle.net accepts letters, numbers, and some punctuation marks.

When the 30-day cooldown applies

After you change your name, you cannot change it again for 30 days. If you try to change it before that period ends, Battle.net shows a countdown timer telling you exactly how many days remain.

This cooldown is account-wide, not per-game. If you change your Battle.net name, the cooldown affects all games you play through that account, including World of Warcraft, Diablo, Starcraft, and any others.

Your name change in Overwatch 2 and competitive play

Once you change your Battle.net name, Overwatch 2 updates your in-game name within a few minutes. You do not need to restart the game or log out and back in, though restarting can speed up the change if you want to see it when ready.

In competitive play, your new name appears on the scoreboard, in match history, and on your profile. Your rank, wins, and statistics stay attached to your account — changing your name does not reset your progress or separate your old and new identities.

Other players can still find you through your account if they know your old name, because Battle.net keeps a record of previous names. Your friends list updates automatically, and you remain in the same groups and teams.

Troubleshooting: name change did not appear in Overwatch 2

If you changed your Battle.net name but Overwatch 2 still shows your old name, wait a few minutes and restart the game. Close Overwatch 2 completely, then reopen it. The new name should appear when you log back in.

If the name still has not changed after restarting, sign out of Battle.net on the Overwatch 2 launcher. Click your account name at the top of the launcher, select Sign Out, then sign back in. This forces the launcher to refresh your account information.

If you are still seeing the old name after these steps, log into account.battle.net again and confirm that the name change actually saved. Sometimes a page refresh or browser issue can make it look like the change went through when it did not.

Changing your name on console or mobile

You cannot change your Battle.net name directly from the Overwatch 2 game menu on PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch. You must use a web browser and go to account.battle.net as described above.

If you do not have access to a computer, you can use a mobile browser on your phone. Open account.battle.net in Safari, Chrome, or Firefox, sign in, and follow the same steps. The process works the same way on mobile.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Overwatch 2 pulls your name directly from your Battle.net account, and there is no separate in-game name setting. To change how your name appears in Overwatch 2, you must change your Battle.net name.

What if I change my name and then want to change it back?

You can change it back, but you have to wait 30 days from your first change. Once the 30-day cooldown ends, you can change your name to anything available, including your old name if no one else has claimed it.

Does changing my name affect my rank or competitive history?

No. Your rank, wins, losses, and all statistics stay attached to your account. Changing your name is purely cosmetic and does not reset your progress or separate your competitive records.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my new name?

Battle.net allows letters, numbers, and some punctuation, but not spaces. You can use hyphens, underscores, and numbers to create variation. Battle.net will tell you if a character is not allowed when you try to save.

How long does it take for my new name to show up in Overwatch 2?

Usually a few minutes. If you want to see it when ready, restart Overwatch 2 after changing your name on Battle.net. The game will fetch your updated account information when it launches.