Where to Change Your Username

You change your Apex Legends username through your EA account settings, not inside the game itself. Log into your EA account at www.ea.com, go to Account, then select your profile. From there, click on "Change Display Name" or "Edit Profile" depending on your account type. The display name you set there is what appears to other players in Apex Legends matches.

If you play on console — PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch — your Apex username is tied to your console account name, not your EA account. On PlayStation, you change your username through your PSN profile settings. On Xbox, you do the same through your Xbox Live profile. On Nintendo Switch, you change it in your Switch profile settings. These console names override any display name you set on EA's website.

The name you choose must follow EA's rules: no profanity, no impersonation of real people or celebrities, no hate speech, and no spam or advertising. Names that break these rules can be reported by other players, and EA may force you to change it.

Key Takeaways

  • PC players change their username in EA account settings at www.ea.com under Account and Display Name.
  • Console players change their username in their platform's profile settings — PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, or Nintendo Switch — and this overrides any EA display name.
  • You can change your username once every 30 days on most accounts, though some restrictions may explore if your account is new.
  • The name change takes effect when ready in-game, but other players may still see your old name in their recent matches list for a few hours.
  • If your account is banned or suspended, you cannot change your username until the restriction is lifted.

How Often You Can Change Your Username

EA allows you to change your display name once every 30 days. This means if you changed your name today, you cannot change it again for 30 days from that date. The timer resets from the date of your last change, not from a fixed calendar date.

New accounts sometimes have additional restrictions. If your EA account is fewer than 30 days old, you may not be able to change your display name at all until that period passes. This is a security measure to prevent account takeover and spam.

What Happens When You Change Your Name

The new name appears in-game almost when ready. Other players will see your new username in the lobby, in matches, and on the scoreboard. However, your old name may still show up in their recent matches list or in their friends list for a few hours while the system updates across all servers.

Your rank, battle pass progress, skins, and all other account data stay exactly the same. Changing your username does not reset anything or affect your gameplay. Your friends will still see you as a friend, and your squad invites will still work.

Fixing a Name Change That Went Wrong

If you changed your username and it did not appear in-game, try logging out of Apex Legends completely and logging back in. Sometimes the client needs to refresh to show the new name. If it still does not appear after 30 minutes, restart your game client or console entirely.

If your name change was rejected during the process, check that your chosen name does not contain profanity, numbers that look like slurs, or repeated characters that look like spam. Names with spaces, underscores, or hyphens are usually fine, but some special characters are blocked. Try a simpler version of the name you want.

If you cannot access the change display name option at all, your account may be too new, you may have changed your name within the last 30 days, or your account may be under a restriction. Wait 30 days from your last change, or contact EA Support if you believe there is an error.

Console-Specific Steps

PlayStation: Go to your profile, select Edit Profile, then choose Change Online ID. You can change your PSN name once every 10 days, and the first change is free. Subsequent changes cost money on PlayStation's store. Your Apex username will update to match your new PSN name within a few minutes.

Xbox: Go to your profile, select Customize Profile, then choose Gamertag. You can change your Xbox gamertag once every 30 days, and the first change is free. Like PlayStation, future changes cost money. Your Apex username will update to your new gamertag shortly after you change it.

Nintendo Switch: Go to System Settings, select Users, choose your user, then select Profile. Select Nickname and enter your new name. Nintendo does not charge for nickname changes. Your Apex username will reflect the new nickname within a few minutes of the change.

PC and EA App Username Changes

If you play on PC through the EA App or Origin, go to www.ea.com and log in. Click on your profile icon in the top right, select Account, then look for Display Name or Edit Profile. Type your new name and save the change. It takes effect the next time you launch Apex Legends.

If you use Steam to launch Apex Legends, your username is still controlled by your EA account, not your Steam profile name. Change it through EA's website the same way, and it will show in-game even though you launched through Steam.

What You Cannot Change

You cannot change your account email address through the display name settings. If you need to change the email tied to your EA account, go to Account Settings and look for Email or Contact Information. You will need to verify the new email before the change takes effect.

You cannot change your account ID or player ID number. This is a permanent identifier that stays the same no matter how many times you change your display name. Other players cannot see your ID number — they only see your display name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username to something someone else is using?

No. Usernames must be unique on each platform. If the name you want is taken, you will get an error message when you try to save it. Try adding numbers, underscores, or slight variations until you find one that is available.

Will my friends still be able to find me after I change my name?

Yes. Your friends list does not break when you change your name. They will see your new name in their friends list, and you will still appear in their recent matches. You do not need to re-add each other.

How long does a username change take to show up?

On PC, it usually appears within a few minutes. On console, it can take up to 30 minutes for the change to sync across all servers. If it has been more than an hour, restart your game or console.

Can I change my username if my account is banned?

No. If your account is suspended or banned, you cannot change your username until the restriction is removed. Once the ban is lifted, you can change your name normally.

What if I want to change back to my old username?

You can change to any available name, including a previous one, as long as 30 days have passed since your last change. If someone else has taken your old name, you will need to choose something different.