Where to Change Your Username Depends on Your Platform

You cannot change your username directly inside Call of Duty itself. Instead, you change the account name tied to your console or PC, and Call of Duty reads that name automatically. The steps differ depending on whether you play on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, or PC.

Your Call of Duty username is the same as your platform account name — PlayStation Network ID, Xbox Gamertag, Nintendo Network ID, or Battle.net username. Changing one changes the other across all games you own on that platform.

Key Takeaways

  • Call of Duty pulls your username from your console or PC account, so you change it there, not in the game itself.
  • PlayStation and Xbox let you change your username once for free, then charge a fee for additional changes.
  • Nintendo Switch and Battle.net (PC) have different rules — Switch charges from the first change, and Battle.net lets you change freely once every 30 days.
  • Your new username appears in Call of Duty within minutes, but old friends may need to re-add you because the system treats it as a new account.
  • Some usernames are blocked by the platform's filter even if they seem harmless — you may need to try several options.

Changing Your Username on PlayStation

Go to Settings on your PS4 or PS5, select Users and Accounts, then Account, and choose Profile. Select Edit Profile, then Edit Online ID. Type your new username and select Change Online ID. PlayStation lets you change your ID once for free; after that, each change costs $9.99 USD (prices vary by region).

Your new username takes effect when ready in Call of Duty and other games. However, friends who had you added under your old name will see you as a new account and may need to add you again. Some players keep their old account on their console so friends can still see their old profile if they look for it.

PlayStation has a character limit of 16 characters and blocks certain words and phrases automatically. If your chosen name is rejected, try removing numbers, shortening it, or using underscores instead of spaces.

Changing Your Username on Xbox

On Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S, go to Settings, select Account, then Gamertag. Choose Change Gamertag and enter your new name. Xbox gives you one free gamertag change; after that, each change costs $9.99 USD (prices vary by region).

The change appears in Call of Duty within minutes. Like PlayStation, your old friends list may not carry over — they will see you as a new player and need to re-add you if they want to play together again.

Xbox gamertags can be up to 15 characters and cannot contain spaces. The system blocks offensive words and some common slang automatically. If your first choice is unavailable, try adding numbers at the end or using different letter combinations.

Changing Your Username on Nintendo Switch

On your Switch, go to System Settings, select Users, choose your profile, then Edit Profile. Select Nickname and type your new name. Nintendo Switch charges $9.99 USD for each username change (prices vary by region) — there is no free change.

Your new nickname updates in Call of Duty: Warzone and other games you play on Switch. The same friend-list issue applies: people who had you added may need to re-add you under your new name.

Switch usernames can be up to 10 characters. The system filters offensive content, so some names will be rejected even if they seem acceptable to you. Try shorter versions or substitute numbers for letters if your choice does not go through.

Changing Your Username on PC (Battle.net)

On Battle.net, log in to your account on the website, go to Account Settings, and select Manage Account. Find the Battle Tag section and click Edit. Type your new name and confirm. Battle.net lets you change your Battle Tag once every 30 days at no cost.

Your new name shows up in Call of Warzone and other Blizzard games when ready. Because Battle.net is tied directly to your account rather than a console profile, your friends list usually stays intact — they will see your new name but will not need to re-add you.

Battle Tags can be up to 12 characters and must include a number or special character. The system is less restrictive than console platforms, so most names go through on the first try.

What Happens to Your Friends List After a Username Change

On PlayStation and Xbox, your friends may see you as offline or as a new player after you change your gamertag. This happens because the console treats the new name as a separate account for matchmaking purposes. Your old friends can still find you by searching for your new username and re-adding you.

Some players create a second profile on their console under their old name and leave it there so friends can see they are still active. This does not affect your main account or your Call of Duty progress — progress is tied to your primary profile.

On PC with Battle.net, your friends list usually carries over because the account itself does not change, only the display name. You should not need to ask people to re-add you.

Usernames That Get Blocked and How to Work Around Them

All platforms filter usernames automatically. Words related to violence, hate speech, sexual content, and drug use are blocked. Some platforms also block common slang that could be misinterpreted, brand names, or references to real people.

If your chosen name is rejected, the system usually does not tell you why — it just says the name is unavailable. Try these workarounds: add numbers at the beginning or end, use underscores or hyphens instead of spaces, shorten the name, or replace letters with numbers (like 0 for O or 1 for I).

If you keep hitting rejections, your name may contain a word or phrase the filter catches even if you did not intend it. Search online for your platform's username policy to see the full list of blocked words, or try a completely different name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my Call of Duty progress if I change my username?

No. Your progress, rank, weapons, and cosmetics are tied to your account, not your username. They stay with you after the change. Your K/D ratio and stats remain the same in your profile.

Can I change my username back to my old one?

Yes, but you have to wait for the cooldown period (30 days on Battle.net) or pay the fee again (PlayStation and Xbox). Nintendo Switch charges every time. There is no special process to reclaim an old name — you just change to it like any other name.

Why do my friends not see me online after I change my username?

On PlayStation and Xbox, the system treats your new username as a new account for a short time. Your friends need to search for your new name and re-add you. On Battle.net, your friends list usually stays intact and you should appear online normally.

How long does it take for my new username to show up in Call of Duty?

Usually within a few minutes on all platforms. If it takes longer than 30 minutes, try restarting the game or your console. The change is when ready on the platform side, but Call of Duty may need a moment to sync.

Can I use special characters or spaces in my username?

It depends on your platform. PlayStation and Xbox allow spaces and some special characters like hyphens and underscores. Nintendo Switch and Battle.net have stricter rules — Switch does not allow spaces, and Battle.net requires at least one number or special character. Check your platform's username policy before you decide on a name.