Change your PSN username through your PlayStation account settings

Your Apex Legends username on PS4 is tied to your PlayStation Network (PSN) account name, not to the game itself. To change how your name appears in Apex, you change your PSN username in your PlayStation settings. This is a one-time change on most accounts, though PlayStation allows paid name changes after that first one.

Go to your PS4 home screen, select your profile icon in the top left, then choose Profile. Select Edit Profile, then find the option to change your online ID. Enter your new username — it must be between 3 and 16 characters, can include letters and numbers, and cannot contain spaces. PlayStation will check whether the name is available before you confirm.

The change takes effect when ready across all your games, including Apex Legends. Your old username will not appear in-game anymore, and your friends list will update to show your new name. Any ranked progression, cosmetics, or battle pass progress stays with your account — nothing is lost when you change your name.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Apex username is your PSN username, so you change it through PlayStation settings, not through the Apex game itself.
  • Go to your PS4 profile, select Edit Profile, and choose the option to change your online ID.
  • Your new username takes effect when ready in Apex and all other PS4 games.
  • Your first PSN name change is free; additional changes cost money through PlayStation.
  • All your game progress, cosmetics, and ranked rank stay with your account when you change your name.

What happens to your Apex account when you change your PSN name

When you change your PSN username, your Apex Legends account does not reset or separate from your progress. Everything you own — skins, battle pass rewards, ranked rating, level — remains attached to your account. Friends who had you added will see your new name in their friends list, though they may need to restart their game for the change to show up when ready.

Your match history and statistics stay under your account as well. If you look up your profile on third-party stat trackers, they may take a few hours to update your new name, but your data is not lost. The trackers pull information from Respawn's servers, which update after your PSN change syncs.

The difference between your first free name change and paid changes

PlayStation gives you one free PSN name change. After you use that free change, any additional name changes cost money — the price varies by region but is typically around $10 USD or equivalent. You can see how many free changes you have left by going to your profile settings and attempting to change your online ID; PlayStation will tell you whether the change is free or paid before you confirm.

If you have already used your free change and want to change your name again, you will need to purchase the name change through PlayStation's account management website or through your PS4 settings. There is no way to get another free change, so choose your username carefully the first time.

Rules for what your new Apex username can be

Your PSN username must be between 3 and 16 characters long. You can use uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and these special characters: underscore (_), hyphen (-), and period (.). You cannot use spaces, and you cannot use characters from other languages. PlayStation will reject the name if it contains profanity or violates their code of conduct.

The name must also be available — if another player has already claimed it, you cannot use it. When you type your desired name into the change screen, PlayStation checks availability when ready and tells you whether it is taken. If it is, try adding a number or underscore to make it unique.

How long the name change takes to show up everywhere

Your new PSN username appears in Apex Legends almost when ready after you confirm the change in your PlayStation settings. However, some parts of the game may take a few minutes to update. Your profile in the main menu should show your new name right away, but if you are in the middle of a match when you change it, you may need to restart the game to see the change reflected in-game.

Friends and other players will see your new name the next time they restart Apex or refresh their friends list. If someone is in a party with you when you change your name, they may need to restart the game to see the update. Third-party stat websites and leaderboards can take several hours to sync your new name with their databases.

What to do if your desired username is already taken

If the username you want is already claimed, you have a few options. You can add a number at the end — for example, if "ShadowHunter" is taken, try "ShadowHunter1" or "ShadowHunter99". You can also use an underscore or hyphen in the middle of the name, like "Shadow_Hunter" or "Shadow-Hunter". These variations are treated as different usernames by PlayStation.

Another approach is to wait and check back later. Inactive accounts sometimes get their usernames released, though this is rare and unpredictable. If you are set on a specific name, you may need to accept a variation with numbers or special characters instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my Apex progress if I change my PSN username?

No. Your rank, cosmetics, battle pass progress, and all other account data stay with your PlayStation account. The change only affects how your name appears to other players — your progress is not affected at all.

Can I change my PSN username back to my old one?

Yes, but only if no one else has claimed it in the meantime. If your old username is still available, you can change back to it. However, if someone else has taken it, you cannot use it again unless that person changes their name.

Will my friends see my old username or my new one?

Your friends will see your new username, though it may take a few minutes or a game restart for the change to show up in their friends list. Once they restart Apex or their PS4, your new name will appear everywhere.

How much does a second PSN name change cost?

The price varies by region, but it is typically around $10 USD or the equivalent in your local currency. You can see the exact price in your region by going to your PlayStation account settings and attempting a name change after your free one is used.

Can I use special characters or numbers in my new username?

Yes. You can use numbers, underscores, hyphens, and periods in your PSN username. You cannot use spaces or characters from other languages. PlayStation will reject any name that contains profanity or violates their code of conduct.