Where to change your username

You change your Apex Legends username through the platform where you play — not through the game itself. If you play on PC through Steam, you change it in Steam. If you play on PlayStation, you change it in your PlayStation Network account. If you play on Xbox, you change it in your Xbox Live account. If you play on Nintendo Switch, you change it in your Nintendo account. The game pulls your username from whichever platform you logged in through.

Respawn Entertainment, the studio that makes Apex Legends, does not have a separate username system. Your in-game name is always your platform username. This means changing your username on your platform account is the only way to change how you appear to other players in Apex.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Apex Legends username comes directly from your platform account — Steam, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, or Nintendo — so you change it there, not in the game.
  • Each platform has different rules: Steam lets you change your name freely and often, while PlayStation and Xbox charge a fee for the first change and have cooldown periods between changes.
  • The change takes effect when ready in Apex Legends once you restart the game, though your old username may appear in chat for a few minutes while the system updates.
  • Your rank, battle pass progress, and cosmetics stay with your account regardless of username changes.

Changing your username on Steam

Open Steam and click your profile name in the top right corner. Select "Profile" from the dropdown menu. On your profile page, click the pencil icon next to your current name under your avatar. Type your new username in the text box that appears and click "Save". You can change your Steam username as many times as you want with no fee or waiting period.

The new name shows up in Apex Legends the next time you launch the game. If you are already in a match when you change it, restart Apex to see the change take effect. Other players may see your old name briefly in chat or on the scoreboard while the servers update, but this clears within a few minutes.

Changing your username on PlayStation Network

Go to your PlayStation account settings on the console or at account.playstation.com. Select "Profile" and then "Edit Profile". Click on your username and type the new one. Your first username change is free. After that, each change costs $9.99 and you must wait 60 days between changes.

If you change your PlayStation username, any game that does not support the new username system may show your old name or a generic player ID instead. Apex Legends supports the new system, so your new username appears correctly in the game. Restart Apex after changing your username to see the update.

Changing your username on Xbox Live

Sign in to your Xbox account at account.xbox.com or go to Settings on your console. Select "Your Profile" and then "Customize Profile". Click "Gamertag" and enter your new username. Your first gamertag change is free. Subsequent changes cost $9.99 each, and you must wait 30 days between changes.

Apex Legends updates your gamertag when ready in most cases, though you may see a brief delay in chat or on the scoreboard. Restart the game to may support the change is fully applied. Your rank and cosmetics remain on your account under the new gamertag.

Changing your username on Nintendo Switch

Go to System Settings on your Switch and select "Users". Choose your user account and then "Profile Settings". Select "Nickname" and type your new username. Nintendo does not charge for nickname changes and does not enforce a waiting period between changes, so you can update your name as often as you want.

The new nickname appears in Apex Legends after you restart the game. Because the Switch version of Apex is linked to your Nintendo account, the change syncs automatically once you log back in.

What stays the same after a username change

Your rank, battle pass level, Legend skins, weapon skins, and all other cosmetics stay with your account. Your friends list does not disappear. Your match history and statistics remain tied to your account. The only thing that changes is the name that appears above your character and in chat.

If you are worried about being recognized by players you want to avoid, changing your username alone will not hide your account — your rank and cosmetics will still be visible. If you want a fresh start, you would need to create a new account on your platform.

Restrictions and cooldown periods

Steam has no restrictions. PlayStation charges $9.99 for changes after the first one and enforces a 60-day cooldown. Xbox charges $9.99 for changes after the first one and enforces a 30-day cooldown. Nintendo Switch has no charge and no cooldown.

Some usernames are blocked across all platforms — typically those containing slurs, explicit language, or impersonation of real people or celebrities. If your chosen name is rejected, try removing numbers, adding underscores, or using a different spelling. Each platform has its own content policy, so a name that works on one platform may be blocked on another.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Your friends list is tied to your account, not your username. They will see your new name the next time they log in or restart the game. You will still appear in their friends list under your new username.

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

On Steam, yes — you can change to any name at any time. On PlayStation and Xbox, you can change back, but you still have to pay the fee (after your first free change) and wait out the cooldown period. On Nintendo Switch, you can change back freely.

What if someone else takes the username I want?

Usernames are not reserved — once someone changes away from a name, another player can claim it when ready. If the name you want is taken, you will have to choose a different one or wait to see if that player changes their username later.

Does changing my username affect my rank or battle pass progress?

No. Your rank, battle pass level, and all progress stay exactly the same. Only the name displayed changes.