Change Your Username Through the EA App

To change your Apex Legends username on PC, you need to go through your EA account settings, not through the game itself. The process takes about five minutes and works the same way whether you play through Steam or the EA App — both versions pull your username from your EA account.

Start by opening a web browser and going to www.ea.com. Click the account icon in the top right corner and select "Account" from the dropdown menu. You will be asked to sign in with the email and password you use for Apex Legends. Once you are logged in, look for "Personal Info" or "Profile" in the left sidebar.

Find the field labeled "Display Name" or "Gamertag" — this is what other players see in-game. Click the pencil icon next to it to edit. Type your new username, then click "Save" or "Confirm". The change takes effect when ready, though it may take a few minutes to show up in-game if you are already playing.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your Apex Legends username through your EA account on www.ea.com, not through the game client itself.
  • The change appears under "Display Name" or "Gamertag" in your account's Personal Info section.
  • Your new username shows up when ready in your EA account but may take a few minutes to display in-game.
  • If you play through Steam, your Steam username stays the same — only your EA display name changes, which is what Apex Legends uses.
  • You can change your username as often as you want, though some games limit how frequently you can do this.

What Happens to Your Old Username

Once you change your username, your old one becomes available for someone else to use. Your rank, battle pass progress, cosmetics, and all other account data stay with your account — nothing is lost. Other players will see your new name in matches and on your profile, but your stats and history remain unchanged.

If you are worried about being tracked or found by other players, changing your username does not hide your account. Your account ID stays the same, so anyone who has reported you or added you as a friend will still see you in their friends list under your new name.

Troubleshooting a Username That Will Not Change

If you click "Save" and nothing happens, the most common reason is that your new username is already taken or contains characters EA does not allow. Usernames can include letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, but not spaces or special characters like @, #, or !. Try a different name and check that you have no extra spaces at the beginning or end.

If the page will not load or you get an error message, try clearing your browser's cache and cookies, then log out and log back in. If you are using an older browser, switch to Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. If the problem persists, you may need to wait a few minutes — EA's servers occasionally have brief outages that prevent account changes.

Changing Your Username on Steam vs. EA App

If you play Apex Legends through Steam, you have two separate usernames: your Steam username and your EA display name. Changing your Steam username does not change your Apex Legends name — you still need to go through your EA account. Your Steam friends will see your Steam username, but Apex Legends players will see your EA display name.

If you want to change your Steam username as well, that is a separate process. Open Steam, click your profile picture in the top right, select "Profile", then click the pencil icon next to your name. Steam usernames can be changed as often as you want and do not affect your Apex Legends account.

Reverting to Your Old Username

If you change your mind about your new username, you can change it back to your old one — but only if no one else has claimed it in the meantime. Since old usernames become available when ready after you change them, there is a small window where someone else could take it. If that happens, you will need to pick a different name.

To be safe, if you think you might want your old username back, change to something temporary first, then change back to your original name right away before anyone else can grab it.

Usernames That Will Not Be Accepted

EA blocks usernames that contain profanity, slurs, or references to real people's names. The system is automated, so sometimes it flags names that seem innocent — if your username is rejected, try removing numbers or changing a letter. You also cannot use usernames that are already taken by another player, even if that player has not logged in for months.

Usernames must be between 3 and 16 characters long. If your chosen name is too short or too long, the system will tell you when you try to save it. Spaces are not allowed, but hyphens and underscores are, so "Player-Name" or "Player_Name" will work where "Player Name" will not.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for my new username to show up in-game?

The change is when ready in your EA account, but it may take a few minutes to appear in Apex Legends. If you are already in a match, restart the game to see your new name. If you are in the lobby, you may need to log out and log back in.

Will my friends still see me if I change my username?

Yes. Your account ID does not change, so your friends list stays the same. Your friends will see your new username next to your name in their friends list and in-game.

Can I change my username back to what it was before?

Only if no one else has taken it. Old usernames become available when ready, so there is a risk someone else claims it. If that happens, you will need to choose a different name.

Does changing my username affect my rank or cosmetics?

No. Your rank, battle pass progress, skins, and all other account data stay exactly the same. Only your display name changes.

What if I see an error message when I try to save my new username?

The most common reasons are that the name is already taken, contains forbidden characters, or is too short or too long. Try a different name with only letters, numbers, hyphens, or underscores. If the page itself is not loading, clear your browser cache and try again.