Change your username through the EA App or website

To change your Apex Legends username, you need to change your EA account name, not a name within the game itself. Your EA account name is what appears as your player name across all EA games, including Apex Legends. The change takes effect when ready in Apex Legends once you complete it.

You can make this change either through the EA App (if you play on PC) or through the EA website from any device. Both routes lead to the same account settings page and take about five minutes.

The EA website method works regardless of whether you play on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch, so it is the most reliable option if you are unsure which platform you use to log in.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Apex Legends username is controlled by your EA account name, which you change in your EA account settings, not in the game itself.
  • You can change your username through the EA website or the EA App on PC, and the change shows up in Apex Legends when ready.
  • You can change your username once every 30 days, and the new name must be between 3 and 16 characters with no spaces or special characters except hyphens and underscores.
  • If you play on console (PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch), you may also have a separate console username, but your EA account name is what shows in Apex Legends.

Steps to change your username on the EA website

Go to www.ea.com and log in with the email and password for your EA account. If you do not remember your password, click "Forgot your password?" on the login page and follow the email recovery steps.

Once logged in, look for your account icon or profile picture in the top right corner of the page and click it. A dropdown menu will appear. Select "Account" from this menu.

On your account page, find the section labeled "Personal Info" or "Profile" (the exact label varies slightly). Look for a field that says "Display Name" or "EA Account Name". Click the edit button (usually a pencil icon) next to this field.

Type your new username into the text box. Your new name must be between 3 and 16 characters long. You can use letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores, but no spaces or other special characters. Once you have entered your new name, click "Save" or "Confirm". The change takes effect when ready.

Steps to change your username in the EA App on PC

Open the EA App on your computer and log in if you are not already logged in. Click your profile icon in the top right corner of the window.

Select "Account" from the menu that appears. This opens your account settings in a web browser window within the app.

Follow the same steps as the website method above: find the Display Name or EA Account Name field, click edit, enter your new username (3 to 16 characters, letters and numbers only, with hyphens and underscores allowed), and click Save.

Rules and limits on username changes

You can change your username once every 30 days. If you changed your username recently, you will see a message telling you when you can change it again. This 30-day waiting period applies even if you change it back to a previous name.

Your new username cannot be the same as your current one, and it cannot contain spaces or special characters other than hyphens and underscores. Usernames are not case-sensitive, so "Player123" and "player123" are treated as the same name.

If you try to use a name that is already taken by another player, the system will reject it and ask you to choose a different one. There is no way to reserve a name or claim one that another player is using.

What happens to your old username

Once you change your username, your old name becomes available for other players to use after a short delay (usually a few hours). Your game progress, rank, cosmetics, and all other account data remain exactly the same — only the name displayed changes.

If you were friends with other players under your old username, they will see your new username the next time they log in. Your friends list itself does not change; the names just update.

If you play on console

If you play Apex Legends on PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch, you have both a console username (your PlayStation Network name, Xbox Gamertag, or Nintendo Network ID) and an EA account name. Apex Legends displays your EA account name in-game, not your console username.

Changing your console username does not change your Apex Legends name. To change what appears in Apex Legends, you must change your EA account name using the steps above. Your console username is managed separately through your console's settings and is not covered here.

Troubleshooting common problems

If you see a message that your username is unavailable, it means another player is already using that exact name. Try adding a number or underscore to make it unique, such as "YourName_1" or "YourName2".

If the Save button does not work or you get an error message, try logging out of the EA website completely, closing your browser, and logging back in. Sometimes browser cache causes the page to load incorrectly.

If you changed your username but it is not showing up in Apex Legends after an hour, restart the game completely. Close Apex Legends entirely and reopen it. The game sometimes needs a restart to display the new name.

If you cannot log into your EA account, click "Forgot your password?" on the EA login page and check your email for a password reset link. Make sure you are using the correct email address — you may have created your EA account with a different email than you currently use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username more than once every 30 days?

No. EA enforces a 30-day waiting period between username changes. This applies even if you want to change it back to a name you used before. You will see the exact date you can change it again on your account settings page.

Will my rank and cosmetics stay the same after I change my username?

Yes. Your rank, battle pass progress, skins, badges, and all other account data remain unchanged. Only the name displayed changes. Your friends list and match history also stay the same.

What if someone else has the username I want?

You cannot take a username that another player is actively using. You will need to choose a different name. If a player has not logged in for a very long time, EA may eventually free up their username, but there is no way to request this or know when it might happen.

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

No. Changing your username does not affect your password or security settings. Your password remains the same, and you log in with the same email address.

Why does my console show a different name than Apex Legends?

Your console has its own username (Gamertag, PSN name, or Nintendo Network ID) that is separate from your EA account name. Apex Legends uses your EA account name, not your console username. To change what shows in Apex Legends, change your EA account name through the steps above.