Where to change your username depends on which platform you play on

Your Apex Legends username lives on your gaming platform account — not in the game itself. That means where you change it depends on whether you play on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, or PC. The game pulls your username from whichever platform you signed in with, so changing your platform name is what changes your Apex name.

You cannot change your username inside the Apex Legends game client. If you try to look for a settings option in-game, you will not find one. The change has to happen on your platform's account page first, then Apex will show your new name the next time you log in.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Apex username comes from your platform account (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Steam, or Nintendo Switch Online), so you change it there, not in the game.
  • PlayStation and Xbox let you change your name once for free, then charge a fee for additional changes; Steam and Switch have different rules.
  • The name change takes effect in Apex the next time you log in, but may take a few minutes to show up to other players.
  • Some names are blocked by the platform's filter, and Apex may reject names that violate its code of conduct even if the platform allows them.

PlayStation: free once, then a fee

On PlayStation Network, go to your profile settings and select Account, then Profile, then Edit Profile. You will see your Online ID listed there. Click on it to change it.

Your first name change is free. After that, each additional change costs $9.99 USD (or the equivalent in your region's currency). PlayStation will warn you about the cost before you confirm the change. The new name takes effect when ready on your PSN account, but may take a few minutes to show up in Apex Legends and to other players in your squad.

PlayStation blocks certain words and character combinations in usernames — profanity, slurs, and strings that look like they are trying to impersonate official accounts. If you try to use a blocked word, the platform will reject it before you even finish typing.

Xbox: free once, then a fee

On Xbox Live, sign in to your account at account.xbox.com, go to Profile, then Customize Profile, and select Gamertag. You can change it directly from there.

Like PlayStation, Xbox gives you one free name change, then charges $9.99 USD per change after that. Xbox will show you the cost before you confirm. The change shows up in Apex the next time you log in, usually within a few minutes.

Xbox also filters usernames for profanity and impersonation attempts. If your chosen name violates Xbox's code of conduct, you will see an error message telling you the name is not allowed.

Steam: free, no limit on changes

On Steam, you can change your username as many times as you want, and it costs nothing. Right-click your profile name in the top right corner of the Steam client, select Profile, then click the pencil icon next to your name to edit it.

Steam does not charge for name changes and does not limit how often you can change. However, Steam still filters for profanity and impersonation. If Apex Legends rejects your name even though Steam accepted it, it means the name violates Apex's code of conduct, not Steam's.

One quirk of Steam: if you change your name very frequently, other players may not see the new name right away. Steam caches usernames, so it can take several minutes for the change to propagate across the network and show up in Apex.

Nintendo Switch: free through your Nintendo Account

On Nintendo Switch, you change your username through your Nintendo Account online. Go to accounts.nintendo.com, sign in, select Profile, then Edit Profile, and change your nickname.

Nintendo allows free name changes. The new name will show up in Apex the next time you launch the game and log in with your Nintendo Account. Like the other platforms, Nintendo filters for profanity and offensive content.

What happens if Apex rejects your name

Even if your platform accepts your new username, Apex Legends may reject it. Apex has its own code of conduct that is stricter than some platforms. Names that reference hate speech, slurs, sexual content, or impersonation of real people or official accounts will be rejected by Apex even if the platform allowed them.

If Apex rejects your name, you will see an error message in the game telling you the name violates the code of conduct. You will need to go back to your platform account and choose a different name. There is no appeal process for rejected names — you straightforward have to pick something else.

Some players try to work around filters by using numbers or special characters in place of letters (like "1" for "I" or "$" for "S"). Apex's filter catches most of these attempts, so the workaround usually does not work.

How long the change takes to show up

Your platform account updates your name when ready. Apex Legends pulls the new name the next time you log in, which usually means within a few minutes. However, other players in your squad or in the lobby may see your old name for a little longer while the change propagates through the game's servers.

If you log in and still see your old name in Apex after 10 minutes, try restarting the game client. A full restart usually forces Apex to refresh your account information and pick up the new name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username back to my old one?

Yes, but on PlayStation and Xbox you will have to pay the fee again (unless it is your first change). Steam and Switch allow unlimited free changes, so you can switch back and forth as much as you want. Keep in mind that changing your name frequently can confuse your friends and squad mates about who you are.

Will changing my username affect my rank or my cosmetics?

No. Your rank, battle pass progress, skins, and all other account data stay exactly the same. A username change only changes how your name appears to other players — everything else on your account remains untouched.

What if someone else already has the username I want?

Usernames do not have to be unique on most platforms. Multiple players can have the same username, and the platform tells them apart using a hidden ID number behind the scenes. You can use any name that is not blocked by the platform's filter, even if someone else is already using it.

Do I need to change my password when I change my username?

No. Your password and your username are separate. Changing your username does not affect your password or your account security. You only need to change your password if you think someone else knows it or if you have not changed it in a long time.

Why does my name show differently to different people?

This usually means the name change has not fully propagated through Apex's servers yet. Some players' games have cached your old name and have not refreshed it. Wait a few minutes and ask them to restart their game client — that usually forces their game to pull your new name from the server.